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Sunday, May 29, 2005

LRT Excursions

If you ever intent on taking the LRT’s while you are in Kuala Lumpur, please remember these simple guidelines. Should you need further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact their customer service officers;

1) You are not allowed to eat, drink and smoke while on the platforms or in the LRT’s. You are also NOT allowed to spit or pick your nose because that is just plain disgusting.

2) During peak hours (especially), large crowds may be waiting for the trains. You are running late and don’t want to miss this next one? Fret not, because ‘inertia’, ‘momentum’ and many other Physics terms will easily be applied at these times. Just stand still while waiting for the train to come. When the train stops, you will feel a sudden surge of energy from the momentum of people pushing you from behind. The ‘inertia’ force that the crowd is exerting will inevitably push you (hopefully safely), together with the rest into the train. Sometimes, if you are lucky enough, you may even be lifted off the ground for a few seconds.

3) Should you be standing in front of a person who is sitting, please cover your mouth when you yawn. The person who is sitting DOES NOT need help from you in getting some fresh air. The cool air from the air conditioning system is fresh enough.

4) While holding the hand rail(s), try to stand still instead of holding it like a chimpanzee hanging from a branch of a tree. This is because the trains do make turns here and there. So, if you hold it like a chimpanzee, your whole body will start swaying according to the trains’ movements and you will start hitting every other person close to you. We know you are tired and exhausted, but other people too.

5) Do try to control your breathing. Avoid breathing out so heavily. The person who is nearby DOES NOT need help from you in getting some fresh air. The cool air from the air conditioning system is fresh enough.

6) There are plenty of spaces in the aisles for you to stand. Do NOT cram yourself in the middle section. Other people want to go to work also, what?

Thank you for paying attention. Hope your journey by the LRT’s has been fun and convenient. Please come again.

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posted by The Pisces Man @ 2:20 pm 3 people talked at The Boulevard

Saturday, May 28, 2005

Heaven and Hell

I once post this question to a Yahoogroups about Heaven and Hell. I asked them - let say in the best case scenario, you and ALL your loved ones go to heaven, that would be great right? But what if you are the only one who don’t make it there, will the others ever find out about it? Also, if you are in heaven, wouldn’t it just ‘kill’ you when you learn that someone you know is in the other place?

The bottom line is, will we still know each other over there and can we save one another as families or friends?

Of course, very few could answer my questions because obviously nobody has ever been there, and done that. I just thought someone might have read about it somewhere, that’s all :(

Some of you might be wondering why do I think of these things? It’s just that for the past few months, I've been thinking a lot about my late granny – (I don’t know ok…so, don’t ask me why).

God, if there is no certainty that I will ever see her again in the after life, can I at least have dreams about her in this life?

posted by The Pisces Man @ 1:13 am 1 people talked at The Boulevard

Friday, May 27, 2005

Wax Da’ Car

I just love horror/scary movies. True, I tend to get scared and always literally jump off my seat and give the person sitting next to me, a shock. But still, I enjoy the feeling of being scared once a while as long as it does not last long after watching the movie. Now, that would be spooky...

One good thing about horror movies is their predictability. Usually, you would know who gets whacked and who survives. So, if a friend tells you which character(s) made it to the end and which one did not before you even see the movie, it won’t really matter that much…

In the House of Wax, a road trip to a college football game takes a turn for the worse for a group of teenagers. There are Carly (Elisha Cuthbert), her twin brother Nick (Chad Michael Murray), her boyfriend Wade (Jared Padalecki), her best friend Paige (Paris Hilton) and two other dudes. They encounter a deserted town, run by these two murderous brothers who, after killing their victims (or not), would coat them with wax and having them on display.

In this movie, the gore factor is there, and I mean, really gore…surprisingly our censorship board gave it a go(re)! The story is also there; it’s not just some mindless movies showing some chicks running foolishly and helplessly with her stalker walking so slowly from behind and yet still able to catch her.

One of the best scenes is when Paris Hilton says ‘bye! bye!’ No matter how scared you are while watching this movie, don’t cover your eyes or cower behind you friend’s shoulder. Make sure your eyes are wide open. Just watch how she dies, people! …By the way, Elisha Cuthbert from the TV series ‘24’ looked so much like Kirsten Dunst in this one (well, that’s my opinion).

Anyhow, the movie does raise a few questions;

1) The movie implies that, not all victims are already dead before they get waxed (some of them is rendered helpless during the whole waxing process). But how come they can’t break free from the wax afterwards? It’s not like you are frozen in ice or something…but still, maybe you can’t really break free, huh?

2) Those wax-coated corpses, won’t they rot? I mean, they are long dead anyway. I don’t think wax can act as a preservative on dead bodies, or can they? I wonder, did the ancient Egypt people use wax as one of the ingredients in the mummifying process?

Now, the second movie Madagascar – the story revolves around four resident animals of the Central Park Zoo in New York; Gloria the hippo, Alex the lion, Melman the giraffe and Marty the zebra. Made by the same team behind Shark Tale and Shrek (1 and 2), Madagascar is definitely better than the former but somehow, it lacks the ‘ooommpphh’ factor to be on a par with the latter.

Most of the punch lines are between the two pals, Marty and Alex. The visuals are amazing although nowadays, these things are easily made possible. Some of my favourite scenes include; the time when Marty is surfing with the dolphins, how Alex desperately needs to fight his cravings for steaks and the ‘spit the sea water’ acts (now that’s creative!).

However, I think Madagascar is too short (less than one and a half hour). Probably the creators could not or failed to widen the scope of the storyline. But that’s better, compared to dragging the whole story to the extent where audience find it absurd. But still, not a good deal to go for a DVD on this one if you ask me, regardless of how great the special features will be. It’s too short!

posted by The Pisces Man @ 1:02 am 3 people talked at The Boulevard

Friday, May 20, 2005

Start Struck (Warning! May Contain Plot Spoilers)

According to Peter Parker in his first Spider-Man movie, he said, “Just like any story worth telling, this story is about a girl…” And like most other stories/movies out there, Star Wars 3 story is also about a girl. We know now, one of the main reasons that propel ‘the chosen one’ Anakin Skywalker to be the ‘dark person’ Darth Vader is because, Anakin wants to prevent his wife, Amidala from a certain death. And to do that, he has to learn something that can only be learned “…not from a Jedi”, but from a Sith Lord.

Of course, there are other factors like a power-hungry ruler who does not want to lose his power. In doing so, he wages a phony war, so much of trying to save democracy. He disguises himself under that evil hood, trying not to reveal his true self, his true nature. Although only disfigured after some time into the movie, he is long disfigured by his lust and evil intentions. Worse still, he manipulates the trust that Anakin has put on him and drags him into the dark hole.

The relevance of a power-hungry ruler and his phony war to that ******* George Bush and its war against terror is undeniably true and apparent. Let’s just hope it does not have ‘Anakin’ by its side, or perhaps it already does?

Back to Star Wars - Star Wars saga has passed through many generations. Star Wars 4 to 6 were the first movies laden with special effects and believable storyline about the outer space. With its light sabers, space ships and plenty of aliens and planets, it was like watching most boys’ dream came true. Although the technology used was rudimentary by today’s computer standard, everything had to start from somewhere, right?

The special effects in Star Wars 3 are much better, not just to Parts 4 to 6, but also compared to Parts 1 and 2. The opening battle scenes are splendidly done and fast paced, while the CGI characters (nope, Yoda is no longer a puppet or acted by a small person) are amazingly rendered. Also, watch out for this General Grievous, a strategist with a bad cough, half flesh, and half metal.

The movie also has its unforgettable moments. Like the time when Kenobi defeated General Grievous and the silent moment between Anakin and Amidala, each with their own thoughts and worries. The final duel between Anakin and Kenobi is also rather heart wrenching. We can feel the pain for Kenobi’s failure as a Jedi, a mentor and a big brother as he leaves Anakin behind lying on the ground, defeated.

All in all, this movie leaves behind a breath-taking experience, the best in the prequel trilogy. Its ending completes the whole saga circle. As Lucas had admitted, 60% of the plot is contained in Episode 3, while 20% is in each Episodes 1 and 2. Perhaps, this is the reason why we can’t really fully empathise with Anakin’s struggle; probably due to rather bad script, acting and directing in Episodes 1 and 2.

Lucas should have concentrated in building Anakin’s character and put 40% of the plot in just one episode (name it Episode 1). Then, the Clone Wars cartoon should be a movie instead (Episode 2) with modifications here and there. FYI, Clone Wars is a feature length cartoon which shows the events that lead to Episode 3.

But then, that’s just my opinion - I’m no George Lucas. Much can be said about the Star Wars saga, but that would still be not enough. By the way, do you know that, works are already in progress to remake Star Wars Episodes 4, 5 and 6?.......................................................................... Hahahaha, gotcha!!!

posted by The Pisces Man @ 9:42 pm 0 people talked at The Boulevard

Thursday, May 19, 2005

Get Rid of that Gut

Here’s a summary of some of the tips that I read from a Men’s Health booklet, about how you can control the urge to eat, whenever or wherever;

1. Drown your appetite – Drinking generous amount of water is the number one way to reduce appetite. Aim for 64 ounces of fluids daily. Don’t gulp – sip 3 to 4 ounces at a time. A lot of water takes up a lot of room in the stomach, the stomach feels full, reducing the desire to eat.
2. Graze sensibly – Grazing means nibbling small amounts of food frequently, instead of eating just one to three large meals a day. Grazing can keep your appetite down all day long and prevent bingeing.
3. Soup it up – Soup can turn off the appetite with far fewer calories than many other foods. Soup takes up large volume of space in the stomach. Also, most of soup’s calories come from carbohydrates rather than fat, and carbohydrates are more satisfying to the brain.
4. Complex carbohydrates – Foods like rice, potatoes, corn and pasta are high in complex carbohydrates, low in fat and fewer calories. Carbohydrates are digested and stored less efficiently than fat. The metabolic rate goes up more when body is metabolizing carbohydrates.
5. Spicy foods – Spicy foods seem to quiet the appetite better than blander fare. The flavour is so intense, we don’t need as much. Also, metabolic rate goes up and more heat produced by the body. Whatever warms you up, slims you down.
6. Feast on fiber – Satisfaction begins in the mouth, and fibrous foods need to be chewed thoroughly. Eating slower means eating less – the body knows it’s received fuel and doesn’t need much more. Eg’s of foods are beans, apples, citrus fruits and root vegetables.
7. Eat simply – Having a wide variety of foods at one meal can cause us to eat much more. Each different food has its own satiety level. Limit side dishes to one each at every meal. And look for enjoyable one-pot meals.
8. Outbike your appetite – Regular exercise reduces the appetite, helps control blood sugar, leading to a steady state associated with fullness. Further, not many people can eat a lot after exercise (this is so true in my case).
9. Ask yourself ‘why?’ – Ask yourself why you want to eat because it may have nothing to do with hunger. Emotions are a major reason people eat. If you are turning to food in response to bad feelings, develop a strategy to help you feel better and eat less.
10. Know your own triggers – The smell, sight, sound and even food textures can trigger us to eat and overeat. Also, try to recall what made you start thinking about food – whether it was an advertisement, emotion or an aroma. This helps you outthink a craving next time it happens.

posted by The Pisces Man @ 1:40 pm 0 people talked at The Boulevard

Wednesday, May 18, 2005

Fatherhood or Unclehood?


Tonight, I’m spending a night at my sis’ house. During lunch time, I look for two new toys, one for each niece. Every now and then, I get those two cuties, sweetie, cuddly, cheeky and smart nieces of mine new toys or books. It really excites me the most to see their reaction and expression when they receive their ‘presents’. Sometimes, I really can’t wait for that moment to come.

Further, it really wrecks me everytime I have to say goodbye’s to them. I just wish I could be with them every second of the day. But I know that’s not possible. Even their own parents can’t be there 24-7. After all, I have a lot of catching up to do, especially this year – researching, watching, reading and writing…..

Has my fatherhood instinct start kicking in me long before I know it? If so, how come I’m still not ready to help clean up their ‘big business’? Also, I easily get impatience on stubborn kids (any) although I never actually do anything harmful towards them.

I’m also concern over my sleeping pattern, i.e. I usually sleep like a log. What should I do so that I can easily wake up when my future children need their diapers changed, or milk fed, in the middle of the night?

Meantime, here are the photos of my nieces (above). Aren’t they a cutie?

posted by The Pisces Man @ 10:37 pm 0 people talked at The Boulevard

Saturday, May 14, 2005

Power

In life, power means supremacy. If you have power, consciously or unconsciously you will try to be one step ahead of other people. But, spiritual power is the power of oneness, identification and manifestation. With spiritual power, you try to identify yourself with the rest of the world. The sufferings and the joys of human beings become part and parcel in life even if those people are not in front of you. Spiritual power will enable you to identify and make you one, with the rest of the world. It will help you to reveal and manifest your capacity – all, without any sense of supremacy. - Eileen Palley

Here’s another poem that I composed for one of my Toastmasters speeches;

They lock her in a room; She feels her life is doomed
Dreams shattered and fall into pieces; Her future is in deep crisis
Different clients, she is forced to entertain; She wonders, if her ordeal will ever end.

Tears fall from his eyes; As he waves goodbye
His parents go in different ways; He knows, whatever they say
Won’t make everything wonderful again; He wishes, it never has to end.

Bullets fall like rains; Many lives are taken
People are suffering; Children are crying
But a resolution, may never happen; They wish, this war will one day end.

In the early hours; Two burning towers
It is an unexpected disaster; Hearts are filled with sadness and anger
The world has changed ever since; People wonder, how it is going to end.

How many times will history have to repeat itself; How many times till all we can say is save us; Let’s put all these to an end; Cause we have the power in our hands.

© Copyright Abdun Nizar Ahmad - Malaysia; Sunday 09/02/03; 02:24pm

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posted by The Pisces Man @ 10:07 pm 0 people talked at The Boulevard

Bowl of karaoke

I go for karaoke and bowling with three colleagues (Andrew, Mazurah and Khairul) and a friend of one of them (Azean). Funny, this is my 4th year of working at the company, but the first time that we ever go for outing together. Well, thanks to the new staff that the company recruited over the past one year who are more fun, up-beat, less dramatic and less gossipping. Overall, it is an enjoyable day. For karaoke (2nd time for me), I just sing my heart out. Even for those MTV clips where there are no lyrics given, I can still sing along (although there are a few hmm's....and aahhh's...). As for bowling, the last time that I bowled was 8 years ago. So, the ball does go into those 'drains' for a number of throws, instead of hitting the pins. But, I do strike 'STRIKE' twice! Anyway, there is no competition among us, we just want to have fun, yeah baby!!! So, no pressure of.....losing......hmmmm :(

posted by The Pisces Man @ 7:21 pm 0 people talked at The Boulevard

Friday, May 13, 2005

Life Goes On

Here’s a poem that I composed for one of my Toastmasters speeches;

The little girl locks herself in the room; And stays there in the gloom,
Trying not to hear to the violent argument; She chants, “Dad, please leave mommy alone...”
Let there be hope, life goes on.

The old man walks feebly; Among other refugees,
His wife raped, his son murdered; His whole world becomes blurred,
Let there be hope, life goes on.

During cold winter nights; Helpless and homeless,
The man lies under the bench; An old blanket his only friend,
Let there be hope, life goes on.

People question about the father; But she just turns her deaf ears,
No matter what it takes, she will raise the child; Even if the father won’t,
Let there be hope, life goes on.

He swallows bitter tears; To break the news about his cancer,
He has to remain strong and cheerful; For his children are still young and playful,
Let there be hope, life goes on.

The couple hugs each other, feeling hopeless; Looking at their infant, lying there lifeless,
A bullet had entered their son and ‘pierced’ through their hearts; People punish them because of anger and hatred,
Let there be hope, life goes on.

At the treatment centre, she holds her mum tight; Being a rape victim, everything does not seem right,
But she knows what happened was not her fault; So she won’t let herself rot,
Let there be hope, life goes on.

His world is a total darkness; He can’t see, but he can feel,
His eyes are shut, but his heart’s open; He doesn’t count on others to be independent,
Let there be hope, life goes on.

© Copyright Abdun N.A. - Malaysia; 12/12/03; 08:24pm

posted by The Pisces Man @ 10:02 pm 0 people talked at The Boulevard

Saturday, May 07, 2005

Kingdom of Heaven, indeedio

Ridley Scott has been criticised for making this movie for two reasons; taking Orlando Bloom as the lead actor and that the crusade premise might cause rifts between Christians and Muslims. After the movie is released, critics have been raving again. Not because the previous criticisms turn out to be true, but actually to the contrary.

Mr. Bloom is indeed climbing his career to become one of the next generations of A-list Hollywood actors. He managed to carry the heavy burden of leading the film as Balian, the son who never knew his father, who just lost his son and wife and got tangled up in decades long of war. Although the (future) success of this movie will not (apparently) depend on his role alone, but he gave a commendable effort. This movie is much better than Gladiator in all aspects, Mr. Ridley Scott (the director).

Regarding the image of Islam in the movie, Islam and Muslims are put in good light indeed. Finally, Hollywood somewhat recognises the true image of Islam and portrays that to the world. In one scene, Balian asked Saladin, the Muslim king, why Saladin let all the people (men, women, children and old folks) go unharmed when the Christians had before killed everyone during their invasions at Muslim cities. Saladin replied, “I am not one of those people, I am Saladin, you know, Saladin…” And I’m just quoting one scene only. Indeed, true Muslims are not barbarians, unlike some people who still exist today and ignited destruction (in the first place) throughout the world. Got the message?

All I can say is that, despite Balian being the main character in the movie, Muslims are the good side here. The final battle scene is somewhat a reminiscent of the Lord of the Rings movies. If in the LOTR movies, we fear for the lives of those people within the walls of Helms Deep and Minas Tirith. But in Kingdom of Heaven, I find myself cheering for Saladin armies, outside the walls of Jerusalem. I’m sure all would agree indeed (unless you helplessly have a crush on Orlando Bloom).

Although the battle scenes are nothing new (pretty much), but they are still brilliantly done. The movie pace is engaging, the acting is above average while the overall directing deserves two thumbs up. I highly recommend this movie to all.

Speaking of heaven, Ija and the other Umrah travellers safely arrived at the KL Airport before 7 in the morning today. We send sms to each other throughout the day until I call her up around 6pm. It’s good to hear her voice again, and knowing that she is in the same country. Heaven indeed... Although I have to say, the call quality was much better when she rang me up from Mecca. What’s up with our local mobile operators, I wonder?

P/S: WATCH OUT FOR TONS OF REVIEWS ON MOVIES AND MUSIC VIDEOS, PLUS LISTS OF TOP TEN MOVIES - COMING SOON IN MY WEBSITE.

posted by The Pisces Man @ 2:53 pm 1 people talked at The Boulevard

Wednesday, May 04, 2005

Long distance calls

Meet up with two new students for the boxing class – Adek and Apeng (I think). Actually they have been attending the class for a couple of months now, I just never met them before. They are better than me (not again!) since the former knows Tomoi, while the latter learns Taekwando as well. Never mind, in time, I WILL IMPROVE.

Later that night, Ija calls from Mecca. Her voice sounds so clear, it’s like she is sitting right next to me. This is the second time she makes a long distance call. She says everyone’s health is fine and that she and her parents managed to perform Umrah smoothly. I tell her I’ve been calling her house as well, to check up on her younger brothers. We talked much longer during her first call, because tonight, the line gets disconnected.

posted by The Pisces Man @ 12:36 am 0 people talked at The Boulevard