Earth Hour 2009

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="180" caption="Earth Hour"][/caption]

At 8.30 pm on March 28, 2009, Malaysia took part in the highly publicized and celebrity-sponsored Earth Hour. The Curve shopping complex shut off their exterior lights as did our beloved KLCC Twin Towers. Some mamak restaurants answered the 'lights off' call as well, serving their customers with candles. Many Malaysians did their own part at home, switching off the lights and other non-essential electrical items and appliances for that one hour.

As for me, it was supposed to be an hour in darkness with only the television on for my mom, but the plan expanded to include three of my closest friends. We had fun and laughed alot, taking scary pictures of ourselves holding candles and telling bits of stories. Because all the fans were off, we sweated quite a bit from the still air and one of my friends complained of mosquitoes buzzing around him. Near the end, we even did some tarot card readings. Some of my neighbours seemed to have done their part for Earth Hour too, although I wasn't exactly sure they were even at home. :? The hour seemed to fly by and we were all surprised when my mom announced that it was already 9.30 pm.

[caption id="attachment_1193" align="alignright" width="200" caption="My friend, Sean, giving the thumbs up for Earth Hour"][/caption]

I know that there were differing views regarding Earth Hour in Malaysia. While many wanted to join in 'the fun', others were heard categorizing the worldwide event as a 'publicity stunt' and 'media propaganda'. You can see the difference in their thinking through just their Facebook profile status with some criticizing others for not participating and others claiming that this 'switching off lights event' shouldn't just be during that one hour.

While, of course, some companies were involved in Earth Hour primarily to garner public attention and to perhaps pretend to adopt a 'green attitude' for better public image, there are those who were sincere in participating to reduce global warming. Some companies even made money during the Earth Hour itself by selling T-shirts, reusable bags and other 'green' knick knacks. However, no matter what's their purpose, corporate or individual, you have to admit that public awareness of Earth Hour and what it stands for has penetrated even the densest mind. Ask anybody and I am certain that each person knows what Earth Hour is.

Yes, it is true that we should reduce the amount of wasteful electricity, pollution and carbon footsteps everyday and not just during an organized event, but think about it. For once, in a long time, parts of the world were united in one cause, towards one vision. It is rare for people of different countries of different races with different backgrounds and different opinions to stand together for something that is not a disaster (tsunami, earthquake, war), and you have to admit that Earth Hour managed to do it. Of course, being of different timezones, we weren't all exactly in sync but, hey, look at it like a wave of darkness going around the world. :D

Who knows, maybe next year we'll see the entire world go dark instead of a few participating places scattered here and there. We will hope for something greater and better for all of us in the years to come. 8)

[caption id="attachment_1191" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="The hands that supported Earth Hour"][/caption]

Food Review: TJ Haus

There's only one word to describe TJ Haus; magnificent!! And no, seriously, I'm not exaggerating. No matter how many times I have been there, the restaurant has always blown me away with their array of delicious food, refreshing drinks and sinful desserts.

[caption id="attachment_1097" align="alignleft" width="180" caption="TJ Haus"][/caption]

Hidden among an isolated area of shop-houses at 19, SS 18/1B, TJ Haus is a well-kept secret of Subang Jaya, known only to those who stumbled upon it and who spread the word to friends and families. Operating since 2004, I've often wondered why they have not expanded the business, but I'm happy that they stayed small. It is a well-known fact that once a restaurant grows bigger, their food and service quality drops.

Haven't been there in a while, the girls decided to spend an evening catching up on each other's news and gossips at TJ Haus. Climbing up the narrow staircase, I hesitantly entered the dining area and to my joy, the place is still as cozy as I remembered and the waiters are still as friendly.

[caption id="attachment_1101" align="alignright" width="240" caption="Interior of TJ Haus"][/caption]

Albeit smaller than most restaurants, the decor is sort of like a mild English house with mainly wooden furniture and soft, low lighting, perfect for a romantic dinner with your beloved. Although the balcony overlooks the nearby highway and the busier shoplots across the street, it's not as noisy as you might expect it to be.

I can't remember the difference between the current menu and the old one but I know that the chef had introduced new dishes to his selection. This time around, I was insistent on trying something I rarely ate there and elsewhere.

[caption id="attachment_1106" align="alignleft" width="168" caption="Graved Lachs with Rosti"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1110" align="alignright" width="168" caption="Cream of Seafood French Style"][/caption]

Being the first to arrive and desperately hungry, my cousin and I decided to fill our stomaches with an appetizer called Graved Lachs with Rosti (RM19). When the rest arrived, they too shared an appetizer, Cream of Seafood in French Style (RM7).

For the main course, we each had something different so we could all have a taste. We cajoled each other to try something we all haven't tried before at TJ Haus and so we ordered the Roast Beef (RM29), the Lamb Shank (RM24), the Crispy Duck (RM23) and the Provence Style Loin of Lamb (RM30).

[caption id="attachment_1121" align="alignleft" width="208" caption="Crispy Duck German Style"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1115" align="alignright" width="208" caption="Lamb Shank with Mashed Potatoes"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1119" align="alignleft" width="227" caption="Provence Style Loin of Lamb"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1118" align="alignright" width="197" caption="Roast Beef with Veggies"][/caption]

Mmmm, those pictures are making me hungry.

Now, I'm not much of a lamb or duck person but I highly recommend the Roast Beef. It comes with this exquisite sauce that just fills your mouth with flavours. If I were to vote, I would pick Roast Beef first, the Loin of Lamb second (very soft and the sauce is nice too), the Crispy Duck and lastly, the Lamb Shank. I didn't really like the Lamb Shank because it was kind of tasteless even with the sauce.

[caption id="attachment_1129" align="alignleft" width="146" caption="Chilled Cheese Cake with Peach Toppings"][/caption]

Anyway, we went all out that night, to hell with diets and low-carb food, so we ordered desserts, and thank God we did!! The Chilled Cheese Cake with Peach Toppings (RM11) is to die for!!! Seriously, if you're a cheesecake lover, you MUST try it at TJ Haus. The portion is so much bigger than most other cake shops and the taste...swoon. :oops:

You can also try the Bravarian Cream (Vanilla Flavour) with Fruit Compote (RM10), it's like a really soft and creamy jelly, and the Fried Banana with Ice-cream (RM8.50), I know it's kind of normal but it's really mind-blowing.

[caption id="attachment_1130" align="aligncenter" width="180" caption="Fried Banana with Ice-Cream"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1132" align="aligncenter" width="180" caption="Bravarian Cream with Fruit Compote"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1146" align="alignleft" width="98" caption="Brazilian Smoothy"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1147" align="alignright" width="82" caption="Apple Schorle"][/caption]

Of course you can't have food without drinks and I highly recommend the Brazilian Smoothy (RM7), for those who like the milkshake kind of drinks, and the Apple Schorle (RM4.50), for those with fruity taste buds. There's this coffee that my cousin really loves but I can't remember the name. :(

[caption id="attachment_1149" align="aligncenter" width="144" caption="Must-try Coffee at TJ Haus"][/caption]

See if you can find the time to try this place out, and see if you can find it. :D But believe me, once you try, you will want to come again and again. :) Enjoy!!

A School Story

I don't know why but all of a sudden, an image popped into my head the other day that just made me burst out in laughter. Luckily, I was alone at that time but, eh, wait, if I laugh alone, by myself, does that make me crazy? 8O Anyway, it was an image I kind of recorded into my mind because it was so unexpected when it happened.

When I was in high school, I had class with this one guy, who I had a small crush on, and about four of his friends. They were all seated at the front of the class (because they were naughty and the class teacher wanted to keep an eye on them) while I was seated somewhere in the middle. Now, whenever we have a free period or in between classes, these boys like to hang out at the table just before the classroom door, which was also near the waste-basket.

One of my pens had just run out of ink and I was thinking to myself, "Ah, damn. I need to throw this away now." Too lazy to get out from my chair and walk to the front, I cleverly decided to just throw it in the direction of the waste-basket in the hopes that it will miraculously fall into the bin.

Taking aim, I flicked the pen like a throwing dagger and watched in mild horror as it sailed through the air  swerved slightly and hit one of my crush's friends right smack in the middle of his forehead. :oops:

At that time, they were all gathered around their usual table, telling jokes, and the boy I hit was laughing at something and abruptly stopped when the unforeseen object interrupted his fun. All of them stared dumbfounded at the 'victim' before turning around and noticing my gaping mouth. They then started pointing fingers at me and howled in laughter at the 'victim'.

I kept apologizing from my seat and the boy nonchalantly waved my apologies away and tried to resume the conversation. It would have seemed cool if it wasn't for his face turning bright red. :lol:

Unexpected Best Friend

Tired and sweaty, I made my trek up the road, barely noticing the cars that passed me by. I was feeling kind of blank and lost at the same time, my thoughts jumbled up with past memories, all because of the song that popped up on my iPod. A romance ballad that used to be the ringtone for someone. The song was a personal favourite of mine but I haven't listened to it ever since the break-up. I just didn't want to deal with the images that I know it will definitely bring up.

When the song reached the second verse, I was feeling down and really felt like needing a friend. I looked up from my wonderings and there, standing right in front of me was a familiar sight that, hard to believe, lifted my saddened heart immediately. That pair of eyes I knew so well and never got tired of was staring straight at me and made my lips twitch into a slight smile. The standing posture seems like it was saying, "Hey, what are you waiting for? Come here." My pace quickened with new-found energy and just like that, my burden lifted itself off my shoulders and all was right again in my world.

A few feet away, I paused to admire the body attached to those wonderful eyes, a sense of pride filling in my chest. As I reached out a hand, I was thinking how amazing it is for just the sight of one familiar figure to be able to bring you out of your misery. You know how people say diamonds are a girl's best friend. Nope, no way is that true. Because for me, one of the best friends I have is a speedy little thing with slanted eyes and shiny body; my car. :D

Socializing in Pet Society Part 3

So, based on the search terms I keep getting on my blog, I'm guessing most of the Pet Society players are wondering about the toys that come out from the new Toy Mystery Egg that arrived last week. For example, someone googled 'why new pet society toys don't move'. Well, the toys you get from the eggs do move but they require their specific scenery backdrops in order to do so. You can click on the backdrop to see what seems to be action scenes from a few famous movies but if you don't have the '?' toys, you won't get the complete picture. Now, so far, I've managed to get three different scenery backdrops and some of the spare toys that complete the backdrop.

[caption id="attachment_1063" align="alignleft" width="248" caption="King Kong Backdrop"][/caption]

This is what I call the 'King Kong' backdrop (unfortunately, I can't capture the movement of the backdrop without my pet jeopardizing the image). You need to collect four toy vehicles to complete this backdrop. I only managed to get three for this backdrop so far, which are police car, ambulance and firetruck. I'm guessing that the green '?' is another vehicle but I can't really think what else would be around with King Kong. Maybe a helicopter?

[caption id="attachment_1068" align="alignright" width="228" caption="Captain Nemo's Squid backdrop"][/caption]

This backdrop is what I call 'Captain Nemo's Squid' because it's underwater and there's a giant squid. :roll: You need four water vehicle toys to complete this backdrop. I only got two so far, a sailboat and a ship, but I have no doubt that the yellow '?' is a submarine, because I saw one in a pet friend's house. The weird thing about this backdrop is that the squid does nothing. It just blinks its one eye at you but doesn't attempt to move or destroy anything.

[caption id="attachment_1071" align="alignleft" width="230" caption="Alien Invasion backdrop"][/caption]

Here's the last backdrop I got from the egg and I call it 'Alien Invasion'. I only managed to get two of the spare toys, which are the UFO and the F-16 Jet, and sorry to say, I don't have much clue as to the remaining two '?'. I'm kind of guessing that the plane I saw in a pet friend's house goes here but I can't be sure yet.

Oh, by the way, don't worry about the toys you drop into the scenery. If you want to give the toy vehicle to someone or put them elsewhere, you can always remove them from the backdrop. Also, if you keep getting the same toy vehicle over and over, you can sell them off for around 116 coins. I'll try my best to update any new toys I can get from the eggs. In the meantime, you can scout out my other Pet Society posts, Socializing in Pet Society and Socializing in Pet Society Part 2.

Before I forget, if you're getting bored of Pet Society, you can always try Playfish's latest online game, which is also available through Facebook; Restaurant City. You can decorate your restaurant, hire your friends, gather ingredients, learn new menu items and other restaurant management activities. I tried playing it for a while and my opinion is that it seems hectic but fun and interesting. :) Happy playing!

My Cat's 'New House'

I have a cat, Pablo (my ex-boyfriend named him), and he's one of the best cats I've ever had. He's kind of weird and very, very curious. Whenever there's an open bag or box, anything with an opening, he'll jump in and stay there for a while. I never understand cats' fascination with closed spaces.

Anyway, I bought Pablo a new litter box, one of those enclosed litter box with a flap door. I needed to make sure that he can fit through the flap so I took it out from the plastic bag to get him acquainted with it. Oh, he got acquainted with it, alright.

He liked it so much, he actually made it into a house. He just stayed in there, looking out through the transparent plastic walls at us. He even played inside it, chasing his tail round and round. It got to the point that he didn't want to come out. I thought maybe he didn't know how to get out through the flap so I took the flap out but he still stayed in there.

I finally had to let him get bored of the house on his own terms, which took about a week, before I could put his litter sand in. I was scared that he might actually sleep in the box even after that but thank God, he's smart enough to realize what the 'house' is supposed to be.

[caption id="attachment_1052" align="aligncenter" width="368" caption="His 'new house'"][/caption]

Money-Making Writing

You know, there are tons, and I mean, TONS, of blogs and articles on how to make money online and through blogging. Let me shatter your bubble here, I've written it before (Cleaning Up & Making Money) and I'm going to write it again; making money through online writing is really, really hard. No, it's not impossible, it's definitely do-able, but it's no piece of cake. And pgrundy has written one of the best blog article about this subject at 'How to Make Money Writing Online'.

There are alot of writers online and offline, all of them wanting that one break to penetrate the writing market and making oodles of money, just like their favourite author. I'm shameful, yet proud, to admit that I am one of them. No career is ever easy in this world, well, unless you count flipping burgers and sweeping the streets. But even those have their own ups and downs, such as servicing grumpy customers, working long hours, facing inconsiderate litterers and drivers, stuff like that.

pgrundy mentioned in her blog that one way to get your writing career started is to self-publish your work. She even has a list of big-time authors who started by self-publishing their writings. I have a college friend, who's very talented in writing, and he too had published his science fiction story in the US. He showed it to me but I never got a chance to read it. If you think it's vain to self-publish, well, honey, let me tell you that it's a dog-eat-dog world out there. If you're not going to toot your horn amidst all those other horn-tooters, then you're never going to get noticed. Have some confidence in yourself.

Food Review: Popeye's Louisiana Kitchen

Wake up, Malaysia!! There's a new fast food chain joining the ranks of MacD's, KFC and A&W, and its name is the same as that lovable one-eyed sailor with his ever-present pipe; Popeye's Louisiana Kitchen. I went over to give it a try when it first opened its doors in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, my neighbourhood, yeehaw!!

[caption id="attachment_882" align="alignright" width="240" caption="Popeye's Louisiana Kitchen at TTDI"][/caption]

Now, bear in mind that when I went there, they were opened for maybe about a week. They're now about 2 months old, if I'm not mistaken. As with everything new, it attracts attention and a huge line of people were already there at lunchtime to satisfy their curiousity and their appetites. I guess it is excusable for any new shop or restaurant to have really bad service because of inexperience, and that was how the service was at Popeye's; slow and steady.

They have quite a selection though, for a shop that was newly opened. Their menu is not just limited to burgers and fries, they have rice bowls, fried chicken, chicken strips and salad too.

[caption id="attachment_886" align="alignleft" width="194" caption="The (fully-eaten) chicken and the two side dishes"][/caption]

We tried the fried chicken, which came with a biscuit (some sort of doughy bread) and two side dishes of coleslaw and mashed potatoes. The fried chicken, well, wasn't a break-through in tastebuds but was just okay (sorry about the fully eaten chicken in the picture, we were too hungry to wait). Don't expect the same herbs and spices of KFC's chicken, Popeye's fried chicken was tasty but not exactly mind-blowing or memorable.

[caption id="attachment_889" align="alignright" width="162" caption="The coleslaw and mashed potatoes"][/caption]

The coleslaw was nice though but it still can't beat KFC's coleslaw. The mashed potatoes was different in taste because it had a slightly spicy gravy and some added ingredients such as small pieces of chicken. Give this one a try if you can handle spicy food.

[caption id="attachment_893" align="alignleft" width="192" caption="Fried Chicken Strips"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_897" align="alignright" width="144" caption="The biscuit"][/caption]

We also had the chicken strips, which I liked best, because they were soft and juicy. It also came with the biscuit and the two side dishes. I don't like the biscuit though. There's this kind of weird after-taste that's slightly bitter and oily. I don't quite know how to explain it, all I can say is I can do without the biscuit.

The environment is cozy though. They really renovated the old Shakey's Pizza lot. However, they still maintained the balcony that overlooks the road so smokers and those who love the view and heights are able to chit-chat and eat to their heart's content.

[caption id="attachment_901" align="aligncenter" width="240" caption="The Balcony"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_905" align="aligncenter" width="243" caption="The interior of the upstairs"][/caption]

Since I ate there quite a while ago, I can't remember the exact price of the items but I do remember whispering to my friend that Popeye's is slightly pricier than KFC. In my personal opinion, the pricing and the food was just 'okay', not exactly value for money but okay to try and to eat once in a while. The upside to Popeye's is that they offer a few menu items that other fast food chains don't, such as their fried seafood basket and burgers. And no, just because they are named Popeye doesn't mean there's any spinach on the menu, so sorry to disappoint. :D Oh, here's another review of the restaurant by Wanderlust if you want a second opinion.

So give it a try if you're in the neighbourhood or wait until they reach your own area. They should be opening another branch soon in one of the malls in Petaling Jaya.

Socializing in Pet Society Part 2

This post is to update the earlier posting I wrote on Pet Society (Socializing in Pet Society on March 8th 2009). Since that time, the people of Pet Society has upgraded certain parts of the game, adding new stores and new items, as well as disabling certain methods of making money.

There are now two additional stores to the previous selection, the Mystery Store and the Gadget Store.

[caption id="attachment_851" align="alignleft" width="172" caption="Mystery Store"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_857" align="alignright" width="103" caption="Toy Mystery Egg Dispenser"][/caption]

The Mystery Boxes have now been moved to the Mystery Store and are accompanied by a new item, the Toy Mystery Egg dispenser. This dispenser sells you a toy egg which costs 350 coins each.

[caption id="attachment_864" align="alignright" width="59" caption="Toy Mystery Egg"][/caption]

The egg will randomly give you a toy. So far, the toys that I have seen come out from the egg are unlike those we can get from the stores and from the Mystery Boxes. You can get toy vehicles like police cars and planes as well as a scenery background that moves when you click on it. These are the only things for sale in the Mystery Store so far but I have no doubt that the people of Pet Society will add more in times to come.

Update: Apparently, when you receive one of the background sceneries, like the one below, there are pieces that you need to get to complete the scenery. For example, the scenery below requires 4 additional pieces, one of them is a UFO. Drop the toy (a car, plane or other small toys) at the '?' and see whether it fits into the scenery. If it does, the scenery will accept the toy as part of it.

[caption id="attachment_861" align="aligncenter" width="224" caption="Example of Toy from the egg"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_878" align="aligncenter" width="228" caption="Toy with additional pieces. The police car is not part of it."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_866" align="alignleft" width="136" caption="The Gadget Store"][/caption]

As for the Gadget Store, the items in there are just the electrical appliances that used to be in the Furniture store. At the time of this post, there are no new electrical items in the store.

As I have updated in my previous Pet Society post, the people of the game has disabled the money-making method of brushing and washing your pet when the bars are full. I have not been able to get any money once the bars have reached their limit. Also, I've noticed that there are times when you brush and wash the other pets, you only get 1 coin instead of the usual 2 coins. I'm unsure of the reason behind this inconsistency.

I'm glad that Pet Society has upgraded the game. I was getting kind of bored with it but it seems to be tougher to get money now. :(

How to Behave at a Wedding

I have been to my fair share of weddings over the years, weddings of relatives, friends and strangers. My most recent one is my friend's brother's wedding where I helped out as an usher. I noticed, after this latest event, most Malaysians are not aware of how to behave at weddings. Here's a list of what NOT to do when attending a wedding:-

• Let me tell you why RSVP is important. When weddings are held at halls or hotel ballrooms, the tables are limited and are often assigned to selected names. When you are invited and you RSVPed yourself and your wife, there will only be 2 of your names listed at an assigned table. If you choose to bring another guest or your children without informing the invitees, you have caused the problem of the organizers having to reshuffle the tables and names, or open another table, which will cost them more money. You also create the problem of the organizers having to shuffle the other guests at your table to be seated elsewhere simply to accommodate your selfish, thoughtless self. So (1) When a wedding requires you to RSVP, kindly do RSVP and inform the total number of attendees. Even though the invitation says 'Mr Name and Wife', if you're bringing your children, tell the invitees that they will be, what, 3, 4 of you attending. DON'T arrive at the wedding hall bringing other uninformed guests.

• Unless you are family members or the organizers, you do not have to right to decide where other guests sit. I encountered a lady who put it upon herself to redirect where people sit, even though she is not a family member or an organizer. Because of her, we faced the problem of having to reshuffle not one, but two tables of guests to other tables. So (2) If you have been assigned to a table, please sit at that table. If you wish to sit elsewhere or with friends, if there is space or lack of guests, it is fine. If not, you can mingle with your friends later.

• Another 'mistake' I've noticed is minimal but it does happen. Unless it is a dress code, guests, please DO NOT wear white. You're at someone else's wedding, not your own, so let the bride have the honour of being the only one to wear full-on white, even if she does decide to wear another colour. I encountered a lady wearing all white, and she was the only guest to do so, which set her apart from the rest and also garnered the attention which should have been on the bride. So (3) Refrain from wearing a full white outfit (it's not your wedding), or a full black outfit (it's not a funeral). If you are wearing white or black, set it off with another colour, either a scarf or jacket.

• The happy couple and their family extended their invitations to you to join them on their happy day. It is rude if you choose to leave early without giving thanks to the family. I have seen many wedding guests doing what I call the 'eat-and-run'; they come to the wedding, they eat their fill and leave without congratulating the family. So (4) If you really need to leave early (because of a meeting the next day or something), then kindly say thanks to the family before taking leave. If you don't need to leave urgently, then kindly stay until the ceremonies are over. After all, it is only polite.

These are but a few basic behavioural rules when attending a wedding, but some guests are either unaware of it or simply don't care for it. It will help relieve alot of headaches if guests could just kindly be more considerate towards the family and the other guests. Keep in mind that you would feel the same way if the guests at your wedding or your loved one's wedding behave in those inconsiderate ways.

A Lesson in Stress Management

You know, sometimes junk mail aren't exactly 'junk' mail. All those forwarded e-mails that you receive everyday are not all useless, pointless or a waste of time. There are golden eggs amongst those rotten fruits, and here's one egg I almost threw away.

A lecturer, when explaining stress management to an audience, raised a glass of water and asked, 'How heavy is this glass of water?'

Answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g.

The lecturer replied, 'The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long you try to hold it.'

'If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance.'

'In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.'

He continued, 'And that's the way it is with stress management. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on.'

'As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden.'

'So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work down. Don't carry it home. You can pick it up tomorrow. Whatever burdens you're carrying now, let them down for a moment if you can.'

If you've ever wondered why experienced people tell you, 'Leave your work at the office. Don't bring it home.' or 'Leave your personal problems at the door', this is why. It's to help you relieve your stress burden.

Movie Review: Watchmen

* Warning: May contain movie spoilers.

I wriggled in my cinema seat for the umpteenth time, trying my best to find a more comfortable position. It wasn't the seat that was making me restless, however, it was the movie we've chosen for the night.

Watchmen is originally a 12-issue comic published by DC Comics back in the mid-80s. What makes the superheroes in Watchmen different from other comic superheroes is the fact that they are not superheroes at all, in many aspects. When we hear 'superhero', we usually think of characters like Superman with his alien powers or Batman with his strong sense of justice. The Watchmen characters, however, are a deconstruction of the superhero concept, proving that underneath their masks, they are still humans with their anxieties, disorders and destructive tendencies.

Since I have never read the comic version, I am unable to say whether the movie did justice to its origins. But I can say that I find Watchmen similar to Sin City the movie. The narration style is interesting as the narrator changes every so often, providing insight into the thoughts and stories of the main characters. The editing style comprises of numerous flashbacks to the point I couldn't tell whether it was the past or the present. In my friend's opinion, he described the cinematography as 'staying true to the comic-story-style.'

Honestly, I don't quite like the movie. While I like how the plot dives into the horrors of the human minds and actions, especially the twistedness of the Comedian (played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan), it was just too slow with too many twists and turns to make it enjoyable in one seating. I find myself wishing I could pause it and watch the ending later.

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="170" caption="Comedian's Trademark Badge"][/caption]

Speaking of the Comedian, Edward Blake (the real identity of the masked man) is far from a humourous man, his view on the world majorly distorted from the Watchmen's goals. The Comedian is part of the original Watchmen team formed in the 1940s and reformed 20 years later with new members. The original and new team members are either arrested, dead, murdered or forced into retirement when a ruling against masked vigilantes came out. However, the murder of the Comedian forced Rorschach, a.k.a. Walter Kovacs (played by Jackie Earle Haley), to seek out the rest of his team.

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="240" caption="Rorschach"][/caption]

I never did understand how those ink splotches on Rorschach's mask moves around. Is it a play on your imagination or does it really moves on its own? In my opinion, Rorschach is the most memorable hero in the movie and he has the best lines so pay attention to what he says and try not to let his gravelly voice grate on your nerves like it did to me. His story is one of the best and it should be because he is the main narrator for the movie.

The only one who has actual powers is Dr Manhattan, a.k.a. Jon Osterman (acted by Billy Crudup), the totally blue, totally naked bald man with diminishing human emotions. There's a mild sex scene featuring him that is quite funny so keep a look out for it. Also, look for the constantly blurred private part, which just pulls your attention to it whenever there's a full body shot of him. :D

Since we're on the sex issue, the building romance between two other main characters, Silk Spectre II (Laurie Juspeczyk, acted by Malin Akerman) and Night Owl II (Dan Dreiberg, played by Patrick Wilson) is one that is expected, and annoying. Annoying because they just couldn't keep their hands off each other. There were so many unnecessary scenes involving their relationship and after about 3 scenes of them, I couldn't help but lift my hands up in frustration. Yes, they want each other, they lust for each other, we get it, move on with the plot. :x

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="250" caption="The Original Watchmen in the movie"][/caption]

For those seeking action, don't worry, the violence and gore is on a high scale, so yes, you will get your kicks out of the bloody scenes. Oh, yes, action  and fighting scenes are abundant as well, especially the prison chapter. All in all, you can say Watchmen is filled with dark humour and insights into the distorted side of the human nature but is well-balanced with the goodness and unexpected kindness of humanity. The ending will throw you into a loop as you see how evil needed to be done to the innocents for the good of the world. But seriously, and I rarely say this, don't watch it in the cinema. It's too long, complicated and the censorship can drive you nuts at times.

What attracted me most about the movie was its soundtrack. Since it's set in the 1980s, the songs used are kind of like evergreen music and oldies your parents listen to, which contrast greatly with the fast-beat, hyper, rock-like music they used for the action scenes.

By the way, since Watchmen is set in New York City, you will see the World Trade Centers intact in a few city scenes. Those who have lost loved ones during September 11 is advised to keep an open mind when watching this film.

As usual, here are the goofs some viewers found while watching the movie. This time, I think it's okay if you want to read the goofs first as the movie is not what I would say a must-see.

Best line from the movie that my friend and I love to quote is by Rorschach:

"You people don't understand. I'm not locked in here with you, you're locked in here with me!"

Friday the 13th

I just noticed from my calendar that today is actually Friday 13th, the dreaded bad-luck day. 8O Cue eerie music.

I have always wondered who created this superstition about Friday 13th associated with evil and bad luck so I went to do a little digging on the Net.

Apparently, according to Wikipedia, Friday 13th is not necessarily connected to 'bad' luck but to both good and bad. There is no real proof or evidence that the 13th-dated Friday brings about catastrophe and accidents, and this phenomenon was actually spread through folklore and stories than written physical documents. To quote Wikipedia, The earliest known documented reference in English occurs in an 1869 biography of Gioachino Rossini:

[Rossini] was surrounded to the last by admiring and affectionate friends; and if it be true that, like so many other Italians, he regarded Friday as an unlucky day, and thirteen as an unlucky number, it is remarkable that on Friday, the 13th of November, he died.

You see, some cultures perceive 13 as a bad luck number and some view Friday as a bad luck day, so add the two together and you have double the amount of bad luck should you venture out on this ill-fated day. Thus the existence of Friday the 13th. I wonder if there's a bad luck month and year as well. Imagine the horror. :twisted:

Wikipedia even quoted a few research on accidents occurring on the day...with conflicting results. You can read more on the subject matter here.

Personally, I believe that bad luck will happen to me, if it's fated to happen, regardless what day or date it is so it's no point for me to hide myself under my bed for the entire day. But.....be careful anyway if you're going out. ;)

Food Review: Belicious

The news have been abuzzing with Umie Aida's restaurant-cum-boutique, Belicious, at Emerald Plaza, Damansara Perdana. Being a regular patron of the Damansara Perdana area, I've seen it as I go about my days when they first opened but have never tried it. Not until my friend (a HUGE fan of Umie Aida) urged me to try their food a month ago.

[caption id="attachment_779" align="alignleft" width="192" caption="Belicious"][/caption]

With a choice of both Asian and Western food, Belicious offers appetizers, snack food and main courses accompanied by an assortment of drinks. Their menu has improved much since they first opened, adding new dishes to their earlier line-ups. The price, though, has gone up slightly with the new selection.

The portion of the food is quite good, giving you just the right amount to fill up your stomach. The drinks are quite adequately sized as well, not too much and not too little. You can say that the quality and quantity of the food is well-matched with its price. The presentation of the food is also taken into consideration with most of the dishes served on heart-shaped white plates.

[caption id="attachment_782" align="alignright" width="240" caption="Sizzling Yee Mee. The steam is making the photo all blurry."][/caption]

I've tasted Belicious's pasta before (I love pasta) and I can say that it's quite good. But the new dish I tried, Sizzling Yee Mee, has an excellent broth! The thick sauce literally drowns the mee with generous portions of chicken pieces and mushrooms, all gathered in a hot clay pot. Be warned though as this dish takes awhile to reach you so if you're really hungry, I advise you to go for another, much quicker selection.

[caption id="attachment_784" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Singapore Fried Kuey Teow"][/caption]

Another dish you can try is the Kuey Teow Goreng Singapore (Singapore-style Fried Kuey Teow), which is my friend's favourite food at Belicious.  Simple fried kuey teow noodles, it's cooked with eggs and bits of seafood, such as prawns, mixed with carrots and vegetables. It's served with cili padi (green chillies) for those who want it spicier than its original seasoned taste.

[caption id="attachment_789" align="alignleft" width="180" caption="Teh Tarik"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_790" align="alignright" width="101" caption="Ice Cold Chocolate"][/caption]

While I haven't had the opportunity to taste-test most of their drinks, I have to say that two of the drinks I like most are the Teh Tarik and the Chocolate drink. The Teh Tarik cup is huge!! I love holding it in my hands on a cold, rainy afternoon. The taste was just okay though, slightly more bitter than I usually have it. The Chocolate drink, on the other hand, is smooth, and it kind of reminds you of Cadbury's milk chocolate.

Of course, nowadays, a restaurant can't just rely on food alone and Belicious goes a step further from other eateries with not just their boutique but also with a big projector screen. Chill out and hang with some friends after work while catching up on the news, screaming at the latest football league tournament or shopping for new outfits. Being only half a shop, the boutique is not that large but it offers unique designs.

Now, here's the minus part of Belicious and I must say that although I have been there many times, I see no improvement on the most integral part of a restaurant: service. I am unsure whether the people who work there are related to Umie Aida in any way, but the waiters there are slow and at times, unfocused. Because they stay inside the enclosed shop most of the time, there are times when they do not even notice that new customers have arrived or that a customer needs something. You wave and call and you start to wonder whether they're ignoring you or they're too caught up in their own thoughts to notice you. I notice that they pay close attention to those that they themselves personally know or recognize, which is not good for the other customers and adds a snootty air to the atmosphere. Other than that, everything else is honky-dory.

If you're ever in the Emerald Plaza area of Damansara Perdana, take a load off and head on to Belicious. The parking in the area is very limited so double-park wherever you can but please, leave your number on the dashboard so the poor driver you blocked can at least contact you.

Unique Individuals

There are many wonders in this world and I believe humans are the most wondrous being on Earth simply because everyone is a unique individual. No two people are exactly the same, even twins. However, what I think makes humans the subject of atttention is the sheer stupidity they sometimes have, even with all that brain power God has generously given.

I received this in my email the other day and it simply must be shared. Not because it's fun to laugh at people or to put these people in a bad light. I'm posting it because at one time or other, I'm sure we ALL have gone through a similar situation before, including me. Enjoy. :D

****

One day, I was walking down the beach with some friends when someone shouted, 'Look at that dead bird!'  Someone looked up at the sky and said...'where???'

***

While looking at a house, my brother asked the estate agent which direction was north because, he explained, he didn't want the sun waking him up every morning. She asked, 'Does the sun rise  in the north?' When my brother explained that the sun rises in the east, and has for sometime, she shook her head and said, 'Oh, I don't  keep up with that stuff.'

****

My colleague and I  were eating our lunch in our cafeteria, when we overheard one of the administrative assistants talking about the sunburn she got on her weekend drive to the beach. She drove down in a convertible, but 'didn't think she'd get sunburned because the car was moving'.

***

I told the girl at the steakhouse register that I wanted the half  kilogram sirloin. She informed me they only had an 500g sirloin. Not wanting to make a scene, I told her I would take the 500g steak instead of the half-kilogram.

****

My sister has a  lifesaving tool in her car, it's designed to cut through a seat belt if she gets trapped. She keeps it in the car trunk...

***

My friends and I  were on a Lager run and noticed that the cases were discounted 10%. Since it was a big party, we bought 2 cases. The cashier multiplied 2 times 10% and gave us a 20% discount....

****

I was hanging out with a friend when we saw a woman with a nose ring attached to an earring by a chain. My friend said, 'Wouldn't the chain rip out every time she turned her head?'  I had to explain that a person's nose and ear remain the same distance apart no matter which way the head is turned...

***

I couldn't find my luggage at the airport baggage area. So I went to the lost luggage office and told the woman there that my bags never showed up. She smiled and told me not to worry because she was a trained professional and I was in good hands. 'Now,' she asked me, 'Has your plane arrived yet?'...

****

While working at a pizza parlour, I observed a man ordering a small pizza to go. He appeared to be alone and the cook asked him if he would like it cut into 4 pieces or 6. He thought about it for some time before responding. 'Just cut it into 4  pieces; I don't think I'm hungry enough to eat 6 pieces.'

What I found hilarious was the sentence right at the end of the e-mail. Someone wrote: "Sadly, not only do they walk among us, they also reproduce!!!!" :lol:

The Birthday of Prophet Muhammad

"And peace on him on the day he was born, and on the day he dies, and on the day he is raised to life." - Holy Quran 19:15

Today is a time for rest, relaxation and reflection as the Muslims celebrate the birth of the last and best prophet. It's a nice rainy Monday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, not sure how it is in the other regions of the world. I'm sure many people are out praying or holding holy ceremonies. No matter what you're doing today, be safe. :) Peace.

Socializing in Pet Society

My heart lifted in happiness as I opened the official-looking letter. I won 500 coins in today's lottery!! No, not a real lottery, the daily lottery in Pet Society. :D

When my friend first invited me to play Pet Society, I went in, took one look at it and promptly forgot all about it. Then, one day, as I was cleaning up my applications on Facebook, I saw the long-forgotten game and decided to just have a look-see.....and immediately got hooked on it.

What's Pet Society? Designed by Playfish, it's actually a social game where you become a pet. Unfortunately, you are only able to play the game on Facebook, so join up if you want to play. :D You'll have a house and a neighbourhood complete with shops. So far, there's a Furniture store (to buy chairs and beds and such for your house), a Luxury store (more expensive goods), a Clothes store (to clothe your naked pet),a Food store (for your starving pet), a Stylist (for a whole new look), a Bank (to get more coins to buy stuff), a Stadium (for exercise and to win more coins), a Cafe (to find more friends), and a D.I.Y store (to style your own house in your own unique design).

You can add friends as well who play Pet Society and visit their houses to earn points and coins.

[caption id="attachment_734" align="alignright" width="273" caption="Your house & some parts of the neighbourhood"][/caption]

Now, other than socializing with your friends in a whole new environment, there's really nothing much to this game. The only thing I see people doing in Pet Society is buying the new furniture and clothes that come out every week, and having the chance to get a rare stuff from one of the mystery boxes in the Furniture store. The aim is to get more points to reach the high levels (and to increase the rooms in your house), and to earn as much coins as possible to buy stuff. Yep, that's it. Simple, right? ;)

At the moment, the highest level is Level 34, which takes more than 140,000 points to achieve. The maximum number of rooms for your house is currently 6, with 3 on the ground floor and 3 on the upper floor. Even though you can still earn points, your level will not increase, well, not until the Pet Society people does something about it.

[caption id="attachment_741" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Visiting friends"][/caption]

Now, on to the most asked questions from everyone new to Pet Society: how do I earn more money? Let me tell you straight-up, although I know that there are cheats available online (WAIT!! DO NOT GO SEARCHING FOR THEM YET!), I have to tell you that Pet Society WILL ban you from playing the game should you be found cheating in any way. And yes, they will know, and the players themselves will know as well. It's not very hard to detect as cheaters tend to get too excited when 'gaining' coins and 'earning' points.

Now, this is how I earn money, and I earn quite alot.

1. Enter Pet Society everyday. Each new day, you will get a lottery mail, which, depending on your luck, will earn you 50 coins, 100 coins or 500 coins. I managed to win 1,000 coins the other day (very rare!!). Do not be fooled into thinking that the lottery mail will pile up if you didn't visit your pet. The lottery mail will be replaced with a new one everyday should you not visit.


2. Visit each friend everyday. Each new visit will earn you 20 coins and 5 points. Every other visit on that day will just earn you 5 points.


3. Brush and clean all your friends. Brushing will earn you 2 coins and 7 points while cleaning will earn you 2 coins and 6 points. Please keep in mind that there are times when you won't earn coins or points. This is normal.


4. If you have the money, buy food and feed your friends. Each feed will earn you 2 coins and 17 points. Don't buy expensive food, just those 5 coins fruit will work. Even if you feed your friend a pizza that costs 20 coins, you'll still only earn 2 coins and 17 points.


5. Brush and clean your own pet. Same as your friends, you will earn 2 coins and 7 points for brushing and 2 coins and 6 points for washing. What some people don't notice is even if your pet's hygienic and happiness level are high, you can still brush and clean them, and still earn coins and points. My record for brushing, so far, is a straight, non-stop 24 coins. *Update: It seems Pet Society has disabled this money-making-method after its latest upgrade. I have not managed to get any coins when my pet's happiness and cleanliness bar are full.


6. Run through the trees in your neighbourhood. When you pass through a tree, you may be lucky enough to earn 1 coin from each selected trees. Everytime you enter a house or store and you re-enter the neighbourhood, run through the trees again to earn coins. I get an average of 12 coins whenever I 'bang' the trees.


7. Everytime your level increase, you will get 100 coins as a reward. So work hard for those points.


8. Everytime you earn a Trophy (such as for playing softball or visiting friends), you will earn 100 coins. Playing the frisbee, jump rope and softball will earn you 1 coin at random times as you play.


9. 
   
   [caption id="attachment_743" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Hurdle-racing"][/caption]
   
   Run the race at the Stadium everyday. Each day will give your pet 10 races. Each time you win a race, you will earn 30 coins and 20 points. If you get second, you'll earn only 10 points, no coins, and last place will earn you 5 points, no coins. If you just want to earn points, you can select 'practice' and earn 20 points each time you win. Here are some hints to the hurdle race:-

• To ensure your pet successfully jumps over the hurdle, click on your pet just as it reaches the start of the hurdle's foot (that long dark grey thing on the floor).


• If possible, click on ALL the banana peels on the track, yours and your friends. If you're lucky enough, you can earn 1 coin for each banana peel.


• Once your pet is about to reach the middle of the speed-mat, click on your pet for maximum speed. When the mat turns green, it's the maximum speed, yellow means medium speed and red is usually unsuccessful.

There are other ways to earn points such as buying furniture and food (the more expensive the item, the more points you'll earn) or giving your friends a gift. You'll find out more as you play. :)

[caption id="attachment_748" align="alignright" width="274" caption="The Mystery Boxes"][/caption]

One trend that everyone who have money does it to buy those Mystery boxes in the Furniture shop, as I mentioned above. There are 3 mystery boxes; a 50-coin box, a 200-coin box and the whopping 500-coin box. The 50-coin one will get you mostly food, cheap furniture, some accessories and some rare clothes, such as Apron or Playfish t-shirts. The 200-coin box will get you pretty much the same things, but more expensive stuff. I usually get plants. If you're lucky, you can get a rare prize such as a toy (I got a black toy duck), but if you're really unlucky, you'll get really cheap stuff, like the Fragrant Hyacinth (a 50-coin cheap flower) I keep getting. The golden mystery box is the one you want. The stuff you get from there is sooooo rare; a grand chandelier, a piano, a rare mask, a rare carpet, the stuff is endless. But, again, this is only if your luck is good. If not, you'll still get cool stuff from time to time, or bad stuff that just makes you want to scream. :) For a list of items you can get from these boxes, check out http://kogaweb.net/.

It can get kind of addictive so trust me when I say, play only when you have lots of time to spare. Have fun!!

A Night for Shellfish

I've been looking through my old posts and just realized a humourous story that I think I wrote elsewhere but never posted here. This is a true story as related to me by a friend I've worked with during one of the plays by The Oral Stage crew (check out their site at http://www.theoralstage.com/ , they haven't been active so far this year, though).

Prakash was in charge of booking a venue for his college's prom night so he called up one of the hotels to inquire the rental and whatever deal they could provide.

Prakash: "Hello. I'm calling to book your hall for an event. Can you help me out?"

Receptionist: "Yes. May I ask what's the event?"

Prakash: "It's for my college. We're having a prom night."

Receptionist: "I see. If you can tell me the date, I will check to see if it's available."

Prakash: "Ok."

Receptionist: "By the way, will you be bringing your own prawns?"

Prakash: "I'm sorry?"

Receptionist: "For your prawn night. Will you be bringing your own prawns or do you need us to supply them for you?"

Prakash: "It's a PROM night. Not a prawn night! It's a PROM night!"

Needless to say, both callers were embarrassed by the mistake. I wonder what made the receptionist think someone would actually organize a PRAWN night. Are there anyone who's crazy in love with prawns to pay tribute to these shellfish? Hmmm, I never did find out whether Prakash actually rented that same hall. :lol:

Food Review: Zen Japanese Restaurant

I've decided to make Fridays as my Food Review day. Wheeeeee!!! Food Review is not just about what's nice to eat and what dishes to order. I'm also including places and outlets that I DO NOT recommend. You wouldn't believe the outlets I've been to that are lousy in service and unhygenic to boot. :x By the way, I'll TRY to write a food review every Friday, if possible. If not, well, then I guess my busy schedule has gotten the best of me. Hehehehe!!

My first Food Review is going to be on a place I discovered on my recent birthday. I love the place so much, I can't wait to eat there again.

[caption id="attachment_719" align="alignleft" width="179" caption="Zen Japanese Restaurant"][/caption]

I don't know if you guys realize that there's a great japanese restaurant called 'Zen Japanese Restaurant' at Sunway Pyramid. It's located at Lot 0B2-F-U2 on the 1st Floor of Oasis Boulevard 2. You have to go all the way through Parkson Grand (old wing of Pyramid) and take the stairs/escalator to your right to reach it.

If what I have tasted at Sakae Sushi all this while is japanese food, then Zen must be the queen, no, KING, of great authentic japanese cuisine.

[caption id="attachment_721" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Sashimi at Zen"][/caption]

The sashimi is soooo thick and fresh. Not even the higher standards of Senjyu Sushi, Sakae Sushi's more exquisite sister, could compare to the sashimi I tasted in Zen. Sorry about the picture. The sashimi was so good that I didn't realize I ate half of it without taking a picture of the dish, ehheheheh!

We ordered the Udon as well, accompanied by tempura prawns. I didn't like the Udon soup much, though, because it was the soy sauce type that Tokyo people like. I'm more of the clear broth type, like Kansai-style. But the Udon was thick and filling, and the tempura prawns were really big!

[caption id="attachment_723" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="From left to right: Gyutan, Sashimi and Udon"][/caption]

But my utmost favourite dish is the one I've been craving for since I first tasted it in Penang; Japanese BBQ Gyutan (grilled beef tongue). Yep, you guessed it, cow's tongue. Yummy!! It's sliced so thin and you get to grill it yourself on this small cute little ceramic stove, and it only takes a few seconds to cook each side of the tongue. And when you dip it into this special beef sauce...ooooh, it's simply heaven! For RM30+, Zen gives you quite a lot, even for two people, it's more than enough. You can just see the ceramic stove at the left side of the picture and the ready-to-eat grilled tongue on one of the plates.  Don't worry, if you can't stomach eating a cow's tongue, there's normal beef available too. :D

[caption id="attachment_724" align="alignright" width="210" caption="Frozen Strawberries"][/caption]

For dessert, we had something that I wanted to try whenever I was at Sakae Sushi but they never seem to have it available; Frozen Strawberry. Vanilla ice-cream with whipped cream stuffed into frozen strawberries, WOW!! Be careful, though, it will definitely give you brain-freeze, it is THAT cold.

Ok, let's drop the food and go into service. Quite frankly, for such a high-class restaurant, I expected a better and more attentive service. It takes a while before the staff actually notice that you require their help and they tend to walk pass you without noticing your raised hand. That's a minus for me. However, the ones who did serve us are trained quite well, with good manners and poise.

[caption id="attachment_725" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Interior of Zen"][/caption]

They need to do a better job at keeping the place clean as well. I was seated at one of the corner comfy tables, and right behind me was this bare cupboard they use as a decor and the dust on the shelves was quite thick. It shows how often they dust the place. However, the environment is nice. It has that calming effect with the choice of cream and dark colours, and soft yellow lighting.

With a seating capacity of 126 people, their business hours are Monday to Thursday (11.30am - 3.00pm & 6.00pm - 11.00pm) and Friday to Sunday (12.00 noon - 11.00pm).  You can contact them at 03-7492 4922 should you wish to make a reservation or for any inquiries. If you like Japanese food, you definitely can't pass this one. 8)