HearMeBitch!

Oh, Blogger

2007-08-03T05:27:00.001+08:00

Hi there,

I'm sorry for not being able to update the blog recently. I am
encountering login problems with blogger.

I don't understand why. My usual login credentials stopped working. So
it's not like me to neglect this blog, this part of my Internet
existence, for so long. I may be busy at times, but not THAT busy...

So hope you'd check back soon. I am reconsidering my options after I
contact blogger about this problem.

Note: I am sending this post from my email as a test.

Cheers,

Kenny T

Singapore F1 GP (Yippie?)

2007-05-14T13:17:00.000+08:00

The recent announcement for Singapore F1 Grand Prix to be held at night in the city-state in 2008 is getting great cheer from the people in the country, but not from me (more of that later). Hailing it as the other catalyst that will boost their already obscene property and investment boom and well, promote the country with a reputation of being staid and clinical into a multi-faceted "vibrant global city", as Singapore's trade and industry minister S. Iswaran calls it.

I don't doubt the great economic effects of a Formula 1 GP, reputed to bring in the upwards of SDG100 million per year in incremental receipts. It certainly puts a country on the map of millions of people who watch F1 racing. It is believed that other than the Olympics and World Cup, F1 is the most watched sport in the world (Eat your heart out EPL). In a world where corporate figures mix business and pleasure, the F1 GP will provide a great platform to give Singapore a higher top-of-mind recall and sound groundworks for better branding both in business and hospitality sectors.

BUT WHAT'S IT LIKE FOR A TRUE F1 FAN?

Well, it'll very likely be a novelty to F1 fans, but the idea of a night F1 race is just too hard to follow on the long term. It may make sense that the global TV ratings will be higher, since the Europeans don't have to catch it the race in some ungodly hour of the day. But what will a night race be like for F1 fan who is standing there with a ticket to see the race? Imagine this, how many floodlights is needed to light up a football field? Digressing a bit, now I want to establish the fact that the soccer ball (which is about the size of an F1 helmet) travels at about 1/4 the speed of an F1 car at best.

Alright, now multiply that thought of a football field and imagine how much light a 4.8 kilometer street circuit needs. With cars speeding down the roads at about 200-300km/h with high rise buildings in between and corners that's taken at speeds that could have you killed in a road car. Now think of how blinding it could be to a spectator, think of the visibility you have in your car when it rains like when it does in Singapore...

We're not talking about racing your average Mazda 3, BMW 6-series or even the wildest of Lamborghini Murcielago. The grip, as a result of a higher center of gravity, weight and mechanical limitations, is just not enough on the best of road cars to take the corners the way F1 race cars do. FYI, no road car can take on the challenge of an F1 car capable of going 0-100km/h in 2.3 seconds. Or brake from 300km/h to standstill in 3.5 seconds... Everything is on the limit here, so can F1 afford to compromise everything it has going for it - speed, technology, safety and talent for a mere nocturnal spectacle? And on top of that, may I repeat, there is simply no way, you can enjoy a night race as much as a day race, that's A FACT.

On an F1 track... even at the most expensive grand stand section, you'll find it difficult to identify one of driver from the same team. The item that allows you to tell a Kimi Raikkonen from Felipe Massa is the helmet. And trust me, you are seeing so little of the helmet at 300km/h on broad daylight, there's no way the night race will be anything but a "i don't know what's going on. let's just cheer for everyone" fest. Who just overtook who? Who just did what? Who just won the race?!

Fernando Alonso said a few months ago that, based on his experience at the McLaren car launch in Valencia - when he and Lewis drove their F1 cars through the streets at night - that he believe it is impossible for floodlighting to be powerful enough to make racing safe. In Valencia he said he could hardly see anything from the cockpit. Is nobody listening?

Take it from a F1 fan. And I can say I have attended 5 F1 GPs in various sections... from scorching hill stands, luxurious hospitality suites costing RM2,500 (SGD$1130), plus many F1 GP experiences in various grand stands... "at this point, I don't see a true enjoyment or a benefit to attend a night F1 race other than for novelty." And in a country where, people will queue up when they see a queue for no apparent reason (you know you've seen the experiment).. it might prove to be a success! There's little in it, except for the sound of F1 engine... roaring in the revs reaching 19,000+ rpm... tingling down your spine... raising your goosepimples... and deafening your ears. As the fuel burns in the engine, and the throttle floored on an F1 car, you can feel the extreme physics that's happening on the road... through your skin. It's electric!

Today's papers proudly announce said that the Singapore GP will be one of the cheapest in the world... starting at SGD$40. But with a view like that, it's daylight (umm... nighttime) robbery. Don't even get me started on safety... Obviously, after years of uncompromising philosophy of putting driver's safety first... the FIA has reshuffled its priorities. What we need is another Ayrton Senna style death?

If there's going to be a perfect Singapore GP, I say give me smooth roads (fix and make up your mind on that Raffles City roadworks, assure me my favorite driver isn't going to die or have me killed when he hits the barries and chunks of carbon fibre flies like sharp glass all over the grand stand and well... make it a day race.

But as it stands, I think this night race is a race for Singapore's economy rather than an actual F1 GP.

Gisele Bundchen Dumps Victoria's Secret

2007-05-03T17:10:00.000+08:00

Enjoy these pictures while you can, Gisele Bundchen and Victoria's Secret are parting ways, PEOPLE magazine has confirmed.

After much speculation as to whether Bundchen, 26, would extend her multi-million dollar contract, her agent tells PEOPLE, "Gisele's contract is finished."

On Tuesday, Edward Razek, Victoria's Secret's chief creative officer, said in a statement: "The long and fruitful relationship between Gisele Bundchen and Victoria's Secret has reached a conclusion. We wish her all the best and thank her for her extraordinary work. She will continue to be a visible part of the world's sexiest brand through the remainder of the year."

The New York Post's Page Six had reported that Bundchen was splitting with the lingerie company because it wouldn't raise her $5 million-a-year salary.

But Bundchen had shown signs of wanting to move on as early as last year. At November's Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in Los Angeles, she told PEOPLE, "They're really nice clients. I've been working with them for seven years, so it's kind of like they become part of your family."

Nevertheless, she said she was in the mood for a change: "I would like to have different chapters in my life. I mean let's be honest – I do this because it's my job."

And perhaps now people will get to glimpse another side of her. "I'm not this girl all the time," she said. "People have a perception of me because of Victoria's Secret that I'm sexy, but I'm not a sexy girl. I'm very tomboyish." We will miss seeing her walking the angel-runway. She's the only reason to watch Victoria's Secret runway show. Karolina Kur-who? Adriana Li-whatcha-ma call-you?

Here's wishing you all the best, Gisele. You're so hot - you should add global warming to your resume.

America's Next Top Model (right!)

2007-04-30T00:28:00.000+08:00

Really. Of all the good reality TV shows lately, America's Next Top Model is probably the one that requires the least IQ to win.

- The difference between winning or losing is based on silly tasks like little acting skits, dressing up pretty and role playing. Oh my god, that must be so hard. Like much harder than Amazing Race, where you have to solve puzzles and race around the world. Must be more difficult than Survivor or Project Runway too... Oh afterall, the skill required here is "the look". Softening your hands, knowing how to smile sexily/sultry/angry but not quite angry enough/laugh/fierce or whatever very difficult scenario you're thrown into and showing expression on the face (not all humans can do that, right?)

- The photos they are judged with are picked by the photographer or the producer. Making viewers question is that really the best photo the "models" have on a roll of film? While the photographer/producer choses the photo based on his preference... Janice Dickinson, Twiggy, Tyra, Miss Jay or whatever creature they put on the judging panel may not. Newsflash to contestants, if you don't win, maybe it's because the producer found you boring.

- These girls keep crying like their task is so difficult. In season 7, they were required to act out weird scenes picked by the judges... eg, hide gracefully... dance sexily... and etc. Some of these girls can't do it because it's too difficult. They cry in the end. Our favorite lazy contestant,Anchal, gives up in every task, like always. I feel so sorry for these girls...

- The show focuses a lot on the model house... on how they interact and be bitchy with each other. Each photoshoot takes about 2 minutes to shoot and the rest is just back stabbing, talking on the house phone, chilling in the jacuzzi... a day in the life of a model. I hope they didn't break a nail.... that would be tragedy (so is the thought of wasting my precious time sitting through another episode).

- The models hear advice from Tyra Banks about how to improve. Like "giving more emotion through the eyes. Showing their passion and their desire to win this compettion... To try harder. To let go of their fear and barriers when they do a 2 minute photo shoot," not tough, it's something they should be familiar with... "BEING FAKE". But Season 7's Anchal, A.J and Eugena (and most of the contestants who didn't win)... look the same in every photo shoot. Do they not eat enough calories to have their ears work? Let alone their brain?

- One of the survivors of the bottom two of every episode will surely cry on cue when Tyra tells her she's safe. She will nod agreeingly when Tyra gives them advice on what they did wrong. What follows is one of the best acts of the show... "the repentant look". Next week, the models become the same good-looking imbecile again. So why were they crying? Maybe it's a CoverGirl test for their waterproof mascara. Not tested on animals, but on wannabe models...

- The person who goes home says something about having no regrets... That they didn't try hard enough. They've learnt a lot from the show. bla bla bla.... yawn. Whatever.

I don't want to sleep alone (Hei Yan Quan)

2007-04-25T21:21:00.000+08:00

Tsai Ming Liang after a career as a brilliant, uncompromising director built in Taiwan, returned to his homeland, Malaysia, to shoot another inspired chapter of his narration about deep feelings. He is Kuching born and raised... but never quite found Malaysia conducive for his deeply outspoken, provocative vision. In this movie, three characters, a young immigrant, a homeless and a young waitress rediscover themselves taking care of the other.

After being attacked and robbed in Kuala Lumpur, the homeless Hsiao Kang is taken in by some Bangladeshi workers. One of them, Rawang, lets Hsiao Kang sleep beside him on an old mattress he has found. As he nurses Hsiao Kang’s wounded body, he feels calm and contented. Is it because of the mattress or because of Hsiao Kang? Chyi, who waits tables in a small coffee shop, is also nursing someone: her lady boss’s paralysed son. Chyi hates her life. When she happens to meet Hsiao Kang, her body fills with lustful desires. However, her difficulty in finding a place to have sex with him brings home to her just how little freedom she has.

As Hsiao Kang slowly recovers, he finds himself caught between Rawang and Chyi, pleading for attention like a stray cat but equally capable of fluttering away as free as a moth. Chyi’s lady boss also develops lustful feelings for Hsiao Kang, finding that he resembles her paralysed son...

Meanwhile a heavy haze envelops the city that is so humid that it reeks of the sweat of its multi-ethnic population. These men and women and the old mattress lose their way in the haze, but perhaps find each other …

I was at The Cathay in Singapore to preview Tsai Ming Liang's latest film recently. It is hard to say how some movie critics gave it a full 5 stars rating. It was slow, very thinly scripted and for lack of a better description, very unorthodox. Every scene just reeked with realism, as they walk the alleys and slept in old shophouse, you could hear the motorcycles, the bare footsteps and creaks of somewhat disturbing real life. The scenes are often still and melancholic... with very little soundtrack (or dialogue) except for what was playing on the radio.

The director did say, he is very anti-convention. He said in his own words "what you want as an audience, I will not give it to you". Basically, saying there will be no heroes, no villain, no explosion or happy ending and incidentally not much of a story either.

At the preview was Lee Kang-Sheng, Pearly Chua, Tsai Ming Liang (director) and Norman Atun... It's hard to recommend the show for general viewing as it may not be everyone's cup of tea. But if you're into a little art film and very experimental or symbolic films that push the boundary of what we define as film and entertainment, then please.... do give "I Don't Want To Sleep Alone" a viewing.

His films will arrive in Malaysia for the first time in limited arthouse showing. Tsai Ming Liang is probably the most internationally celebrated Malaysian filmmaker, yet back home, few have seen his films, and not one of his films have been released in the cinemas. You might not find this DVD released anywhere back home, so if you do get a chance to catch this "once-banned, now un-banned" film in Malaysia, please do. But the Malaysian release will have about 5 or six cuts.... which I was told amounts to almost 30 minutes of the film.

All I can say is, hope you brought lots of coffee...

My Birthday!

2007-04-25T14:52:00.000+08:00

Ok, seriously people. What's up with soft toys as birthday presents? What am i to do with it? I am too old to sleep with one. Besides, I have like 100 of them in boxes back home. I can't display them at home, it's just too kiddy and you have to admit, they are cute, but not THAT cute. Very often immediately after I get them, they end up in the closet. If anything, they are lazy, thoughtless and gifts I wish I could recycle.

Not that I am picky and demanding, when it comes to birthday presents. But some thought into the purchase would be nice. I wouldn't even mind a pair of nice socks... a bottle of shampoo that I really like... how about a bottle of cheap wine, so I can get plastered and forget it was bad in the first place? God, anything but another soft toy! PLEASE!

Oh, but on a nicer note, I did get a bottle of Chanel's Egoiste Platinum from a close friend. Wonderful. I've used it before and have always loved the masculine scent. Designed by Chanel in 1993, Egoiste Platinum (for men) is a sharp, spicy, lavender, amber fragrance with great lasting qualities. To me, it smells like a modern homage to the old Hollywood glam and masculinity. A little Fred Astaire. A little debonaire. Not metrosexual, like most modern scents marketed for men...

This one's special. It's a classic.

TV Shows That Should Get The Boot

2007-04-18T13:06:00.000+08:00

A poll on MSNBC.com shows what viewers would like to see cancelled from their TV Guide. Of course we all can guess what's on top of the list - LOST. There's no reason to doubt that the show's lost it after the first season. How big is the island anyway? I know of a lot of people who would like to see the show get the axe, or the bomb, or the radioactive waste... or the plague.. or....

Coming in close are two good shows, or formerly good shows, The Simpsons and ER. Age has caught up with these shows and their original target audience have moved on and grown up (but the shows haven't). I personally find The Family Guy, American Dad and the totally hilarious Drawn Together, speaks better to this generation and project more societal and cultural relevance than The Simpsons. Plus, we all know that 'ER' is no longer a match for McDreamy and McSteamy.

But surprisingly, coming in fourth on the most unwanted TV show list is... Desperate Housewives! It seems viewers have had enough of its forlorn and crazy plots that seem to go nowhere. Does everyone fuck everyone on this street? I'm sorry, Edie and Carlos? Many (including me) desperately wants the show to end its own misery like Mary Alice did... clean, fast and painless.

Note: Poll correct as of 1:24pm, April 18 2007. Oh, by the way, tomorrow is my birthday!

For more information on the poll check out MSNBC.com. They even have their own round-up of Top 5 TV shows that should be canceled.

Me Working My Humps Off

2007-04-16T13:23:00.000+08:00

You can read my tech reviews and other write-ups for FACES magazine here.

I've been contributing to FACES magazine for nearly 5 years now. From the time I was fresh out of university, just wanting to try something new... to this day, doing it full-time. Back then, the thought of contributing to magazines and newspapers never really crossed my mind. I was just too busy deciding whether I loved or hated being in the advertising industry.

So by 2003, I was already contributing to FACES magazine, thanks to the encouragement of my friend, who is also the editor of the mag. She said "just write me a sample tech story, a free topic tech write up of 1,000 words and we'll decide from there". So I did a tech article on MP3 players, which was big news back in 2003 (and in many ways still is today).

Based on my keen passion and knowledge of techie stuff, it seemed like a good idea, but I was unsure of my writing ability. Sure, I have written lots of essays in college and university, but will it be interesting and good enough that everyday people who pick up the magazine would want to stop at my page and read them? The editor-in-chief read it and loved it, so my first article was published. From there, I took up my permanent work as a Client Servicing Executive in an advertising agency and worked both jobs. It was hard work, my advertising work demanded long hours and finding time to write was near impossible.

Thanks to an incident in Sept 2003, when I lost my Apple iBook which I had bought using my credit card, I had no choice but to persevere with both jobs in order to make enough money to pay off a laptop computer that I don't own anymore. I left my laptop in the car for 30 minutes to grab a quick late dinner before heading home from work on a weekday. I was dog tired at 11pm and someone broke into my car and stole my precious iBook. I was just seated about 40 meters away and my car was ironically parked in front of a church! However, my vision of my car was blocked by a white van, so I couldn't see what happened from where I was eating.

So there, the tragic story of my first Apple iBook ownership. I had the laptop for barely 3 months. It was a difficult time, for the next few days, I was extremely paranoid and began questioning the virtues of mankind. You're constantly looking over your shoulders and checking if the car is locked and safe. You can't sleep at night wondering if your house is broken into... you're not working well because the spot that your laptop used to occupy is now a vacant real estate on your table... It was just a shitty time.

But thanks to FACES magazine, I was able to pay off that instalment rather quickly. And a few years on, I have a Apple Macbook (black). I have also learnt my lesson - I will never again leave my laptop computer in the car. I've been writing a lot for the magazine since 2003, and believe I've grown a lot together with the mag... so.... have a read.

Diva on a bus!

2007-04-16T12:57:00.000+08:00

Remember my ealier post on the bus uncle? Here's a new bus uncle... but now, instead of the villain, this old chap plays the good guy. While the skinny young man, plays the villain with an attitude. It has no subtitles, so you'll have to make do with Cantonese audio.

The video shows how far society has come... and how bitchy skinny bitches can be such a prick. Either that, or the lesson should be "divas should ONLY take cabs..."

Note: The video depicts a young man, who refuses to give up the seat next to him (although it is only occupied by a medium sized paperbag) for a 82 year old man who's standing in the bus. All the passengers on the bus are jeering at the skinny young passenger but he refuses to show remotely any concern until the police arrives. I bet this skinny guy goes home to his little 500 sq ft one bedroom flat and asks his mum to sleep standing too, while he cuddle his little pink bolster and roll around in his Powerpuff Girls king-sized sheets.

Nelly Furtado Punk'd

2007-04-12T12:41:00.000+08:00

Is Punk'd getting Tir'd or what? It's not as funny or as outrageous as before.

How come Ashton still looks like shit after all these years? His hair looks the same, his face looks the same, he sounds the same and he wears the same shit. Miss Do-Me Moore must have him on a contract saying that she'll only do him if he looked like the first time they dated, ALWAYS. Cause the last time she married, Bruce got bald and old.. and she doesn't like that, huh?

PROOF THAT KFC IS SOLO-IST!

2007-04-11T15:42:00.000+08:00

I ordered KFC for lunch today. (No no no, this is not one of those pathetic posts documenting what I ate for lunch...)
I wanted to order something to eat, since being alone at home means I am just too lazy to walk out to the food court, I thought of doing delivery instead. You know how it is, going out to eat alone. You just come across to people as sad, lonely and taking up too much space in a table for four. But when you share a table you're made to feel like a communial loser... cause you're eating alone, even if you're the first to arrive at the table!

Here goes the phone call to the KFC - Kentucky Fried Chicken hotline.

KFC: *ring* *ring* Hello, Please press one for Pizzahut... press two for KFC
Kenny: *toot*
KFC: Hello, KFC delivery... may I take your order, Sir?
Kenny: Yes, I'd like to order delivery... Is there a minimum order for KFC?
KFC: Yes, the minimum order is $12 and there will be an additional $2 delivery charge.
Kenny: What is the best option for a person who's eating alone?
KFC: How about a couple meal, Sir?
Kenny: Isn't that a lot? Four pieces of chicken and all that side dish, plus popcorn chicken? How about something with a Zinger burger, I don't mind topping up a Zinger set with more expensive items to make $12.
KFC: I'm sorry. Zinger is only available as ala carte.
Kenny: Ok, then I'll have a Zinger burger, two piece chicken and cheese fries.
KFC: Cheese fries cannot be delivered sir. They will become soggy.
Kenny: (well, I've had soggy ones even when I am at the restaurant, what's the difference?) Ok... ummm... How about a two piece set and a Zinger?
KFC: I'm sorry, Sir. The two piece set is for dine in only.
Kenny: Oh is it? (is my delivery coming from a special restaurant that only does delivery? or is the chicken different? or this restaurant has never packed a two-piece set in a take away box?)
KFC: So do you still want the couple set, Sir?
Kenny: Ok ok... fine just give me a couple set. But can I request for no breast meat please.
KFC: Ok, i will put in your request for breast meat but it is subject to restaurant availability.
Kenny: NO. I don't want breast meat!
KFC: Oh ok, sir. The total would be $14.95, including the $2 delivery charge and the delivery time is 45 minutes. Is that ok?
Kenny: Yea... sure (dejected tone).
KFC: Please down your delivery number... 754221
*hang up*

The four pieces chicken came as two wings, one lousy thigh and a huge breast meat. But that's beside the point. Ok, if I'm eating with my friend, we'd gladly eat something else instead. Heck, if I have company, I'll gladly go out and eat. DUH! Sometimes delivery is meant for single people too... why can't KFC be accomodating? All these strict do and don'ts are just putting me off. Why am I forced to have a couple's meal when I am just eating alone...

I am already paying an extra $2 delivery charge, why can't they just friggin' deliver what I want?! If you want to charge extra for the convenience then don't impose a minimum. Do you force me to buy $12 of chicken when I am at the restaurant? NO YOU DON'T. Do you say, oh no sorry sir... our coleslaw is only meant for delivery? NO YOU DON'T... so just give me my FUCKING ORDER, GOD DAMN IT.

KFC in Singapore sucks.

SAN-SHOOTME-JAYA

2007-04-04T17:34:00.000+08:00

Sanjaya Malakar
Uploaded by Stroheim

What the fuck? Just when you think it couldn't get any worse...

UNCLE BUS

2007-04-02T13:59:00.000+08:00

It's April! Although I completely forgot it was April Fool's Day, this month will see the first anniversary of the famous Bus Uncle video. I know, I know, most of us have already seen it countless times before last year. But here it is anyway, just a reminder of what a bitch life can be.

The bus uncle is ridiculously vulgar. News has it he used to work in a restaurant (but had to resign following the aftermath of this embarassing incident) and was beaten by strangers who saw him on the street... For more information, point to the wikipedia link at the bottom of the post.

"The Bus Uncle" is video clip capturing a verbal altercation aboard a bus in Hong Kong on April 27, 2006.
The video clip was taken by a passenger, uploaded to HK Golden Forum, and then quickly mirrored on YouTube and Google Video. Soon after its debut on YouTube, the 6-minute video became a cultural sensation in Hong Kong and inspired vigorous debate and discussion on life and etiquette in the city. Attracting some 1.7 million hits in the first 3 weeks in May, alone, the clip became one of YouTube's most viewed items in May, last year.

Its copious use of profanity and its rhetorical outbursts attracted the attention of local and international media, and some of its utterances became catchphrases in Hong Kong and Chinese communities around the world. For more information point your browser to:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bus_Uncle

O for OPRAH

2007-03-30T20:56:00.000+08:00

Speaking of Opera. Here's Oprah on 'O' magazine. How does she manage to get on the cover of a magazine every month?! Gee, I guess having your own publication helps. But don't people ever get sick of seeing Oprah and her BFFs... Gayle and Tina Turner? This is so self-indulgent... Does she have so many good things to say about herself? Oh wait, when you're that rich, people are lining up just to say good stuff about you too!

Phantom Of The Opera

2007-03-30T20:30:00.000+08:00

Last night, I was at the Singapore Esplanade to watch the Phantom of The Opera. It was my first time. I was a Phantom virgin, YEA! The show was good, Phantom sang like a nightingale with testicles. All was perfect, except for the role of Christine, played by Rebecca Pitcher. She looks too old, too haggard and way too uncharismatic on stage that any man or ghoul would cringe at the idea of love, with her.

The orchestra was excellent, syncing the moods and the stage characters with great fervour. I know all too well, I was at the front row, just a few feet away from the conductor. Beautiful blonde conductor.

This is where it starts to get a little scary. Sitting on the front row (not recommended), you get a view of these angels being lowered down to halfway between your head and the ceiling... with the Phantom in tow. It sways oh-so-dangerously with the heft of the weighty Phantom, on it. Front row to Phantom of The Opera, definitely not recommended.

All in all, a wonderful performance. A must-watch for everyone... Photos taken from a Nokia 8800, as you can see, shitty quality.

This is how close we were to the performers. At one point, the general crept up in front of us for a scene where Vicompte Raoul was planning to ambush the Phantom. Scared the bejesus out of my friend. So how would I rate the show? This Phantom of The Opera performance gets a 4 out of 5. If only Christine got some Botox...

I WILL SURVIVE (not)

2007-03-26T14:20:00.000+08:00

People who are easily offended by religious satire (somewhat), please turn away!

Otherwise... ENJOY!

PFS - Penang's Failure School?

2007-03-01T15:58:00.000+08:00

Our dear ruler, why bother planting a tree? Why not do something more meaningful for the school? To bring back the school glory worthy of your name on the plaque?

The canteen now has two chinese food stalls, out of probably ten or twelve. You know why? Because the number of chinese students enrolling in the school has dwindled down to two figures per year (according to a reliable source). There simply is no demand for chinese food anymore. Wait... you know what? This isn't about the food. This is about how easy it is to enter this "premier school", once held in the highest regard. Back in the 1993, it was already clear to me that the entry requirements have been lobsided. Ask any Chinese school boy my age then, and they will tell you that full A's is the way to enter PFS. Although your chances of entering with one B on the report card is still fairly good. But anything below that wouldn't be accepted. My classmate... had only 2 A's... some only 1 A. But they get hostel lodging on top of an offer letter.

The canteen may now feature television sets (showing Discovery Channel), and increased seating areas but the school is suffering from humiliating results. The school website boasts of 100% passes for PMR (Secondary 3 examinations), when it should be reading "Top 10 Best Results in Malaysia". The halls are now echoed with a foul reputation of the school. Penang kids these days don't aspire to be a Free anymore... looking at the school as a has-been institution... a reputation of being mediocre, over glorified past. I'm afraid if the academic landslide continues, Penang Free School will be nothing more than a name in the minds of the coming generations. It might as well be ABC or XYZ School. There will be no reason to be selective of who it enters into the school anymore. The title of the first school in South East Asia might be it's only consolation. The first, simply doesn't equate the best...

Tha pavillion where students and spectators cheered on the revered sports teams. How many school have a field the size of this and a pavillion to boot? Please don't misunderstand my intentions, I am not a racist. But after 50 years of independence and calling out 'Merdeka', isn't it time all the races played fair? I don't care if the ruling party is blue, green, purple, Malay, Chinese or Indian... but at least after 50 years, isn't it time we understood schools as pillars to the education of the nation has the right to fair entry? How about entry to Penang Free School purely based on results instead of racial quota? Or preferential treatment? Yes, I am all for helping the poor, the needy and the stupid... but there are plenty of just ways to do it.

This is the kind of thing you get from windows today. This photo was taken of a window in front of the school library. An intelligent calling... Ironically, the name "Free" in Penang Free School was coined from the idea by the British to liberate the young from socio-economic stereotypes. Right now, they might want to add an asterisk and a disclaimer, like this "Penang Free* School".

* Terms and Conditions Apply.

While our past teachers may have complained of peeling paint and chalk dust on the decades old building, today the school has to battle with graffitis like this. A sign of civilization and utter intellect, this. Photo taken from a wall on the underused Computer & Engineering Building of Penang Free School.

One dollar for guessing what's the native language of this graffiti artist...

My Alma Mater

2007-03-01T15:28:00.000+08:00

Visiting my high school brought many memories, mostly sweet. I worked really hard to get into this "premier school". Gettting straight A's in the Primary 6 examinations... but only to find out that my Malay classmates only had to score half a result of half B's and A's to receive an offer letter to join the school. Disheartening indeed...

Penang Free School is the oldest (therefore the first) English School in the South East Asian region. The school founded by Rev. Sparke Hutchings in the year 1816 and has history of excellence in academics and sports. The school previously assumed the reputation as the institution for the creme de la creme of junior achievers and fuelled the dream of kids making their parents proud...

The Free School can boast of being the Alma Mater of many established, well known and successful Malaysians locally and abroad. An individual pursuing his secondary education in the Free School is commonly known as a Free, once the individual leaves the Free School, he is automatically an Old Free.

Those who graduate from the school often speak of their alma mater with pride... and who wouldn't when the alumni list reads something like this

Tunku Abdul Rahman, 1st Prime Minister and founding father of Malaysia.
Tuanku Syed Putra ibni Almarhum Syed Hassan Jamalullail, the 3rd Yang Di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia
The Raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin, also the 12th Yang Di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia.
Tan Sri P.Ramlee, Malay actor, director, songwriter and musician.
Tun Dr. Lim Chong Eu, second Chief Minister of Penang.
Dato' (Dr.) Anwar Fazal, probably the most influential figure in the worldwide consumer movement.
Dr. Wu Lien Teh, world-renowned Plague Fighter and pioneer in the modernization of China's public health system.
Dato' Eddy Choong, former All-England Badminton champion.
Hj. S.M.Zainul Abidin, renown educationist. He taught most of those listed above.
Tengku Tan Sri Ahmad Rithauddeen, President of the United Nations Association of Malaysia (UNAM)

But of late. there's been trouble in the school... (so I've heard and seen)

30 ROCK... err ROCKS!

2007-02-25T00:19:00.000+08:00

Yea, what did I tell you about 30 Rock back in November 2006? It's a hilarious, brilliant and absolutely a well-written gem. Crazy cast too! And it's coming to Starworld. With Alec Baldwin winning the recent Golden Globe and SAG (screen actos guild) award for the show, it seems destined to arrive on our shores sooner or later. I'm glad it's sooner. I love watching 30 Rock.

But just like Matthew Perry's new drama show, Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip, both critically acclaimed shows are not getting the stellar ratings and thus the favorite child status, as opposed to the network's other 'hit' - Heroes. So they're putting 30 Rock on a break until near Spring.

I was quite into the drama, Heroes until well... the story seems to take more turns than a drunk astronaut. I wish every episode of Heroes would end like X-Files. A story is told and concluded... but leaving ends for more elaborate long term storytelling. However, Heroes seems to suffer the same problem as "Pirates of the Caribbean 2". It was basically a brilliant story put on spin cycle. Yes, as many others are just tuning in to the 'exciting' new drama on TV, Heroes may suffer the same fate as Desperate Housewives... where the storyline, plots and characters feel tired.

We're barely through to episode 17 of Season One of Heroes, and it's beginning to show signs of writer's block. (Spoilers ahead), with Claire finding her biological mother and finding out that the father is actually Peter Petrelli. Hello? TVB drama anyone? How about throwing in one of those guy and girl across the street.... looking desperately for their love and missing each other by a split second by a moving bus? What next? Finding out that Sylar is your next door neighbor's cousin? They obviously had to put an internal spin on things, since adding new characters into the show would mean more cost! Not to mention having to make them hang around the already very character-packed story!

The consolation... hh well, at least 30 Rock will be back from a hiatus in the US ABC network on April 19 (my birthday!). And soon, we'll have more episodes of the brilliant comedy. Besides, I have many many episodes of unwatched Ugly Betty to keep me occupied (when I am not looking into the recruitment ads, sending out resumes or writing articles, of course).

The TV is my new best friend...

Avril Talks Trash!

2007-02-24T23:30:00.000+08:00

Avril Lavigne's latest music video for the single "Girlfriend", from her upcoming third album titled 'Best Damn Thing Ever'.

My questions:
Avril, is that you? Did you burn your pants, Miss Self-Declared Tomboy?

Was there a freak accident at the salon and you got blonde down to the roots?

Did you knock yourself with a Dumb Stick?

Did you just learn how to rhyme from your rocker boyfriend?

Is the air in LA a bit more polluted than Canada, thus choking the blood to your brains?

Did you run out of smokey eyes make-up?

What would happen if Ashlee Simpson and Gwen Stefani had a baby together?

How did you come up with the lyrics like... "Hey hey,you you... I don't like your girlfriend. I think you need a new one. I could be your girlfriend... She's like so whatever, you can do so much better" ?!

Are you high on something?

Do you need to check into rehab?

Have you been hanging out with Lindsay Lohan?

... oh my god, is that me listening to the song over and over again?

Goodbye Anna.

2007-02-15T12:03:00.000+08:00

Yes, it's hardly news anymore. Anna *&%$# Nicole Smith is gone. It was extremely shocking. As much as critics loved to hate her... I hate to say, I really love her .

She's such an amazing story, more so than any American Idol. From a Texan topless dancer, to marrying young at 16, and having a baby before she turned 20. She skyrocketed to stardom as a Playboy centerfold and got the honorary status of "Playmate of The Year" in 1992.

But probably her greatest achievement was landing a modeling contract with Guess? jeans... and well, marrying 89-year old oil tycoon J. Howard Marshall. She was 26. The next year he died and she's been in and out of court for the litigation between her and members of the husband's family over his large estate. Bad things started to happen to bossoming Anna, rehab, depression, problems with her implants and then more bad news surfaced last year as her son died of drug overdose in Sept 2006.

Poor Anna. It was a guilty pleasure to hear news about her. When it comes to her, every news is bad news. Like her topless activities at the MTV awards and her infamous slurring... So she will be greatly missed. I always thought she'd grow old, into this plastic surgery mess... continuing to make headlines and well, keeping the peroxide business thriving till 2036...

Her cause of death is unknown. No drugs were found in her stomach... No obvious signs of foul play. No alcohol... nothing. You know what I think? I think her boyfriend, Howard K Stern, conspired to kill her. Think about it, the police found an overwhelming amount of prescriptive drugs in Howard's name. Her boyfriend also supplied Daniel Smith (Anna's son) with methadone, the very thing that killed him. He had enough to kill himself and more! Reports had it that he flushed the extra methadone into the toilet following the incident (you mean there's more? what did he want to do, kill an elephant?).

With all the paternal tussle for Daniellyn Hope, Anna's baby, it made sense to me that Howard K Stern wanted to end all of this by taking Anna's life, so nobody knows who actually is the father? And therefore has the right to father the millions in inheritance?

Jackie Hatten, Anna's friend of 16 years said Howard was the controller of Anna's life and his life, money and new found status was all achieved on Anna's back, on CNN's Larry King Live. She even mentioned that he constantly had her so drugged up with a long list of drugs and prescriptions, that she's constantly in immobilized in bed. Rosie O Donnel also spoke up about how Anna's tumultous recent stories has been milked, especially after the death of her son in Sept, with great push by Howard. It seems if he wasn't the person feeding Anna with drugs or whatever killed her, he DROVE her there.

The world is saddened that her great (mis)adventure has come to a premature end... just like her idol, Marilyn Monroe. Goodbye Anna. You will be sorely missed. If indeed there was a foul play, I hope justice will be served to whoever robbed us of such irreverent and big busted blonde goddess. No she's not smart, she never finished high school, her literature knowledge probably spanned to books that didn't use any aphabets past 'm' nor was she a genius in the kitchen like Martha Stewart, No No No... she was just a southern girl with a great story to tell.

Here's a tribute to one of your best pictures... and you may not hear this very often but you are ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS.

Click here for more news on Anna Nicole Smith's passing.

Backlighting

2007-01-25T14:45:00.000+08:00

"Buddha"

- An evening shot of the Giant Buddha on Lantau Island in Hong Kong.

BKK in Dec

2007-01-25T14:24:00.000+08:00

My trip to Bangkok a week before Christmas was a fantastic one. I went for a lot of massages (the clean ones) and had a blast trying out new places to eat. But one of the highlights of the trip was Siam Paragon. It's a huge mall with many things to see, buy and eat. Don't expect to bargain here or even find a really cheap souvenir. It's not patpong or chatuchak.

It's more of a mid-to-lower upper price mall with a departmental store that sells anything from Speedo to Lacoste, Ed Hardy to Etnies. The departmental store is imaginatively named Paragon Dept Store (the marketing people must be really creative). Outside the store, you'll find interesting upscale boutiques and a gourmet market. It also houses Asia's largest seating and cinema screen in Asia.

Don't get me wrong. I am not a snob! I did buy a lot of goodies from Chatuchak and all. Street shopping in Bangkok is fun, but just how many cheap t-shirts and sandals does one need? Of course I need to walk the malls, if not for the air cond... it's also for the paperbags, DUH! Besides, you can find some exquisite Thai souvenirs and quality products here...

Siam Paragon was interesting for me, I came back twice during the 4-day trip... It's huge and a must-visit for tourists. More so than Gaysorn Shopping Center or Emporium.

Did I mention that Siam Ocean World, the biggest aquarium in Southeast Asia is also within the same building?

Go Go-Karting

2007-01-25T14:05:00.000+08:00

This Saturday I will be heading down to JB for a little go-kart action! Hope it doesn't rain. Actually what I'd hope for more is that the go-kart place hasn't been destroyed by floods in Johor lately!

My challenger, the last time we played was none other than the king of trash talk, Stanley Ng! And this time, I am bringing my brother along to race. Not that my bro would be giving me assistance in tactics in the race, it's just more fun racing against people you know, than hooligans you don't.

Oh, by the way, did i tell you who won the last time?... None other than yours truly, of course. It was a horrendously wet race, with no visor on the helmet and soggy pants up my butt. On that day, it poured heavily for half a day. In the end, it was a race full of incidents - spins, spins and more off track excursions. Well Stanley was doing the Kylie Minogue, spinning around. I was playing a calculated race, not taking unnecessary risks and well, won the race by some margin! Yippie!...

Last Xmas, I Gave You...

2007-01-07T13:57:00.000+08:00

Dear friends and readers,

Christmas has come and gone... The wrappers are well in the trash... The New Year's champage bottle is well on its was to the recycling plant.... It's time to ask... no not your resolution, but how was your Christmas loot?!

I got myself a super fabulous present from Georg Jensen!

30 BATHS

2007-01-02T18:37:00.000+08:00

Signs your money changer just wants to see you TAKE OFF YOUR CLOTHES!

HAPPY NEW YEAR...

2007-01-02T17:57:00.000+08:00

Spent NEW YEAR'S EVE countdown at the street in front of Slippery Senorita in Penang. The atmosphere was hectic, ah bengs turned up by the truckloads and turned up the volume with their confetti and foam sprays... This lane features a few clubs and pubs that's one of the most popular haunts for those in search of good music and cool drinks. In Penang, good music is always questionable though...

OH MY BLOG!

2006-12-30T18:24:00.000+08:00

Telecommunications across Asia were slowly being restored yesterday after earthquakes off Taiwan damaged cables and knocked thousands offline, but access in parts of South Korea and Taiwan was still patchy.
Article on TheSTAR Online.

Most of Asia's telephone traffic was restored while Internet access in many countries had also improved, a day after businesses and home users from Seoul to Sydney were hit by one of the most widespread tech disruptions in Asia.

The earthquake of a 7.1 magnitude, according to the US Geological Survey, struck off Taiwan's southern coast at 1226 GMT on Tuesday. But according to local newspaper "The Star", some of the worst hit are in the country thousands of miles away from the quake. They are the Malaysian bloggers. Here are some of the quotes by the bloggers as published...

“I blog very frequently – every five minutes if I may say so – and this breakdown has affected me emotionally as I am unable to interact with others,” said 26-year-old radio deejay cum music producer Johan Farid Khairuddin, who feels disconnected from his fans. (Wait a minute, who the fuck is Johan Farid? He's not even famous. Oh wait, maybe that's why he needs to blog every 5 mins. Attention Deficit Disorder!)

“It is really getting to me because I have all my information and contacts online and I cannot get my work done,” says Joyce Wong, who is known as KinkyBlueFairy online.
www.xanga.com/kinkybluefairy

“I feel wretched now because I have lots of pent-up feelings but unfortunately cannot write about them,” said Noor Faridah Zulkiflie, a 22-year-old student. She's contemplating using paper and pen for the time being, until her internet connection resumes per normal. Oh boy, if that doesn't work, how? Use blood ah?

BOO HOO HOO... These people can't blog, oh my god, how the hell are they going to put food on the table? Just like the earthquake-struck people in Taiwan? Oh no, it's such a calamity of unearthly porportions, not being able to post a few lines on the web telling others what you've eaten for lunch or what's on your playlist. Boo hoo hoo. You must be feeling suicidal, not being able to blog for a few minutes. And if you need to blog every 5 minutes, either you need to get fired soon or you should within this 4-minutes or so, get outside and please do something... get a life.

Being a journalist/writer myself, I know what a slow-news week is like... and perhaps the newspaper found reporting on these "supposed or not" incidents of bloggers complanining, newsworthy. Why the fuck should this make page 2 news or headlines? Goodness. Get a grip. Unless they're some US soldiers stuck in Baghdad and can't call home on skype or blog about what a week they had to their family, I find 2 days of disruption hardly... disrupting. Not at least to my mental health and well being. It's bad for work, but then again it's coming to New Year's day... and well, any reason to disrupt work is a good one.

SO, get a life Malaysian bloggers, if you are really complaining. If you're misquoted, well... that's the reality of life. Shit happens.

Greetings From Bangkok

2006-12-22T13:45:00.000+08:00

Kenny T is in Bangkok now. Won't be back in KL till next year. Here's wishing everyones a MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR! May next year be better than the last...

You Green?

2006-12-14T22:21:00.000+08:00

Stan finally bought the pink shirt after much coaxing (which he admitted to have not worn yet). Last week, he had problem with green. Oh, this boy needs plenty of fashion aid!

Gold Coast, Australia

2006-12-14T01:16:00.000+08:00

Kenny T wishing he had his beach wear on. Ok, also have to confess, I can't wear those white shorts anymore. I've grown.

So this is how it feels like to step into Palazzo Versace Hotel, Gold Coast Australia. Oh what a disappointment. The service was a tad lacklustre, cold. I could get a warmer welcome and a more friendly service from Aussie streetside cafes! The lobby seats are adorned with Versace cushions, but they are tagged with a wire that does not allow them to be moved further than maybe a few inches from its place on the sofa. So you can barely hug them. The overall architecture is so Versace- so 90's.

I expected a whole lot more from this designer hotel. But it's absolutely not in the same league as the Bulgari Resort in Bali or the Armani Hotel, which will integrated into Burj Dubai, the tallest building in the world. A hotel that embodies everything Armani - from the quilt covers from Armani Casa, sofa specially designer by Armani and a spa with everything by the minimalist guru, even the glowing scent in the lobby. Eat, breathe, sleep Armani. Following that, the Mr. Giorgio Armani and Mr. Mohamed Ali Alabbar of EMAAR Hotels and Resorts will open more Armani Hotels in Milan, London, and New York along with the first resort.

Guess what I saw plenty by the poolside of Palazzo Versace? This is an actual photo taken of one of the many cockroaches that roam the area. In the darkness of the night, it can be pretty scary to know you could squash one of these creeps under your designer flip flops. Never mind the roaches, oh! my poor PRADA!

Still Want To Know More of Asiaworks?

2006-12-08T10:57:00.000+08:00

There has been much fuss in the Internet about Landmark Education or otherwise known as Landmark Forum, handing a subpoena to Google Video regarding a French documentary called "Journey to the Land of the New Gurus", originally known in French as "Voyage Au Pays Des Nouveaux Gourous". The subpoena demands that Google reveal the identity of the critic who posted the video - an expose done by the French TV on the Asiaworks-like coercive persuasion techniques (layman's term - brainwashing) used by this possibly dangerous LGAT. But of course, it's been retracted since.

But the scare tactics have taken its toll on free speech. Copies of the video has since been taken down from various websites because of the legal threats. Is there anything to hide from this expose? You can still find it at the Cult Awareness and Information Centre, an Australian-based site. Just click on the link below and watch a video stream of the controversial video.

www.culthelp.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1243&Itemid=12url

You can also download the documentary through bit-torrent. I was told the training is extremely close if not the same in many parts with Asiaworks training. Btw, the French Landmark Education office has closed down since the 2004 documentary... I guess it's easy to take the same abrasive training "methodologies" which has been getting bad rap from the rest of the world, rename it and sell the idea to gullible Asians who are new to this brand of training. After all Asians are the ones with the boom, the competitive spirit, the kiasu-ness, the new money and our values makes us easy targets to be humbled and made to feel inferior? If you're like the many many people who have come to this site, trying to find out more about Asiaworks, then watch the documentary. Then, make your own conclusions...

How is Asiaworks connected to the EST (Erhard Seminar Training) and Lifespring? Click here.

I know my stand. What's yours?

Do not PISS here

2006-12-07T02:21:00.000+08:00

"I Know What You Did Last Time You Pee-ed."

A sign I saw right outside Ngurah Rai Airport, Bali. In the car park, there this sign that read "Attention. Please do not urinate here. The public toilet is readily available". What did these people do to warrant these signs?

Asiaworks

2006-12-07T00:39:00.000+08:00

Notes On Asiaworks:

I've noticed that I get a lot of hits on my previous post, talking about Asiaworks. Actually I was more detailing of people I know and my reaction towards their new self, after Asiaworks training. Asiaworks training approach is experiential learning. AsiaWorks believes that for certain areas of human learning and behaviour change, experiential learning is the powerful, effective and impactful approach to learning.

Do you know where these "self improving" miracle of a seminar came from? A car and encyclopedia salesman.

Read this article for more details. The content speaks of Landmark Education (renamed from "Forum"), which stood for one of the earliest form of Asiaworks training. The titular head of Landmark Education is Harry Rosenberg, but it was his brother “Werner Erhard” previously known as Jack Rosenberg, a high school graduate and former used car and encyclopedia salesman, who created the seminar “technology” touted by the company. They created EST (Erhard Seminar Training) in the 70's.

Lifespring, which many view as the base of Asiaworks training is another LGAT (large group awareness training) founded in 1974 by John Hanley Sr., after working at an organization called Mind Dynamics with Werner Erhard, the founder of EST. Can you connect the dots?... EST -> Lifespring -> Asiaworks? If you need to know more, check out these organizations and read the Wikipedia link below.

I completely understand your curiosity towards Asiaworks. A self-development program that reportedly "shifts your paradigm". Some reportedly says "they can feel the paradigm shifting". Some say it opens up your mind to possibilities and breaks down barriers that has been layed brick by brick by your own life's experiences... and that is keeping you in bondage from achieving your full potential. Confronting fears so to speak. It also allegedly makes you realize what it feels to be on the opposite of your own actions, opinions, thoughts and judgement. Taking you out of your comfort zone... and making you see what you normally don't. Bla bla bla.

You know what I say? BULLSHIT. It's like reading the daily horoscope. You made these things true. Everyone has fears, it's normal. People with no fear become criminals and lunatics. I am not saying fear is good. It is not, but anything can push us to overcome fear. Well, in this case, thinking of the thousands down the drain in some self-dev course would push you to achieve results to justify the price. I believe in being natural and true to yourself. My experiences belong to me, they make me. I will change with time... and inevitably will... for and to what I deem is best.

If you think you're not where you want to be in life, if you think you are a failure or at the brink of it, not liked by your friend but don't know why, if you're not confident that you have what it takes to go the distance in life... if you need your butt kicked all the time to get something done... MAYBE you need Asiaworks and get your paradigm shifted, among other things. I for one am a confident young person. I don't need to be compared with successful boxers who allegedly have realized their dreams through Asiaworks or other 'mass-marathon training' (as these self-dev courses are called), or a corporate high flyer who says it changed his life. Good on ya, mate. Thanks but I love myself very much... and I am very often a risk taker who have very little fear. I have an open mind who listens to others and I am happy. I am a filial son, a loving partner, diligent money earner and am good to my friends. I don't need to spend a few thousand bucks just to turn my life around... to what? Listen, I am sure it works for others, I personally have never been to Aisaworks program. But if it works for you...

Some claim that you have to spend thousands and thousands of dollars to get to the LP stage to see the results... and etc. Which is fine by me. And I am not financial controller for my mates, but these are average income earners. My friends have even said they will pay for the new recruits to join Asiaworks and expect an instalment payback scheme. What's the rush?

A lot of websites will say they do not see any cult-like activities. Really? A cult is not defined by deviant religious following, but it also bears the meaning of a a group or sect bound together by veneration of the same thing, person, ideal, etc. Isn't that what Asiaworks is? You haven't met the people I know... these are fan boys. If this was a Gwen Stefani concert, they'd have their hair pink, hire a bunch of Harajuku street dancers, wear L.A.M.B. and yoddle like the Sound of Music. They're abnormal. I've had the pleasure of chatting with a Asiaworks guru a few years back. He's an experienced trainer who is also a familiar figure at the Malaysian National Service (NS) program - yes, the mental and character building aspects of NS derived from Asiaworks. He said, "there are many extremists from Asiaworks, and they may display an agressive character change. Which is not entirely reflective of the roots of Asiaworks". IMHO, if it can affect people so adversely, it's messing with the human psychology. But then, that's my two cents.

From the results I see of my friends, they become extremely outspoken and portray this supposedly-confident self during conversations, more than before. And often than not, they are talking out of their arses. They are confronting their fears and challenging their introverted personality, but if your knowledge of a subject is paper thin, no Anthony Robbins is going to be able to make you a conversationalist in subjects you know jack about. I think they feel the need to justify the thousands of dollars by showing some change, no matter how superficial they are. These are close friends mind you, who I used to hang out with everyday. Who used to be fun... Now they come across as snappy and bitchy, become utterly selective of their friends (thinking its their ticket to success or some paradigm shift that will take them to the millionaires club)... they become a close-knit community with fellow Asiaworks attendees and start recruiting people to join the training.
Mind you, I can take criticisms quite well, if I must say. But there's no need to get all laser-mouth and sneer people, just because you've healed your life wounds and confronted your fears. If you've been keeping it inside you, this desire to lash out at people, then I guess we're not cut out to be friends in the first place. 'Mind over matter' gone wrong... These guys have lost their minds... so it doesn't matter.

They've even resorted to really low tactics. That makes these bunch that much more despicable. Imagine some would ask people on the pretext of dates... and persuading them to join Asiaworks, making people believe that it's the only way to make the relationship work. (Who do they think they are? Brad Pitt) Imagine meeting a friend's friend and giving Asiaworks gospel in the midst of coffee with 6 other friends? Making people feel uncomfortable about coming out again, after that intimidating encounter. Do you know how low these friends have gone to? One thing that's sure, these pals have tranformed into real ELITISTS. Always insinuating that those who are not Asiaworks-trained as weak. This is pathetic. You ARE m*f* weak, not me. You go find yourself an Asiaworks wife, have little Asiaworks ugly children and live in an Asiaworks neighbourhood like the Stepford Wives.

I have since moved on from these friends... I have plenty of other friends. Plenty who don't feel they are superior to others, who respect each other. That's more important than some self-discovery training sessions for people with trouble in changing in an open locker room or with little confidence looking for that boost they so desperately need in life. If you feel like you need Asiaworks, go ahead. I'd be happy if it makes you feel better but don't turn into a monster. Maybe it's a blessing in disguise, cause now I'd be able to see the real you. As for the other Asiaworks fan boys who might cross paths sometime in our lives, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EGO AT THE DOOR....

Links to see:

Wikipedia's Definition and Explanation of Lifespring. A training that Asiaworks supposedly is based heavily on.

RRI is one of the largest single resources regarding this subject area on the worldwide web today. Check out this organization's collection of information on Lifespring and related cult-like self-help groups.

Notes on Lifespring, the training that's similar to Asiaworks training. And often viewed as the direct derivative.

Written based on a panel member's personal experience during a discussion on "Cults and Psychological Abuse" on 30 October 1992 at Western Psychiatric Institute in Pittsburgh. The presentation was led by Dr. Paul Martin, an internationally recognized authority on cults and cult rehabilitation, and a former cult member himself. He joined something called 'Forum', which is the earlier forms of Asiaworks.

Afdlin Shauki feeling Asiaworks paradigm shifting one fine night.

One bloggers personal encounter with Asiaworks.

Puncture

2006-11-30T14:39:00.000+08:00

Last week, on the way out to dinner, I had to make an important phone call. Being the sensible driver, I swerved to the left along Jalan Klang Lama and proceeded to make the phone call... When I was done, I realized there is a loud clanging coming from the front left wheel arch. Like something had fallen out of the suspension or something. Clank clank clank CLANK.... CLAAANNNKKK!... Oh "Fuck Me"! What is happening?

I got out of the car, realized I have hit some debri. It's a 1 1/2 feet long wire that's lodged into my precious front left Silverstones. God damn *&%#$@. Who in the world throws these things out their car window? How the mother %$@ did it end up on the side of the road and of all people, I have to hit it. I called my dinner bud, Serena.

*ring* *ring*
Kenny T: Hello, Serena? Hey, about the dinner. I think I will be very late. I've got a punctured tire. I hit....
Serena: Oh, its ok. We've just finished our food.
Kenny T: Oh is it? Ok...
Serena: Yea... so if we are confirmed with the plans later, we'll call you ok? Maybe coffee or something?
Kenny T: umm... yea. Sure.
Serena: Ok. Talk to you later... Bye!
Kenny T: ????....

I was dumbfounded over such nonchalance... Did she hear me right? So I texted another buddy who's at the dinner. "Hey, I don't think I can make it. I've just got a puncture along Old Klang Road". My friend replied immediately and said he'll come by really quickly.

The wire was lodged pretty deep into the tire. I tried to pull it out, but to no avail. I continued to wiggle it, like a murderer pulling a blunt knife out of a dead woman's chest... Wiggle wiggle and turn turn turn... it finally came out. The tire went "psssssssssssssssst". Great. Totally flat.

Drove about 1km down the road to find a tire shop, but they're all closed at 7:30pm. I changed the tires with some help from by buddies at a nearby Shell station. From a nice dinner, I ended up all sweaty, dirty and hot...

Supermodel Wallpaper

2006-11-27T17:48:00.002+08:00

When I turn on my Apple Macbook, I am greeted by these beauties. Laura Hutton, Kate Moss, Claudia Schiffer, Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Iman, Christy Turlington, Gisele Bundchen, Amber Valletta, Lisa Taylor, Carolyn Murphy and Paulina Porizkova in a photo by Annie Leibovitz. Everytime I look at my computer, I think "What a beautiful day!"

Now that's a FABULOUS start to anybody's morning.
(Please don't tell me you're using those stock Windows XP wallpaper? That's the unfabulous fashion equivalent of Bata shoes. It's everywhere, everyone probably used one sometime in their life, but it's just so shoot-me-in-the-head-now-and-kill-me-quick kind of a faux pas to be seen in it!)

Groove Armada

2006-11-27T17:33:00.000+08:00

I was at the Heineken Thirst 2006, presenting Groove Armada! F***, I love Groove Armada. They were superstylin' at KL Tower, Kuala Lumpur.

Teach Me NetLingo : NSFW

2006-11-25T14:52:00.000+08:00

Why teach me NetLingo?
You're internet savvy, you could buy used underwear off eBay and know your way around adult sites. You're even better at emails and blogging, mostly about anything and nothing at the same time. But when the internet is infested with little lazy kids who can't spell, who in turn, influence each other to type jibberish like "NSFW" and "LOL" all the time, the net becomes a less friendly place for adults. After all, every year the world's population increases with 80 million kids, while modern medicine has kept old people living longer... Now you have an overpopulation of kids and Netlingo (not to mention CyberNannies too)!

In this part of the education posts, let's begin our study of this foreign and amusing "Netlingo". A form of abbreviated form of communication that is rampant on SMS, e-mails, instant messaging conversations and chatrooms. Remember, nothing is ever set in stone. Feel free to make up your own at any time. Ie, "Hello, how are you?" - HHAY. Aha! A new word in netlingo, start using it and hope it will catch on like wildfire! If it doesn't, you need new friends. Preferably those who are cool and influential on the net.

What is NFSW?
If you encounter this while chatting, it simply means "NOT SUITABLE FOR WORK". For example
"Let's not talk about the boss now, its NFSW!"

So there you go! You're one step closer towards becoming an even smarter and snazzier web user!

Picture by: goopymart @ Flickr

HK Disneyland!

2006-11-21T12:01:00.000+08:00

The massive crowd after a Disney Christmas Performance. Notice the "snow" in the sky!

Queue an hour to get to shoot Zorg and be allies with Buzz Lightyear.

Queue an hour to get photos with Mickey and Minnie

Watering Hole

2006-11-16T14:21:00.000+08:00

"Watering Hole"

Boat Quay - the trailblazer of the Singapore entertainment scene. With an eclectic mix of high end restaurants and alfresco dining and lively bars and pubs, Boat Quay is arguably the favourite place to “chill out” for most professionals and expatriates.

Desperate Housewives Suck

2006-11-15T01:06:00.000+08:00

Loving the show since it's pilot episode, I fell out of it as fast as I fell in. The show oozed mystery and had plenty of fun in store as the story unfolded in the beginning.. Now, into the third season...

- Gabrielle is all about her grudge and money. She's a whore who is in a divorce settlement... She doesn't eat sleep or breathe. She's just fixated on Carlos. She might as well have her own spinoff show.
- Susan is an emotional wreck. Yo-yoing between the new British guy and Mike. Like she did with the doctor. Like she did with her husband. Yawn, how many times can you make her unfaithful? Her relationship with her daughter is no longer cute and close. It's more like "i hate you, psycho mum."
- Edie is sluttier than ever. She's sleeping with Mike and there's no telling where the evil will end.
- Lynette is evidently driving his husband further away. And her family is heading nowhere but down... as the show progresses.
- Bree is dating a murderer. Making scenes wherever she goes. Her children are turning into monsters in 3 seasons. Imagine what another season could do to them? Is there anything happy about theshow at all? Is there a reason to tune in? Romance? Comedy? Action? This reminds me of a word I've learnt from the great Broadway musical, "Avenue Q"... a word called Shaudenfreude. Joy in watching the misery of others.

The most important question now is "Is there more to Desperate Housewives than just... desperate, housewives?"

The whole neighbourhood is a disaster after another. There's no reason to watch the show anymore. Well, at least no happy ones. I think the show has lost it's basic charm and sinister humor that was clearly evident in the first ten to twelve episodes. It's now like watching The World's Most Amazing Videos (Dysfunctional Family Edition). How long do they expect to keep the audience interested? I've completely tuned out mid of season 2.

I've found TV bliss in these shows instead:

1. 30 Rock - starring Alec Baldwin, Tina Fey, Jane Krakowski (hilarious, absolutely hilarious).

2. Grey's Anatomy - Ellen Pompeo (Fun. But looks heading to Desperate Housewives way. They need to offer more feel good factors to the show. Christina bores and irritates post-Brooke crisis).

3. The New Adventures of Old Christine

4. The Family Guy

SUPER CONDOMS

2006-11-13T16:52:00.000+08:00

Let’s face it, using an ordinary condom is a real pain in the butt. First, you have to tear the pack open, often using your teeth. Then you have to take the condom out of the pack – this is a slippery business at the best of times. Next, you have to figure out which is the right side up, before you can unroll it. By the time the condom’s on, the mood is halfway out the window... Not to mention greasy, latex smelling hands.

Fortunately, those days are over. Introducing PRONTO, the condom for the new millennium. The PRONTO condom can be applied in a few seconds. And it’s a lot more convenient to use, compared to an ordinary condom. You simply crack the pack open and unroll the condom directly onto the penis. Currently only available in South Africa. But if you're a good boy, Santa may just drop some Pronto into your sock.

For a demo click on the links below:

Click here - For A Quickie! Pronto Commercial.

Click here - For another Quickie! Pronto Commercial.

Click here - For the official Pronto Condom website.

Sumo-lah

2006-11-12T01:12:00.000+08:00

What Is It?
The must-watch feel good Malaysian movie. This is esteemed comedian Afdlin Shauki's first "solo baby" - he's directing, producing and starring in it. Estimated release date is Feb 2007 (possibly in time for the Oscar evaluation). Ok, who am I kidding? In time for Chinese New Year... which falls on 18th Feb next year.

Who's In It?
Afdlin Shauki : Ramlee
Inthira Charoenpura : Siti

Special appearance by
Gurmit Singh : Akira
Awie : Haris
Radhi Khalid : Andy
Patrick Teoh : Honda
Kartina Aziz : Mak
Ben Tan : Tadano
Gavin Yap : Mickey
Terry Gallyot : Hassan

What's The Story About?
Ramlee (Afdlin Shauki) is a down and out Malay boy who can’t seem to hold down a job, much to his Mother’s (Azean Irdawaty) disappointment. Out of a job and out of money, he stumbles across a challenge by sushi restaurant owner Honda (Patrick Teoh) to “eat all you can for free food – within a time limit”.

Hungry and desperate, Ramlee attempts the challenge, and fails. In compensation, Honda lets Ramlee take a job at the restaurant to pay off his due. Ramlee becomes a member of the Boleh Sushi shop staff, along with Harith (Awie) and Andy (Radhi Khalid).

Ramlee is immediately attracted to Honda’s beautiful daughter, Siti (Intira Charoenpura), who is half-Japanese and half-Malay. He begins to learn the meaning of having good work, good friends and family...

Then comes the Karate Kid moment... except this one has more carbs and packs more pounds. It promises to be a big-sized comedy. He will learn of the values of relationship and trust. The plot thickens with a few more twists in the story which, to be fair, you'd have to watch to find out!

9/11 Memorial

2006-11-10T02:53:00.000+08:00

"Memorial"

The Staten Island 9/11 Memorial is located along the North Shore Waterfront Esplanade adjacent to the Staten Island Ferry Terminal and the Richmond County Ballpark at St. George. The site provides panoramic views of New York Harbor, Lower Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty. The ferry ride to Staten Island from Manhattan is free and you get a small view of the Statue of Liberty. Hey, it's free... stop complaining. You want an all-absorbing view pay for the Statue of Liberty tour (which I did, twice!).

Sex and the Malay Mail

2006-11-10T02:31:00.000+08:00

"I Simply Don't Get It"

Click here to read more.

Click here to read another article.

The Malay Mail sex article that has caused so much furore, is merely reporting the results of a survey. It may seem shocking that the truth about the sexual acts of Malaysians are not being received positively by... Malaysians. But that's life in this part of the world.

It's a complex argument here. Obviously, there are people in Malaysia who like to talk about sex (even if its just facts out of surveys) and then there are those who want to have sex but don't want to talk about it. I for one like to talk about sex (with the right mates), crack dirty joke, say "FUCK" whenever appropriate and I don't think I am a bad person. There are plenty of bad people out there, talking about sex doesn't make you one.

I've been thinking, "if people thought the article isn't good or worth their time... or is their cup of tea, don't spend RM1 on it. Don't read it. Heck don't even go near a newstand that day." There are people who are married and who actually want to have sex, and may want to read those stuff. And it wouldn't kill to leave them the hell alone. If I relied solely on my biology teacher who skimmed past the reproductive organs chapter in high school, I would probably be fucking belly buttons by now.

iTunes

2006-11-09T21:11:00.000+08:00

What's playing on my iPod?

Music I want to listen to next:

1. Fuck Me, I'm Famous - double CD mixes by David Guetta (damn, sexy house music makes you wanna...)
2. I Belong To Me - Jessica Simpson
3. The Saints Are Coming - U2 and Green Day (you read right).
4. Easy - Sugababes
5. Rocksteady - All Saints (oh my god, they're still alive?)
6. Irreplaceable - Beyonce
7. Wind It Up - Gwen Stefani

If I could drop a a PIMPED OUT Bentley on a musician it'll most likely be:
1. My Chemical Romance
2. The Killers
3. Akon
4. Panic! At The Disco
5. Tenacious D

Music Video I want to watch again... and again:
1. Gone Daddy Gone - Gnarls Barkley

Mac vs PC Spoof

2006-11-09T14:31:00.000+08:00

"Get a Mac" advertisement spoof.

New Core 2 Duo Apple Macbook

2006-11-09T02:28:00.000+08:00

We saw it coming. But so soon?

Apple just announced a few hours ago, the Macbook consumer line of laptops is now upgraded with Intel Core 2 Duo processors. Among the upgrades include the capability to burn dual-layer DVD, bigger HDD capacity (the black Macbook now comes with 120GB), more RAM (1GB standard on the 2.0 GHz versions) and as expected with the new processor, 4MB shared L2 cache running at full processor speed (for both white and black 2.0GHz).

Apple claims the new Macbooks run up to 6x faster than the last 14 inch G4 iBook and up to 25% faster than the earlier Core Duo versions. Judging from the problems I've heard from people I know and personally experienced on my Apple Macbook (Black, Core Duo), I would expect the earlier flaws to be more or less ironed out on it.

The flaws I experienced included:
1. Random Shutdowns (fixed with a logic board replacement, hasn't reoccured since)
2. Bluetooth intermittently says "Bluetooth: Not Available"
3. Unable to reboot when an unreadable disc remains in the drive
4. Macbook would not wake up from sleep at times

I wish I had waited for the Intel Core 2 Duo Macbooks. I didn't expect them to be out so soon! I was expecting them early 2007. The Intel Core 2 Duo (Merom) chips are said to be offer 40% more performance while using 40% less power. But in real life tests, it shows only up to 25% performance gain... according to Apple. Well, to those who are getting the new Macbooks, enjoy that 25%! You lucky b*st*rds.

Guggenheim, New York

2006-11-07T12:22:00.000+08:00

"Form and Function"

Photo taken at the Guggenheim Museum, New York. A beautiful, serene art complex that houses some of the most priceless art and sculptures in the world. The building is conceived with great fluidity to the shape, almost organic. From the outside or inside, resembling peeled apple or as New Yorkers say it, "the teacup". From the outside the unorthodox shape does resemble a teacup. Inside, sunlight down the glass ceiling gives the art some life and natural lighting. A nouveau way to see art, than typical dark, gloomy, cold and artificially lit museums.

En-Lightning

2006-11-06T14:07:00.000+08:00

"God, Could You Spare Me A Light(ning)?"
Another photo of a lightning that was captured on the Panasonic Lumix LX-1, on a turbulent flight back from New York.

Pink Elephant

2006-11-05T23:49:00.000+08:00

It was a dark and stormy night... I went out to the club with some friends. And naturally, friends being friends... they bring their other friends. For fear of you being boring or turning out to be a no-show, i guess. After hitting the clubs, we decided to stop by the coffee shop for some food. My chicken chop came and I noticed my friend's friends were looking at me and whispering something. I hate it when people do that. It's either you say it out loud like you're a man or you keep it in your thoughts and discuss it over the telephone like little bitches do.

So I said "is there something wrong with my polo-tee? An embarassing stain? A cigarette burn? (god forbid)

"No, it's just that we've never seen guys wear PINK before"... Ahh, this was in Penang. But I'm surprised even people in cosmopolitan cities feel the same about the color pink. It's a little taboo-boo. Hello? Don't be afraid of color. It doesn't bite. Guys shouldn't have to shop in the black-grey-and-navy section. What am I? A fucking boy scout?

No offence to the dude in the picture. That's my old-school friend (literally), Stanley. He could use a little color... but it is true, this is his first time wearing pink.

Notre Dame De Paris

2006-11-05T02:00:00.000+08:00

I just got back from the "Notre Dame De Paris" musical. I had a blast. The music was great. Although completely performed in French, and I was forced to read the subtitles on each side of the stage, it was a fun night. The performance was great, the choreography and stunts were quite amazing and the songs were TRIPPIN'. It definitely didn't disappoint (i didn't expect it to) as each ticket costs SGD200 (RM466). Came home, my friend insisted on watching parts of it again on a DVD. Ok, serious overload
of Notre Dame here... what next? The Disney version? Ok, me heading to bed now, before I watch any more of that..

C'est une histoire qui a pour lieu
Paris la belle en l'an de Dieu
Mil-quatre-cent-quatre-vingt-deux
Histoire d'amour et de désir...

Note: Picture taken on a Nokia 8800 that I am using. The quality isn't great, nothing compared to the Sony Ericssons. The level of details and size is simply not quite there. I wonder if the 8800 Sirocco Edition is a lot better? Bearing in mind, 2 mega pixel only determines the size, not the quality.

Welcome to Hong Kong

2006-11-04T02:46:00.000+08:00

"Call Me"

Every business's 15 minutes of fame, in Darwinian Hong Kong.

A New Beginning

2006-11-03T03:08:00.000+08:00

After more than 2 years of blogging, sabbaticals included, I've become
rather apprehensive about how my blog looked. It lacked drama... ok,
it was crap, it was full of bugs some which i still couldn't solve to
this day, it took too long to load and most important of all, I just
felt like my freakin blog deserved a fucking satisfying revamp! You
know, BRINGING SEXY-BACK! It looks much better now.

It's got some of my edge and whimsical element. I don't want it to
look like i spilled Bandung all over my page, like the last iteration.
I want this to look like I killed Barbie and her blood is all over my
pages. Yeah! It's still pink. I love it.

So here it is. KennyT's new and improved HearMeBitch! Enjoy.

Angelina Jolie's Shiseido ad

2006-11-03T01:09:00.000+08:00


Angelina Jolie's Shiseido ad for Integrate

Windows Vista Speech Recognition Demo Gone Awry

2006-11-02T18:31:00.000+08:00


Windows Vista Speech Recognition Demo Gone Awry

Microsoft Vista feature presentation

2006-11-02T18:26:00.000+08:00


It's long been known that Mac OS X is the cutting edge of mass-marketed GUI technology. A funny parody (to those who get it). It features the voice of a Microsoft representative explaining the "cutting edge" features of the upcoming Windows Vista. Accompanied by visuals of a readily available Mac OS X that can already do everything Vista can for several years now

My own WIDGETS DASHBOARD

2006-11-02T17:14:00.000+08:00

My own WIDGETS DASHBOARD
Originally uploaded by kennyt.

This is how my widgets dashboard look like. All I need to do is point

my mouse to the bottom left corner of my screen, and these useful

little 'widgets' will appear. Helping me check my gmail, check the top

ten box office movies i haven't watched, browse my CNN News headlines,

comprehensive thesaurus/dictionary when I need it, tell me the weather

forecast tomorrow, convert currency/weight/length/volume and etc etc,

show me the latest movie trailers in the world that's being released

now... and many more

Mac OS X : Widgets

2006-11-02T17:01:00.000+08:00

Mac OS X : Widgets
Originally uploaded by kennyt.

I've been using this for years. Windows PC users will only start to

see this on their desktops from next year

Windows Vista: Gadgets

2006-11-02T17:00:00.000+08:00

Windows Vista: Gadgets
Originally uploaded by kennyt.

Windows Vista gadgets. Two alphabets away from the Mac OS X term

Widgets. They can't even think of a different name. Too lazy, too

dumb, or too busy, you decide

Mac OS X vs Windows Vista

2006-11-02T16:47:00.000+08:00

For a company as complex and as rich as Microsoft, it's hard to fathom why they couldn't come up with something better than what we've seen on Windows Vista. The eye candy, copycat features is just too strikingly similar to those of Mac OS X.

It's not just about the "copying". I use both Windows XP and Mac OS X at home. But I have little respect and have little pride in using a Windows PC. Firstly, its buggy. I feel like I have to update every week with large patches in order for something so essential to work properly. Imagine using a microwave oven that needed a little tweaking every week? Isn't that a chore? But we've pretty much got used to turning on our computer, expecting the auto update to acknowledge another critical update - much like the computer's greeting (you know, like the Windows chime, the logo and the loading bar). We tolerate this nonsense because universally "it's just how Windows is" But does it have to be?

If Bill Gates can donate billions of dollars to charities (good for him), why can't he invest more of where that money came from to making good, reliable and to a certain extent, original products? To think that one of the world's most richest organizations, with it's strong staff count, aggressive company buying practices, rich in resources and influence is not able to (Mac fans pardon this) THINK DIFFERENT!

Instead having to copy the computer maker with a global market share of a little more than 4%? That's a great compliment... but whenever i get a Windows PC, i sleep at night thinking... what will happen next? Is there a critical update that I haven't installed? A new virus attack? Do I have enough RAM to run the next application I want to install? Why is the uninstall software not removing the software correctly? Why why why.

This is what I've been preaching for more than ten years. It's still happening. There's no stop to the unoriginal, uninspired but universally used Windows system. Perhaps it's the herd mentality, safety in numbers. But YOU as a consumer, DO have a choice. You can buy a Mac OS X that works with your Microsoft Office, read any of the Windows files, surf the web and even DO WINDOWS without any hassle. It's 2006, coming to 2007 already. HELLO? Mac computers can run Windows XP, and it doesn't take a genius to do it. Some shops will even preinstall Windows for you at a small charge. It doesn't take you away from Windows completely, unless you feel you're ready to.

If you get the chance, look at how a laptop PC works. While using the laptop, just take note of how the important information is displayed. How many minutes of battery life do you have left? Will you only know you've been using the LCD at full brightness and sapping battery life too quickly, ONLY after you've received the low power warning? Where the hell is that little blue battery looking thing on the taskbar? Do I really have to mouse over it to find important information I need to be accessible on-the-go? Look at the MAC OS X desktop, clean. All the information you need to know is within the desktop. No mouse overs, no clicking... no hidden icons.

You get battery life. You get wi fi signal strength and one click reveals the available network. How do you do it in Windows XP? The Bluetooth on or off is clearly displayed (transfers get a unique symbol), you get volume levels... right where you need it. To eject a thumb drive, i hit Cmd (apple key) + E. With Windows, i hit the green looking arrow that's lumped together with a gazillion other useless icons, click on it... say i want to remove hardware... then select the hardware from a list of many devices... click stop... wait for it to stop... and wait again for it to tell me it's safe to remove my device now.

What's worse? The development cycles. During the Internet Explorer vs Netscape wars, the developments kept coming. Netscape and Microsoft hit the development panic button and was at war to incorporate plugins, better security, encryption and better interfaces.

Ever since that war was won by the guys with the most money and influence... development stopped. That's the Microsoft way. Until Mozilla Firefox reignited that competitive flame. Now we have IE7. But what happened in between? How many years has passed since IE6? It's not like it's the best kept secret in the industry that Internet Explorer 6 has been horrifyingly buggy and had the security equivalent of a mouse trap. But because the consumers had no choice, they didn't need to innovate. Just patch accordingly, says Bill. Great isn't it? Still want that IE7? I'll stick with Firefox thanks. Even then, IE7 has copied the integrated search bar from Mac OS X Safari and Firefox... not to mention tabbed browsing. When Microsoft conquers a frontier, the development stops.

Look at Palm OS vs Windows Mobile. How much have we heard of the mobile platform since Palm became the minority report in the PDA wars? Do PDA's need a Start button? Why can't it be a totally redesigned platform? Was that laziness? Remember the Palm OS and their Sony Clies? At that time, PDAs looked different... there were sexy Clies, slim Palm M500s, cheap Zires, communicative Treos. There was innovation. There was a passion in owning these devices. The iPod, cliche gadgets as they are, are cultural phenomenons. Look at the Windows Mobile market now. Doesn't that Dopod look exactly like an O2? Doesn't that darn bulky ugly geek-chic HP iPAQ repel women and sometimes even men? Microsoft didn't design them, but this culture of complacency and lack of inventiveness has filtered down to the hardware makers.

Windows Vista. Elegant? I don't think so. Clever? Maybe, if you consider being able to play catch up, copying the ergonomics and design eye candy ala your smallest rival, a form of technological feat. For every five idiots Microsoft hires, Apple hires a genius. What the heck are these Microsoft software engineers hired for? It only takes one guy to walk up to the Apple store buy a copy of Apple's Mac OS X. And thousands of developers and software engineers to emulate it? It almost seems these guys haven't got a clue about a good operating system. They couldn't figure out what could be better than integrating widgets, intuitive search options, 'expose' desktop management, mouse over folder effects and desktop animations on their own? SERIOUSLY, what went through their minds when they got the brief to design Windows Vista? What happened to the brainstorming session between the head of development? Were they staring at a Apple iMac? Was it a blank silence? They couldn't work their fat, Hampton's billionaire brains to figure out something somebody else hasn't?

Sell now, patch later - is their philosophy. Meeting pompous deadlines is more important than plugging the holes and debugging the OS, I guess. Judging from the latest beta of Windows Vista, the future still looks patchy, if you know what I mean.

Bottomline, I find little to admire in a company like Microsoft. Apple sales are said to have grown 22.6% from 2005 - 2006 alone. Increasing their global market share from 2.9 to 3.6%. Nothing much compared to Windows, but i'll stick with whatever works for me. Sure, you might want Windows Vista. But you might as well know that Mac OS has done it first, done it better and most importantly is more secure/stable.

BALLS OF STEEL

2006-11-01T12:02:00.000+08:00

BALLS OF STEEL
Originally uploaded by kennyt.

Now I know what it feels like to be cleaning windows on a skyscraper.

This is me doing the Sky walk at the Macau Tower. 216 meters above

the ground, you walk on a platform no bigger than 1.5 m wide around

the tower, with nothing but a little rope and a harness. To anybody

who is contemplating suicide, well, try this first. It's super scary.

If you've seen the AXN Macau Challenge show, you'll know why it takes

balls of steel to do it

Warhol

2006-10-31T20:14:00.000+08:00

Warhol
Originally uploaded by kennyt.

Warhol-ian me

Airbus A380

2006-09-10T22:39:00.000+08:00

Airbus A380
Originally uploaded by kennyt.

The biggest attraction at the Singapore Air Show was the Airbus A380.

For the longest time it's been known as A3XX. Commercial flights

should begin in early 2007 after 18 months of testing, with the

delivery of the first aircraft to launch customer Singapore Airlines.

That's the one I saw, as you can see

The A380 is double decked, with the upper deck extending along the

entire length of the fuselage, unlike the Boeing 747. Two models of

the A380 are currently available. The A380-800, the passenger model,

is the largest passenger airliner in the world, superseding the Boeing

747. The other launch model, the A380-800F, will be one of the largest

freight aircraft

The A380-800 has a maximum range of 15,000 kilometers (8,000 nmi,

sufficient to fly from Chicago to Sydney nonstop), and a cruising

speed of Mach 0.85 (about 900 km/h at cruise altitude), similar to

that of the Boeing 747. I am one of the few in the world who's ever

seen one before it's official maiden flight

My bro

2006-09-10T22:27:00.000+08:00

My bro
Originally uploaded by kennyt.

That's my bro on a bike

Lightning

2006-09-10T22:05:00.000+08:00

Lightning
Originally uploaded by kennyt.

A lightning I captured on the Panasonic LX1, on my flight from New

York to Singapore

iPod Volume Limiter

2006-06-20T12:57:00.000+08:00

The people spoke, and Apple listened -- while they still have their hearing that is. After facing that French iPod law (no, not that one, the other one regulating volume output in portable audio devices) and a lawsuit here in the states about iPod-related hearing damage, Apple's apparently releasing a software update to allow for a personal volume threshold option in your iPod. Meaning you can set it so your iPod can't get any louder than a certain pre-defined level -- though as long as that level is configurable, even if its placed out of the way in the device options, people will still continue to set it to 11 and damage their hearing. Still, what's interesting here is that this move could be construed as an admission of guilt in some sense, but hey, we appreciate the thought, Apple. Look at that guy in the picture -- we wouldn't really want him screaming at full volume right into our ears, either.

------------------------------------------------

After reading the forum on this matter (a while back), it's made me pretty worked up.
These guys make it sound like it's Apple's problem. This "loudness" issue has been around since the Walkman, the Discman and MiniDisc players.

I don't see Creative doing anything, I don't see Sony limiting their volumes? They just sit there with glee, hoping that the iPod would lose market share from all this bad press. If these people want to speak of what's good and virtues of corporate social responsibility, then speak of it in general. Don't target iPods. They may have majority market share in the US, but the whole world doesn't live in the US. In Asia, there are plenty of Taiwanese made alternative brands that's very popular. If you've ever been to Hong Kong, you'd know that these smaller brands probably outsell iPods.

These are shallow thinking, presumptious and people who are just looking to add their 2 cents (exactly what its worth) to a sensational piece of news. I for one would like to see the other manufacturers do something).

Buddhapad is good for you

2006-06-18T16:28:00.000+08:00

BuddhaPad is the World's only mouse-pad created specifically to make good things happen. The chinese would know that rubbing the belly of the laughing buddha is good for you and your fortune. So why not rub it everyday while you're at work? It's convenient, right? Just get the mousepad, or be like me, download the Buddhapad wallpaper and rub it with your mouse pointer everytime you reach for your desktop

The pad was peacefully-designed with the tranquil image of Hotei, the happy, or laughing Buddha. BuddhaPad offers contentment, good fortune and superior mouse-tracking for both standard and optical mice. It's available to purchase online for $10.95. 10% of its sales are donated to the Make a Wish Foundation, so that you are spreading good fortune from the moment you purchase it. Are you in need of some good Karma for yourself and your desktop? You can buy the mousepad from www.buddhapad.com

Nokia N80 is a letdown

2006-06-18T13:21:00.000+08:00

People should stop giving opinions based just on the facts they read on the net. The Nokia N80 may sound fantastic on paper but let me give you an insight to my experience with it

The WLAN reception is very poor. This isn't to say that it doesn't work but you definitely won't be using your neighbour's network with this device. It just doesn't catch on to the reception well

Plus, when you are using WLAN, there's a 3G logo on the top left corner. Which was initially confusing, because it's perpetually there, regardless if you choose 3g or wifi. You can't even gauge the signal strength. You have to base your perception of the bandwidth based on how long it takes to load a page. Not good. What's even worse, is the way you browse the net with the small screen. This isn't Nokia's fault, but generally, browsing the web and reading off the small screen is just not feasible for me, for more than 10-15 minutes. I get a headache, scrolling from left to right, top to bottom.

One more thing, you can't enter a web address in the web browser, until the page you want to load has finished loading. If you key in cnetasia.com and press enter, then change your mind. You have to wait till everything is loaded before the option to "go to web address" will be available to you. This can be annoying

The n80 is also a HANGING monster. If you're using it for more than just making calls and reading text, you're in for a surprise. This device hangs oh-so-often. Within 2 weeks of using it, it's hung 3 times. Nokia says nothing is wrong. After I've exited every single program, I tried to run Snake 3D game, and it says "out of memory". This happens rather frequently. I'd say even if you're not a power user, it can pose a problem

Oh, and the built-in memory is pathetic. If you are familiar with Nokia phones, you'll be aware that every file you receive through Bluetooth comes in as a message in the inbox. So by havin such limited space restricts what u can receive through BT. Example, if you store pictures, songs and misc in your phone. You use about 50% of the phone memory. Then you want to receive a few MP3 files from your friend. Assuming you each file is 5MB- you can receive ONLY three files and then you will have to open items inbox, save the file to card. Repeat for every MP3, then delete them one by one from the phone memory. Why the hassle? Why can't it just go into the card, where you want to store all your files in (due to the small built-in memory in the first place?) With a Sony Ericsson phone, you can directly specify to save files you receive in the phone or the memory card

The sliding isn't as smooth or as elegant as the one implemented in the Samsung SGH-D820. Imagine, if a phone that's so slim, can be such a joy to slide, why can't nokia do the same for one of its top-of-the-line, chunky device which happens to be one of the most highly anticipated phone of 2006

You see that four-way arrow key? The second last button on the right (bottom)? This is a shortcut function. But don't expect it to shortcut a lot though. If you put anything graphic intensive, like say... open picture gallery or customize it to shortcut into the web browser, it will hang and say "out of memory" too. I dare anyone who's posted a GOOD rating for this phone to try this and tell me if you notice that it's strange for this supposed-powerful phone to hang under a simple task like viewing photo gallery. I have about 20+ pics inside, it's not like I have a chockful of photos

The phone has even hung while accessing SMS. This phone is powerful, on paper... but the implementation is buggy at best and the reviewer at CNET definitly need to test these products and give constructive and honest views. There's no use fluffing up to the companies that give you these gadgets to review. It defeats the purpose of a review, in the first place. TOO CONFUSING? Well, let me just put it this way, Even if you have 20 gigabytes (figure of speech) in your memory card, but you only have 5MB of free space in your phone memory, you cannot receive anything more than 5MB through Bluetooth. No matter how big your expandable memory is. How silly right? This is because everything you receive through Bluetooth automatically gets stored in the phone first. I've tried receiving a high quality MP3, that's 10mb into a 12mb of free space and the phone tells me it's run out of memory. So you go figure that out... its mind boggling why people put up with this

Finally, all I'd like to say is I am sure the readers out there would appreciate a more objective opinion in this column, rather than just spewing random and ambiguous views like "great phone, nice features, but too bad it's so expensive". I think some opinions out there can be vague and totally based on perceptions rather than actual knowledge of a product.

Grease

2006-06-02T12:07:00.000+08:00

Grease
Originally uploaded by kennyt.

Grease last night

Harbour Bridge -Sydney

2006-05-27T12:10:00.000+08:00

Harbour Bridge -Sydney
Originally uploaded by kennyt.

Also known as the Old Hanger - the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Taken at sunset

Lexus

2006-05-27T12:04:00.000+08:00

Lexus
Originally uploaded by kennyt.

Lexus IS200

Walk Interview

2006-05-25T14:06:00.000+08:00

Walk Interview
Originally uploaded by kennyt.

?So, do they want to see my resume on the run

Scary Mary

2006-05-25T14:04:00.000+08:00

Scary Mary
Originally uploaded by kennyt.

Me with long hair

Japanese food

2006-05-25T14:02:00.000+08:00

Japanese food
Originally uploaded by kennyt.

I love my sushi, sashimi, don, iidako, tako, chawan mushi, kajiki, ebikko

maki, uni, hamachi, chuka hotate

Map of Australia

2006-05-25T13:56:00.000+08:00

Map of Australia
Originally uploaded by kennyt.

A Wet Map of Australia

COMING ANYTIME

2006-05-25T13:55:00.000+08:00

COMING ANYTIME
Originally uploaded by kennyt.

RM6 to COME ANYTIME? That's great

The Da Vinci Code STINKS

2006-05-21T05:37:00.000+08:00

My take on The Da Vinci Code
I just got back from the cinema a few hours ago. Watched one of the most highly anticipated films of 2006, The Da Vince Code. This movie is two-hours too long. I will try not to go on and on like I did with the movie, 'Hostel'. If I have to comment on the movie, I'd have to say

The movie is dull, uninspired and could bore a librarian to death. It was basically Tom Hanks and Audrey Tautou, going from one location to another to listen to some Christian bull (fiction). It's a lot of talking, which in Good Night and Good Luck, had a purpose. The Da Vinci Code just expects you to listen to about 70% of the movie like you would a documentary. Completely detached, emotionless and it tries really hard to put as much as Dan Brown did into the novel to the movie. But what may seem like a revelation or an intriguing concept of conspiracy and religion, in the movie it is reduced to a very boring conversation that doesn't seem to climax or die! It's that bad

The most exciting scene in the whole movie was the car chase scene in the first 20 mins of the movie. Where Audrey Tautou escapes the police in a cute Smart ForTwo, in reverse! After that, the fastest the character ever got was a walking pace around locations... and talking, and talking and talking. The fundamental problem doesn't lie in the movie itself. The Dan Brown bestseller isn't quite what you'd call a writing masterpiece anyway, it was flawed. But in the books case, if you're bored or feel overwhelmed, you could close it and take a rest, while at the movies you can't. All that talk about Sion, Sangreal, Templar Knights, Opus Dim, Jesus and Mary Magdalene is just utterly confusing when put into one paragraph

One of the problems is that everything is so damnably obvious. It is no big trick to figure out who in the cast is trustworthy, or who the villains are. So there is no emotional jolt when each fictional truth is revealed

I think after spending USD150 million on this movie, they forgot to use some of it to pay for a good script

There is a point in the movie which they were saved by pigeons in a church. Even John Woo, the king of drama and ridiculousness would have laughed at that scene. Oh my god, this movie shouldn't have been made in the first place. What were they thinking

Overall, I give this movie a 4.5/10
Only because Paris looked great and it's a rather original story premise

The cycle is complete

2006-05-17T01:15:00.000+08:00

The cycle is complete
Originally uploaded by kennyt.

The Intel microprocessor is a blessing. Now the whole family shares

the same brain. I am a Mac Evangelist, I know. There's no denying

Apple Macbook Black

2006-05-17T01:12:00.000+08:00

Apple Macbook Black
Originally uploaded by kennyt.

I want one. But not the first batch. It's always wiser (for me, at

least) to go for the next performance upgrade, just to make sure every

bug is ironed out. Plus, I really want a black one. Better save up

Words can't express how excited I was when I saw the news about the

new Apple Macbook. I've been lingering in Thinksecret.com and

AppleInsider over the past month just to see if there are any news (or

rumors). I knew the announcement can't be that far away. So here it

is, finally, the iBook replacement - Apple Macbook. A little

disappointed that it isn't a huge departure from it's last cosmetic

outlook. How I wish Steve Jobs had ordered a bigger makeover for the

consumer laptop. But heck, this will do. At least it will run both

Apple MacOS X and Windows XP flawlessly now. Oh, wait. Don't you know?

Apple computers these days are capable of running Windows without a

glitch. I was at Apple Center in Orchard Road and they already have a

few sets of computers running in Windows XP. It's possible thanks to a

new beta software which will eventually find its way to the next Mac

OS codenamed Leopard. It's called BootCamp and everytime you want to

boot it in Windows XP, just press restart and select the flavor. It's

that easy. Anymore reason not to buy a MAC now? Guess not

Apple Macbook (note no pro) replaces the iBook laptops

2006-05-17T01:03:00.000+08:00

Apple Macbook (note no pro) replaces the iBook laptops
Originally uploaded by kennyt.

Newsflash: New Apple iBook replacements is OUT

The new MacBooks will replace the iBook consumer notebooks as well as

the 12-inch PowerBook, which was the last PowerBook model to run on

the PowerPC platform.

With the addition of the MacBook consumer line, Apple has moved all of

its Macintoshes to Intel microprocessors, except for its PowerMac G5

high-end professional computers.

The new models come with many of the same features of Apple's

professional line of MacBook Pro notebooks, such as a built-in iSight

video camera, the Front Row media-management software package and a

scrolling trackpad.

"We saw the opportunity to make one seamless product family," said

Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of worldwide product

marketing. "When you get a MacBook, you don't have to feel like you're

trading anything off."

The new MacBooks come in three versions, each of which has a 13-inch

glossy-widescreen display. The lowest-priced model starts at $1,099,

runs on a 1.83-gigahertz Intel Core Duo processor, has a 60GB hard

drive and a combination DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive

A 2-gigahertz model with a 60GB hard drive and DVD and CD-burner will

start at USD$1.299 and a black-finish, 2-gigahertz, 80GB drive model

with a DVD and CD burner starts at USD$1,499. All models will begin

shipping immediately, according to Apple

Michael Schumacher

2006-05-11T02:45:00.000+08:00

Michael Schumacher
Originally uploaded by kennyt.

Eat dust Fernando Alonso. Michael Schumacher won the last two F1 grand

prixs, in Imola (Italy) and Nurburgring (Germany). Anyone who writes

off Schuey from this year's Formula One world champion title is dead

wrong. Here's a picture I took of Schuey at the Malaysian GP

Nokia N80

2006-05-10T12:49:00.000+08:00

Everyone wants a Nokia N80 it seems. 3 of my friends want one. And a lot of my non-friends want one too. It's going to be one common phone soon. Let's look at what it does though

Nokia mobile phone - Dimensions

- Volume: 97.4 cc

- Weight: 134 g

- Length: 95.4 mm

- Width (max): 50 mm

- Thickness (max): 26 mm

N80 multimedia phone - Display & user interface

- Active matrix colour display (352x416, up to 262,144 colours)

- Automatic brightness control for display

- 4-way scroll key with center select

- Two softkeys, application-key, edit and clear key, send & end key, multimedia key.

- Dedicated capture key for instant camera activation.

- System: EGSM 850/900/1800/1900 + WCDMA 2100 GHz

- User interface: S60 software on Symbian OS

Nokia N80 - Imaging and Video

- Integrated 3 Megapixel camera with up to 20 x digital zoom and close-up mode.

- Landscape capture with dedicated capture key

- Integrated Flash LED with anti-red eye

- High-quality video capture in MP4 and 3GP formats with up to 5x digital zoom

- Image and video editors

- Nokia Lifeblog

- Image and video uploading to the web

- XpressPrint over infrared, Bluetooth technology, PictBridge and UPnP directly from Gallery

Nokia Camera specifications

- Sensor: 3 Megapixel CMOS

- Focal length: 4.7 mm (35 mm equivalent)

- Focus range: close up mode: 17.5 cm to 23.4 cm, Normal mode: 68 cm to infinity

- Flash LED modes: On, Off, Automatic, Anti Red-Eye

- Still image resolutions: 2048 x 1536, 1600 x 1200, 1280 x 960, 800 x 600, 640 x 480 pixels

- Still images file format: EXIF (JPEG),.jpg

- Video capture resolutions: 352 x 288; 176 x 144, 128 x 96 (pixels)

- Exposure: Automatic, Manual EV correction +/-2.0

- Colors: 16.7 million/24-bit

- Color tones: Normal, sepia, black & white, negative

- Capture modes: Normal, self-timer, sequence

- Scene settings: Normal mode: Auto, portrait, landscape, night portrait, night landscape, sports, candlelight, and user. Close up mode: close-up and document

- Advanced camera modes: self timer, advanced sequence mode, 10 scene modes and brightness, contrast, sharpness, colour saturation, white balance, exposure compensation and colour tones adjustments, image quality settings and video stabilisation.

- Integrated VGA camera on front with 2 x digital zoom

N80 photo - Xpress solutions

- Nokia XpressPrint- Print from your phone. Print on the go. Order prints online. Nokia brings you fast and easy ways to print your photos, calendars, contacts and e-mails.

- Nokia XpressTransfer- Manage your photos and videos between all your compatible devices with Nokia XpressTransfer storing solution.

- Nokia XpressShare- Nokia makes it simple for you to share your personal content quickly and easily with Nokia XpressShare sharing solution.

- Nokia XpressMusic- Nokia XpressMusic, fast and easy access to music.

N80 Nokia - Entertainment

- Integrated digital music player with stereo audio. Supported files: MP3, AAC, m4a, eAAC+, wma

- USB mass storage that enables easy drag and drop of files, such as music tracks

- Stereo FM radio with support for Visual Radio

- Multimedia player (RealPlayer) with 3GPP & MPEG4 AVC video streaming support

- Internet browser

Nokia N80 - Memory functions

- Up to 40 MB of internal dynamic memory for images, contacts, text messages, multimedia messages, ringing tones, images, video clips, calendar notes, to-do list and applications. Please note that the preinstalled applications on the user data area of the device memory will reduce the informed amount of available memory, unless uninstalled.

- Expandable memory: 128 MB miniSD card.

- Hot swap slot for easy memory card insertion and removal

Note: While playing with the Nokia N80, it experienced many memory problems. While it is just 2 days old with about 20 hi-res pictures taken. Any program I subsequently try to open gives me an ERROR message that says I have run out of memory. There is obviously about 30 MB of memory left and no other program was on at that time. STRANGE

There is another problem with the Nokia's memory management system. You must always clear your phone memory. Because any Bluetooth file sent to the device will automatically reside in your phone memory first (in the message inbox), you must always have enough memory to accomodate the incoming file. You have no way to specify that you want to save the file directly into your memory card. Case in hand, if you have a 256MB card. And you have a 10MB ultra cool remix song that you want to save in your card. Your phone memory is down to about 8MB free space. You now have to transfer some pictures or data into the card, free up more than 10MB on the phone. Transfer it through Bluetooth, then copy it into the card. After all that, you then can move back the 2MB+ of data back to the phone. In contrast, my Sony Ericsson W800i can run even if I have 500kb left in it. My Bluetooth files go where i tell it to go, the card or the phone, directly

The mobile internet as well. When you activate your mobile internet browser, there is a perpetual 3G logo on the top left corner. Even if you're using wireless LAN to surf, it just doesn't go away. Making it confusing, as to whether you are using WLAN or 3G to surf. Both are very different in price. There's no way to find out either, unless you check the setting and see what the access point is. Still not perfect, but it does surf the Internet fine

The sliding mechanism lacks spring-action. It feels unclassy to open and there is a lot of resistance. It's alright to open but to close it, you probably have to slam it on your thighs or tummy. There isn't a comfortable area to hold to push the slide back down. You can hold the screen area, but I wouldn't put too much pressure on that area if i were you. The Samsung SGH-D820 does the sliding mechanism really well and it shows you can integrate a splendid smooth slide that's both comfortable and functional without adding weight or bulk. Why can't Nokia do it? What a downer for a phone so powerful and expensive, as the N80

close encounter with a WHORE for WHITE TRASH

2006-05-10T01:27:00.000+08:00

Close encounter with a WHORE for WHITE TRASH

So last saturday, I was out with a a few friends. And together with the group, came along another lady who is an acquaintance. But she (let's call her Miss D) has been close friends with a few members of the group. We met up in town and headed to a club

The club was in a poshy location. We entered the club, the expectation was high for the night. But when I arrived, my first impression was "filipino girls, girls who look like filipino girls, caucasian, caucasian, caucasian and some really lost local souls". But it was alright, I intend to make the best of the night. After all it was already 11+. We settled into a corner. Then there was a lot of dancing. Miss D started catching up with me and she was shaking her booty all over and we danced really closely. The music ranged from Mousse T's cliche hit Horny to some Bangra Remix, from Jon Bonjovi to Gwen Stefani's Hollaback Girl Radio Edit. Yea, you heard me, the Radio Edit on the dancefloor. That's almost as wrong as David Hasselhoff's music career!

So the dancing pursued. Miss D announces to everyone, even the acquaintances, that it's her birthday and coyly said drinks are on the 'guys'. So many lychee martinis later, the music still sucked and the crowd was just rowdy. We were dressed to the nines because of its location only to find there were some white guys who got in wearing just a t-shirt, shorts and slippers

Miss D apologizes for the venue. "I don't know what's wrong tonight. Usually, when I come here, this place is just full of white trash" she says with a grin. So this must be her preferred hangout! You see, Miss D loves ang mohs (caucasian men). So this ang moh clubbing scene at a popular hotel, was just right for her. Ok, that's fine. It's your birthday, I'll pretend that the club which is terrible by any self-respecting clubber's standard is really alright with me. You know, trying to look on the bright side of things... with the help of more alcohol. Hopefully it can drown the bad music and crowd.

By the end of the night, I was buzzing. You see, I skipped dinner. My last meal was about 12 hours ago. Two bottles of beer, sangria and some lychee martini later, I was rather tipsy, but not drunk. We finished the night off pretty early, almost about 2am and left the god-awful club. We were all joking around and the mood for the night was pretty much quite high on the fun-scale.

While exiting the lift, everyone said their loud goodbyes. I gave a pat on Miss D's butt and said my goodbye to her. She turned to me and said " Hey, I don't like that. You'd better apologize to me". And I stood in front of the lift door as it was closing and said "I'm sorry". She just looked at me and said "Good that you apologized. Anyway, you're forgiven". She smiled and she was eclipsed from the my view as the door shut and it concluded the night.

FOUR DAYS later, which is today, I get a phone call from a friend, asking me to call Miss D back urgently. She's been contacting my friends, trying to get hold of me. I got her number, called her back - expecting an emergency or maybe she needed help with something.

So here goes the conversation

Kenny T: Hi
Miss D: Who's this?
Kenny T: Kenny la
Miss D: Oh, you're still in Singapore?
Kenny T: Yea. What's up?
Miss D: I want to talk to you about something.
Kenny T: What is it?
Miss D: I am not very happy about what happened the other night. I mean I am very angry with your actions and I think I deserve an apology. I think your apology that night was very insincere and I don't like the way you said it.
Kenny T: Oh, I am very sorry about that. I did apologize to you that night. I didn't mean my action that night to be offensive or a means of harrassment. I had a bit to drink and I did something that I shouldn't have. I am sorry that it made you feel that way.
Miss D: What you did was very wrong. You know, I don't really care if you're Mr G's friend or whoever's friend. You have no right to do that to me...
Kenny T: Look, I never meant to hurt you physically or mentally. I really was a bit tipsy that night and I did something I shouldn't have. I am sorry!
Miss D: Whatever it is, you shouldn't have done that. And I want you to hear my explanation and tell you what I feel about what happened.
Kenny T: NO. Don't you say whatever-it-is. I don't like that, it just means you want to dismiss my apology and my explanation. I sympathise with your feelings and what you're going through.
Miss D: I don't need your sympathy...
Kenny T: No, what I meant was that I fully understand where you're coming from and I am really sorry.
Miss D: What you did was very wrong. Don't think that you're Mr G and Mr F's friend and that's ok. It's not
Kenny T: I know. But I have already apologized. What else do you want me to do? Do you want me to give you money? What is it that you want
Miss D: No I don't want your money. You can give all the explanation you want but the bottomline is that you should understand that what you did was wrong and I am very hurt by what you did. It is very wrong... You have no right to do that to me, you know?
Kenny T: (I am getting very agitated, I was going to ask her if she understands English...) Look! I won't apologize if I don't think I am wrong. I am telling you I am sorry and that I did something wrong that I shouldn't have. I apologize. I DO know what you are telling me. And I don't want it to be awkward the next time we meet. I just hope everything is normal after my apology.
Miss D: Ok, fine. That's all I needed to hear from you.
Kenny T: Ok, good.

She hangs up the phone and that was the end of the conversation. It's strange for her to call me FOUR DAYS later and say that she's VERY angry at me for what I did. Knowing that I may not be in Singapore still and that if she needed to talk to me desperately about how she felt, she would have called me the next day. Anyway, I won't rationalize that. She can do whatever shen pleases. I just find that sometimes saying Sorry just doesn't cut it anymore these days, these girls want you to saw your hands off or kneel down and beg or send them a diamond ring to show your sincerity and truthfulness.

Not only did I apologize profusely for hurting her feelings. She just wants to harp on the subject. What is wrong with this woman? Yes. I apologized. So what else do you want? I have a feeling she wants some compensation. To be completely honest, and this has got nothing to do with this fiasco. Miss D isn't exactly known for her beauty, I know I know, it isn't any excuse to touch somebody's bum, no matter how ugly they are. But just who exactly does she think she is? I am just glad this is over. It certainly SPOILT my night. Some say Miss D has got big breasts. I think they are irrelevant, to this story. But the more i think of it, the more I am convinced, it may have some effect on their bloating ego and over-evaluation of their supposed self-worth. Plus the fact that she's such a sarong-party-girl (the term for women who enjoy white males as their love accessory) is just another factor that she thinks she's such a big deal. Oh yea, get a f*cking life Miss D. Hope you don't choke on sperm.

Fuck girls who think they are pretty just because of their rather plump bosom and think they own the world simply because they date white guys. Watch out for more sexually transmitted disease, Miss D. You already have cold sores (herpes?) on your lips that night at the club. She even asked me for lip balm. I wouldn't give it to you even if i had one. And geez, thank god I didn't share a cigarette or drinks with her. "Good girls go to heaven, bad girls go everywhere" is right. But they forgot, to add - bad girls also catch everything.

She'd better not bring this up again in front of me. I've sincerely apologized. If she wants to harrass me and talk shit in front of me with this topic again the next time i meet her or give me that BITCH/snide remarks purposefully due to this event, I will not hesitate to give her a big piece of my mind or a cold drink on her face.

Those who know me, know that I can be nice. But if you provoke me and force me to the edge, I can't guarantee you some things will not fly.

Wi fi on the Nokia N80

2006-05-08T21:57:00.000+08:00

Wi fi on the Nokia N80
Originally uploaded by kennyt.

Choose the small screen view, and you should read long text a lot

better. Instead of trailing the text like a typewriter from left to

right, every sentence

Nokia N80

2006-05-08T21:55:00.000+08:00

Nokia N80
Originally uploaded by kennyt.

This phone does what it says it would. Nothing really fantastic about

its design. Looks like a Sony Ericsson W800i that impregnated a Nokia.

The wi-fi works well although the reception and speed isn't

laptop-fast. Expect slower response and loading times. Like

significantly SLOWER

The last row of keys is a little hard to press on a one-hand

operation, and it feels plasticky

XBOX 360

2006-05-08T21:48:00.000+08:00

XBOX 360
Originally uploaded by kennyt.

?What am I up to these days

Woo Hoo

2006-05-03T04:01:00.000+08:00

Woo Hoo
Originally uploaded by kennyt.

The best word in the world! SALE

Paris Gives Boyfriend - The Butt

2006-05-03T04:00:00.000+08:00

Paris Gives Boyfriend - The Butt
Originally uploaded by kennyt.

NEWSFLASH

A rep for Paris Hilton has implied that she and Stavros Niarchos have broken

up. When asked if the two had split, Paris' rep told *People *magazine:

"It is not my policy to comment on my client's private life. But I would not

offer a denial."

Gisele. I like

2006-05-03T03:58:00.000+08:00

Gisele. I like
Originally uploaded by kennyt.

My favourite supermodel, Gisele Bundchen

*NATIONALITY:* Brazilian

*HEIGHT:* 5'10"

*MEASUREMENTS:* 34-24-34 (on her comp card) 36-24-35 (according to Cosmo,

March 2000).

*HAIR:* Brown

*EYES:* Blue

*BORN:* 1980 in Horizontina, Brazil.

*DISCOVERED:* At age 14 while eating a Big Mac with fellow classmates on a

school trip. She later entered the Elite model competition and came fourth.

*AGENCY:* New York-Elite

*INCOME:* $5 million US in 1999 and $8 million in 2000. In 2000, for runway

shows, Gisele commanded between $7,000. and $15,000. (paid by Tommy Hilfiger

to make two turns on his catwalk) per hour. In 2003, the gorgeous Brazilian

made $10 million. Gisele has a contract with Victoria's Secret that will

make her $30 million between 2004 and 2008. Her current runway rate is

$50,000-a-time - putting her at No.76 in the list of the world's biggest

earners.

*RÉSUMÉ:* Has appeared on most of the major magazines covers in the past

year. Models in ads for Ralph Lauren, Celine, Christian Dior, Michael Kors,

Zara, Dolce & Gabbana, Bulgari, etc.

*KNOWN FOR:* Being the biggest, newest supermodel. Nicknamed "The Body".

*HOME:* She lives in Los Angeles with Leonardo DiCaprio, has a loft in

Manhattan's celeb-studded TriBeCa neighbourhood and a country house near

Woodstock, NY.

*TATTOOS:* A star on the inside of her left wrist. She got it after her

first night in New York, when she couldn't find a star in the sky to help

her pray.

*SWEETIE:* In late 1999 to early 2000 Gisele split with long-term love,

model Scott Barnhill, for fellow countryman (and multi-billionaire) Joao

Paulo Diniz. She has since moved on and has been dating Leonardo DiCaprio

for several years. She has said that she will not marry Leo until he stops

partying and going to strip clubs so often.

*OTHER:* Gisele has five sisters: Raquel, Graziela, Gabriela, Patricia

(twin) and Rafaela. Gisele was awarded 'Model of the Year' by VHI and Vogue.

Gisele is quoted as saying "You know, I'm a normal person is a business

that's not so normal." She has a belly-button ring and breast implants.

I was in Toronto

2006-05-03T03:19:00.000+08:00

I was in Toronto
Originally uploaded by kennyt.

Toronto was fun. Ice-skating was fun. Going to the top of CN tower was fun.

It's good to experience another tall building, other than Petronas Twin

Towers, in Kuala Lumpur. The CN tower in Toronto is the tallest in the world

and I must say it does look gorgeous. At the observation deck, you can walk

on a reinforced perspex. You can see right through the floor and you feel

like you're walking on air. VERY SCARY but this is the place to do it. On a

clear day, you can even see Niagara Falls from the tower

Stupid Brand

2006-05-03T02:53:00.000+08:00

Stupid Brand
Originally uploaded by kennyt.

*The following is an excerpt from

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=31121

PLASTIC MOLD FIRM Apple, might be finding out that the problem with having a dual boot alongside Windows is that users can compare both operating systems better

According to Penny Arcade, the introduction of Boot Camp makes it a lot easier to benchmark what the two operating systems can do

One of its hacks installed Boot Camp onto his MacBook, installed Windows and then World of Warcraft. To test how the two operating systems compared he ran WoW at 1440 x 900 with all the graphic settings on maximum

It was barely playable of course but he managed to get a frame rate reading of 15 and 20 FPS under Mac OX

On the same lap top under Windows and the same settings he managed to get between 35 and 40 FPS. This is a pretty big difference

The reviewer said that he preferred using OS X, but it was a little difficult to justify when a game runs twice as fast under Windows

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:My comment

Ok, the people at The Enquirer Net are obviously Windows-crazy dimwits who know nuts about computers. The MacBook Pro is running World of Warcraft a lot slower than when in Windows version because these Mac softwares and games need to be "translated" from its original language using a built-in converter called 'Rosetta'. Previously made with IBM's PowerPC processor, Mac hardware now are in the interim period where they have to make do with running "beta" software that is designed only for the IBM chip. Mac have only just begun using Intel chips earlier this year and the softwares have not yet been optimized for use on the Intel platform. Thus, making it a lot slower than when the Intel-based Macs computers is running Windows XP (which you can now do with Boot Camp).

You can now install Windows XP on a new Intel processor equipped Mac hardware (that includes iMac, mac mini, Macbook Pro) and run all the PC softwares with no problem, using Apple's proprietory beta software called BootCamp. Read this article

http://ptech.wsj.com/archive/ptech-20060406.html

So, in time, when the softwares are written fully for Mac OS X with Intel chips, then only the comparisons can be made. There is no use to compare how games and softwares work in Mac OS and Windows now (even on the same machine), for it's redundant. Windows softwares have been optimized for use on that operating system, while Mac OS ones are not

There. It isn't so hard to understand is it? Some idiot journalists just don't get it! These people should write children books instead

Education is good... unless

2006-04-26T01:20:00.000+08:00

Education is good... unless
Originally uploaded by kennyt.

?Would you like to enrol in this institution

Bad movie

2006-04-26T01:14:00.000+08:00

Bad movie
Originally uploaded by kennyt.

Sorry for neglecting the blog

I've been busy traveling, celebrating my birthday and well, watching

bad movies. One of them is Hostel. The movie was so bad, I walked out

of the cinema. Its not to say that I am a terribly difficult person to

please. I always make the best of whatever crap I walk into at the

cinema. But Hostel was a lame excuse for a gore movie. Ellie Roth, the

director must have had a good laugh by putting Quentin Tarantino's

name in the credit as one of the producers of this horrible show

Let me begin describing the film... While backpacking through Europe,

college students Paxton (Jay Hernandez) and Josh (Derek Richardson)

seek the ultimate vacation through sex, drugs and unforgettable

experiences. When a friendly stranger informs the two of a hostel in

Bratislava that offers the most beautiful and promiscuous women in all

of Europe, Paxton and Derek trek with their new Icelandic friend Oli

(Eythor Gudjonsson) to find the hostel that sounds too good to be

true. When arriving to Bratislava, the trio found that the hostel was

everything and more of what they expected. Insert lots of female

nudity, hanging breasts, clubbing scene and horny sluts here. Then the

events that follow are sure to deliver the unforgettable vacation that

the two were looking for

One by one, people started disappearing from the hostel. An

investigation by a lonely tourist found that this is the place, people

pay to watch and experience murder by paying large sums of money. A

place, sick people use to vent out their anger against a certain

nationality, race or just to fulfil their psychotic dreams. So they

were led unsuspectingly to the place by murder-pimps, who earn money

from seducing backpackers with the idea of a nirvana of sex, tits and

exotic women. Insert gags, powertools that drill through your thighs,

dismembered bodies, beheaded corpses, a graphic depiction of a wire

cutter chopping off a toe, extreme bondage, destroying of eye balls

and lots of blood spewing while you are alive - kind of things

Up till here I was ready to leave the cinema. This movie is nothing

but a cheap gore movie that hasn't left the premise of bad kids, in a

wrong place, getting killed one by one. Remember I Know What You Did

Last Summer, House of Wax, These Hills Have Eyes and stuff like

that... only with more blood and less known actors. This show makes

Saw look like a comedy and the script... oh my god. If i got a dollar

for everytime the word FUCK is mentioned, I'd be Bill Gates by now.

Profanities don't make up for a lack of vocabulary. It's a complete

waste of my time. This film is for the bored and those who are dying

to spend RM10 on a movie ticket. I am shocked Quentin had anything to

do with this movie that sucked so bad, it's like a watching dung

beetle take a crap

I am in NYC now

2006-02-28T22:20:00.000+08:00

I am in NYC now
Originally uploaded by kennyt.

Good morning New York

Chinese New Year

2006-01-21T12:52:00.000+08:00

Chinese New Year
Originally uploaded by kennyt.

Chinese New Year coming. I will be back in Penang on the 27th. It's

good to spend some time with my family. The next thing I look forward

to is spending some time catching up with friends

A pic of the big CNY merchandize and food fest in Takashimaya SC,

Singapore. Oh by the way, I can convert a chinese new year song into a

vulgar sing a long tune! Wanna hear it? he he

Specially for TAN LI JING

2006-01-13T19:52:00.000+08:00

Specially for TAN LI JING
Originally uploaded by kennyt.

This pic is specially for my dear dear friend, Tan Li Jing. She's now in

Japan, furthering her studies. Here's wishing you're well and happy, Li

Jing. May this year bring you the best of luck, love, prosperity and good

health

a HEARD of cows

2006-01-13T19:47:00.000+08:00

a HEARD of cows
Originally uploaded by kennyt.

a HEARD of cows

iPod vibrator

2006-01-11T20:48:00.000+08:00

iPod vibrator
Originally uploaded by kennyt.

Seriously, this idea came about while I was chatting with my friend over

coffee. We joked that with the amount of accessories and demand for add-on

features to the iconic iPod... why not make a vibrator-like device that's

powered by the music device itself? You already have the iBeam LED

torchlight and laser pointer that plugs and draws power right from the iPod,

why not just go sexual? And make it play to the beat of the songs... like

bbrrr... stop... brrr brrr brr... stop... BBRRRRRR! if you're playing

Backstreet Boys or something. Well, I don't recommend Norah Jones or James

Blunt for this purpose though, you'd just fall asleep. But low and behold, I

found out today, such a product does already exist. It's called the iBuzz.

Only available in the UK, it retails for 29.90 (pounds). And it comes with

many types of ticklers and a bullet form for easy insertion. Bring on the

MUSIC

Macbook Pro

2006-01-11T16:08:00.000+08:00

Macbook Pro
Originally uploaded by kennyt.

Yesterday was an exciting day, yet not so exciting day. Exciting because

Steve Jobs gave a keynote and announced many delightful news. Not so

exciting because there's nothing (affordably) revolutionary. I was expecting

to receive news of a new Apple iBook. A new shocking new design and Intel

dual core or single core processor inside

But NO. Steve Jobs announced the new iLife software, a new Intel powered

iMac and a new Powerbook - dubbed MacBook Pro. It only comes in 15.4 wide

screen version. The new portable is powered by an Intel Core Duo processor

at either 1.67 or 1.83GHz. There's 512MB - 2GB RAM, built-in iSight

(webcam), FrontRow (remote multimedia center). It will also come standard

with the backlit keyboard. There's a sensor that detects how much light

there is in the room and will light the keyboard accordingly, so you can

type in complete darkness without having to guess what button is for which

alphabet. Packed to be brim with other fantastic features, it's great if you

have like USD$2000 to spare. But I expecting them to announce a USD$799 or

$999 notebook to replacement for the ageing iBook. The new MacBook Pro costs

$1999 for the 1.67MHz dual core version

Oh, and if you must know. Apple sold 14 million iPods during the holiday

season at the end of 2005