CNY atmosphere?

Everyone we met, we talked to, will agreed on one thing - "This year's" CNY atmosphere is not as merry as the previous year(s). Note that "this year" is actually refering to every year. Every year for sure we will say something like this.

It seem we tend to miss the good old days, but really, does the atmosphere really get thinner? 20 years ago, CNY album by local artist is not a norm. The radio, TV, shops still airing good old classic CNY songs that really brings in the spirit.

20 years ago, we do not have Tesco, Giant, Carrefour hyper market. Most supermarkets we have are sendirian berhad by some local Chinaman that will close half day on the Eve of CNY. Thus last minutes shopping then is stupid, and the people will really get into real CNY shopping weeks earlier.

We visited the wet market more of then, pressing the boundaries of our fridge with the enormous amount of food supply we bought, fearing that it will take days before some proper restaurant with reasonable price will reopen. Now, most fast food and eatery opens almost 365 days a year. Some even extend business our in festive season. Food supply is never an issue, for most hyperstore franchise will be opened. We no longer need to buy and keep large supply of food. We can buy less and reload it when its finish anytime, since the market is always opened for us.

20 years ago, car was less on the road. Now an average income family has at least one to two cars. The street is never quiet. 20 years ago, you can even lie down in the middle of the road in the first day of CNY. The city is deserted, almost dead. Now, the city never sleeps.

We were so thrilled when we get Ang-pow, regardless of the value in it (although we will be happier is the value is bigger). What can be more fun, than calculating the total Ang-pow value after the 15th? That, was the only constant source of income we have, as a kid. Now...sigh.Taking Ang-pow is so mechanical. The giver is acting and so is the receiver. We no longer be very thrilled and excited of getting money.

As a kid, it feels the time travel so very slow. From one CNY to another is a very long wait. Now, I can even clearly remember what I ate last year, what wine I was drinking, what did I do after reunion dinner. It's just happened months ago.

Does the CNY atmosphere getting thinner? If is it our mentality is changing? We no longer restricted within our shelter. We are now out there, exploring. We learnt more, got to know more. We no longer son # Y or so that is so excited about CNY reunion dinner or house visiting. We now have responsibility, burden, mission everyday. We no longer blinded by the colorful world of our naiveness, but we are revealed, to a certain extent how hellish our world is. CNY is but a norm, a ritual of live we no longer sure of its rational.

The skinny kid inside me has long gone along with my naiveness, stolen by the vilain - Time. CNY for me is almost meaningless, save for the chance getting long holiday. I get involve in CNY preparation not because I like it, but to help out my parents.

I do not know how a CNY atmosphere should feel like. But I do firmly believe, the essence of CNY if family. This is a time where a big family will get their reunion, with number of attendee exited any other non-CNY family gathering throughout the years.

Is there a CNY feel, I don't give a shit. What I enjoy most in CNY Eve, is always the reunion diner. After days of work and preparation. We all sit around the table having our meat, drinking sparkling wine, chat and joke with an extra touch of merriness, largely due to during CNY we prefer to only saying good things. In CNY suddenly all people you meet 'look' nice and friendly. CNY is the living proof, we can survive the day without losing the head and utter a syllable of vulgar language.

Is CNY losing it's atmosphere year by year? What changed? The world, or us? Or both?

CNY, wish my parents身體健康 and my friend - 發you!

新年快樂

新的一年新的開始.
知道這都是老掉牙的說法,
不過若不是這樣那我們該幾時才有新開始阿?
沒有理由無段段某月某天突然的說:我要從新開始咩?
就算可以,都很難track啦.
在新年下定決心做個決定來一個新開始好.
你可以決定開始一個新的生活方式,
或者學些新的東西,做以前沒做過的事.
再或者,被動點在新的一年裡的開始,
把過去的愉快的不愉快的,勝敗,喜怒哀樂,都統統刪除掉.
就好像把一本剛看完的書的內容拋在腦後,
以一個新的好奇,慢慢的發掘真一年裡面的內容.
不理好壞,悲哀,歡喜,都慢慢的悠哉悠哉的好好的感受著,體會著.
若可以的話,別拿去年來做比較,別拿人家來做比較.
好好的過你的生活,因為在你的生活裡,故事裡,你,才是主角.
祝你新年快樂,身體健康,出入平安,才色兼收!

Card Sealing - 封卡 !

After utilizing major part of my salary for paying bills and car installment, I added a sprinkle of salt, just to make thing worse. But I have to, need to.

I think I need to update my wardrobe a bit, so since CNY is around the corner and buying new clothes is consider a 'ritual' for CNY, why no use this as a chance / excuse? Although costly, but at least it is something I expected.

The unexpected is during a pilgrimage to the video store every time I go for shopping, I saw the DVD release of a film I yet to watch and wanted to watch. I also saw a DVD of a talk show I'm very interested in, and the new album from the only new singer I willing to buy the CDs. Ouch...but I vow that that is it. No more DVD or CD until the next salary.

In the middle of wandering around the mall I started to wonder what should I get for my parents? I'm a contracted employee and I will get my bonus not at the end of year, but rather slightly in the middle of the year (I started this job somewhere around middle of the year) so, I don't quite have extra money to give them some well..."Ang-Pow" and financial crisis lately does not permits me to contribute in buying CNY stuff for the family, save for some wine and vodka.

Thus I decided to buy them some useful gifts. My parents are those hardworking-had-tough-time-when-young peoples. So they never really like to spend of clothing. So sometimes buying things for them is rather easy. They are not choosy anyway. I was torn a bit in deciding whether to buy or not to buy for them. I can save quite a bit if I don't, but I buy anyway. CNY, once a year. When get back to work after CNY I only have to wait for another three weeks. I've done that too many times.

My parents has gone through very rough period. Now, if not because their children can support themselves, thing will still be hard to them as well. I believe our family's current status can live comfortably (our standard rather low) but for them, who has used to saving and put feeding us and them the first priority, buying something to decorate themselves is really something they have long forgotten how to do. If I don't do it for them, I don't think they will. Their standard price for clothes is still 20 years ago's. They can spend hundreds on household utility they may never use but still they don't willing to get a prize for themselves once in a while. So as a son, I have to do it, as a token of appreciation of all the joys of freedom they have sacrificed for the sake of their children, and I have to hide this intention in a CNY's pretext. Diu!

CNY and their birthdays are the only times I will do this. I know, it is already a cliche, that we can show our love by respecting and caring them everyday. But I'm a hot tempered asshole and nothing will likely to change it. Buying gifts is my only ways and I prefer this rather than giving cash. For I like the idea of thinking and deciding and considering when buying them something, there is thought and effort. Something cash lack of.

And so I unexpectedly spend a couple of hundreds of them. Now, I officially seal my card and shall not use it save for filling petrol. I hope I can make it. So help me God!

Song: 华纳群星 - 祝福你

Never a fan of CNY songs, but this is my favourite.
Stars of Warner...huhu long time ago. Now most of them are bigger stars, but no longer Warner's.

祝福你 - 华纳群星

一大半的一大半

卜街啦!卜街啦!
薪水發了. 在幾分鐘的時間內打個噴涕不見了一小半,
用來還卡數,付電訊公司.
剩下的一大半,有一小半還得收著來供車期.
所以我能動用的現金只是薪水裏的一大半的一大半.
嗷!屎特!(Oh! Shit!)
該得省點用了!
買少點西洋漫畫.
買少點正版DVD (近期裏都不會有什麼新戲DVD上市).
盡可能每天回家吃晚飯.
盡可能在外面吃少點(又可減肥).
過了年後該收心養性平平淡淡的過這個月.
好好在辦公室做個工作狂.
好好在家做個"貧"僧.
色即是空,空即是色.
色與不色,戶口快空....

Trailer: Kamen Rider Decade

The latest rider in the Heisei series.

This latest series will have appearance from the other 9 previous series of the Heisei era. Well, rather obvious they don't want to waste the old costume and reduce them for only appearance in special functions.

Kamen Rider Decade is pink! Most likely the producer has run out of color spectrum to use. So far don't know how many actor from previous series will make appearance, but Joe Odagiri and his sidekicks in Kamen Rider Kuuga certainly not, since his Kuuga will be slightly rewritten. By the way, Joe has quite a nice career now anyway.

Really hope if the cast from Den-O (along with the Taros), Kabuto and Hibiki will return. These series has very attractive lead and supporting characters.

Bush - The Aquaman

In the wake of the inauguration of United State of America's 44th President Barack Obama.

Let us revisit the inspiring moment of former President of the US, George W Bush...

Hmm...so apparently Bush is Aquaman, the superhero with the least usefull skill - talk to seafood!

Yeah, they appreciate you more for your jokes and your end of term

Pre CNY Rant

Whoa...that's fast!

I anticipated the CNY week long holidays, since like 6 months ago. All I thinking is just the long holidays. Just around end of last week that I realize CNY is CNY and it's just around the corner.

Ever since a few years ago I couldn't remember exactly how many years, but I have become what I think an anti-CNY. Yeah, I do enjoy CNY, I love the holidays, getting drunk and getting fat. Going out with friends having a good time. But generally, CNY is not my thing.

Pre CNY days, my mum will start to clean the house, this is my least favourite activity as a human being. Thing is, my mum is getting older and older, and my siblings...sigh...why my mum don;t just give birth to two pieces of char-siew instead? So, whether I like it or not, I need to help out, a bit, at least cleaning the bathroom and toilet.

Char-Siu

And, since I'm at it, I'll somehow think my room is getting dirtier and I will need to clean it as well. This is the second least favourite activity. The main problem in my room is dust, and ever increasing numbers of books and comics. I will need to device a way to arrange them in order and easy to access and of course dust proof. Dusting my room is a torture no better than squeezing my balls with chopsticks (never try that, purely hypothetical). Reason being, my nose is ultra allergic to dust.

My plan this year is cleaning my room tomorrow, after work. Estimate around 2 hours will be more than enough. This weekends will do the bathroom, hopefully no one will do it first.

Know my reason for hating cleaning job for CNY? It is because of the standard answer my mum give me when I ask the rationale of these:

"If not cleaned later people come here no good to see la"

and I standard comment is:

"Then don't let them come, or maybe they can come, but blindfold them? Who's going to inspect our house for traces of dust and spiderweb anyway?"

"Isn't the house lovely Uncle 7. Sorry bout the gag, I hate senior citizen gossiping around. By the way, would you like a drink?"

Why don't for once, she gives a better answer, say cleaner house for healthier life or say she just develop new allergic towards dirty house. Then perhaps I will be more happy to help.

Z movies

Few days ago, I re-read the entries in Wikipedia about B movie and this time I pay more attention in the Z movie area.

Well, I think most of us know that B movie is non mainstream Hollywood studio film that is neither artistic or experimental. Mostly, it is a poor man version of Hollywood's film, even some did better than major studio's production.

But Z movie is completely fubar. Really fubar. While B movie is named as B movie partial because it is not 'A', Z movie is because it is so bad that people don't bother to rate how bad it is from C to Z. They just brand them Z movie.

And browsing through the limited list of Z movies highlight in Wikipedia is rather an amusing experience. Most of the movie made mistake that even a beginner film student or amateur filmmaker will not make. But considering most 'classic' Z movie is made at pre-digital era, it is rather understandable.

Thing is, if you open up IMDB's Bottom 100 movies, you will find that there's a lot contribution from nowadays production. Yeah, now digital media has makes the skill in editing and shooting more accessible, but there will always be people dumb enough to think of a script and treatment so bad, and other people will be dumber enough to finance and work in it.

If got time, go read about Z movie in Wiki, go browse for IMDB's Bottom 100, and try to search for some clip or trailer in Youtube. It is entertaining, most are so bad they almost are good. We can laugh at them all now, cause we no need to spend money for the tickets or renting them. Money will add a scar of anger to our disappointment when getting into a bad film, but watching a bad film in Internet or TV broadcast is another thing...just when you think you have finish all good comedies...

The Last Son of Krypton VS The Dark Knight of Gotham

The Last Son of Krypton VS The Dark Knight of Gotham

Ask anyone about superhero, what's the answer you will get? Most likely Superman. Superman being the first superhero that has create a whole new genre in comic book industry as well as in electronic media.

Ask anyone to name a few superheros, other than Superman, you may get Spiderman, Batman and Hulk etc. Among this few superheros, which is the oddball? It's the Bat. Reason, nothing super about him. Here I define super as anything that none of the human being in this world can or possible to achieve. Supe have super human strength and can fly on earth. He can even BBQ you chicken wing with his eyes. Spidey can climb on wall and have spider-sense, and a bad boss. Hulk is like a modern Jekyll and Hyde, and green with super flexible trousers. All these none of the people here can do. But there is a possibility for a real life Batman.

What is super about Batman? Super intelligent, super rich and super resourceful. Any billionaire with several years of training on almost all discipline ever exist can be a Batman. Difference is few has the trauma Bruce Wayne ever has.

A lot of people like Superman, I like him as well, but I love Batman. He to me is more real, more humane. The Big Blue is but a too perfect boy scout. He is the kind of person that when he recite a moral code he is practicing and expect the people of Earth to follow suit, he actually mean it and we actually feel OK he speak of it that sincerely. If a fellow earthling talking about uphold the justice and serve the humankind, we all get goosebumps cause we know it is fake and we really feel like lynching that guy.

Superman, really super, out of the world. We do enjoy reading or watching him save the day and battling not so interesting villains (except for Lex Luthor and Brainiac), there's really not much to look into. Therefore, even I know there is a whole arc of story about the death and resurrection of Superman in the late 80s, and the complication comic book priced rather cheap, I don't bother myself to buy and read them (for the time being). My rational is, if I want to read some nice fighting comic, there is always Dragonball. No one can make fighting comic as cost efficient, as engaging and cinematic as Japanese mangaka.

Batman is different. He has a background we can identify or at least has the empathy. We know or read a lot about people lost their parents in accident, in crime, in disaster, but how often we heard about people being the last of its kind from his exploded planet?

We understand the motivation of Bruce Wayne. In fact what he do is exactly what we imagine we will do if we are as rich. How many time have we swear that "If I am filthy rich, I will so and so and so..." when we stumble upon obstacle or tragedy?

Batman is dark, and somehow people interested in dark character. People like Hannibal Lecter more than Forrest Gump, Darth Vader has more fans than whinnier Luke Skywalker. In Batman we can see all possibility that may fall on us, doubt, fallen, restless, guilt, fear, loneliness etc. Negative emotion has more obvious effect and memorable, thus when we read about the dark mind of the Dark Knight, it reminds us that we are only human.

Sometime I think Batman comic is a bit Zen like. We know the obvious solution for Bruce Wayne's personal problem is to let go. But he can never do that, because he is too much attached to the world around him. Just like most of us, we can never let go most of the time. Reason being, we afraid to lose what e already have to venture into a realm that has too many variables. Despite how bad situation is we stay, because it is better to have a bad one, than to have none.

Just read online that Bruce Wayne no longer Batman, and Batman is dead in the 6th issue of Final Crisis. I do not know if this is another of DC's stunt / scam like the 80's Superman's death and Batman back bone being broken. But if you ask me, I will rather have Superman dies for good, but still, what can be more human than being finite? Maybe someday Bruce Wayne should really die.

Review: Guinea Pig 3 (1986) & 4 (1988) ***[GORE CONTENT ALERT]***

Well, after the first two, the third installment of the Guinea Pig series takes a totally different angle. Departed from the mock-snuff nature of the earlier series, part 3 - He Never Dies has a plot and is comedic!

The loser

The basic plot is, there's a guy who is a typical Japanese salary man who happens to be some sort of loser, always get scold by his boss and never gets the girl (damn the situation sounds so depressingly like mine). One day, after several days not turning to work, he decided to cut his wrist, and find that he feels no pain and couldn't die. So he proceed mutilating himself and even fool his colleague to his place to look at him. How fun is it? To add more to the camp, the video starts and interrupted a few times of visual of a white guy dubbed in Japanese explaining what we see is a documentation of a immoral man in this world. I think the whole idea is making this video looks like an episode from some foreign TV show, say a poor man's version of Ripley's Believe it or Not.

He's not dreaming and neither are you

Gore wise...less impact compare to the first 2, but still gore. Viewing someone cutting the wrist is not disgusting, but psychologically disturbing. But the actor is funny though, and the subtitle is decent enough to makes you laugh as well.

What can be more funny that this?

There are some trick shots employ to create the effect and they are not hard to spot, although I really hope the special effect to be perfected to a point we can never spot anything. For a Japanese 1986 production, the effect is on par with Hollywood. Thing is, Hollywood studio will never pass such ridiculous treat!

Guinea Pig 4 - Mermaid In A Manhole takes a darker tone. Director by the same man inspiring Guinea Pig 2, this is a story of a curious relation between an artist and a mermaid he found in a manhole. The manhole is build on a river, which has been the artist's fortress of solitude, and also the place where he first met the mermaid when he was a kid. After his wife died or bedridden, don't quite remember, he often visit the manhole for inspiration, or simply just to escape. This is how he meet the injured mermaid and bring her home to treat her and to paint her as well.

Artist found mermaid

Eventually the mermaid dies and the artist dismembered it. Story ends with a twist that the police (brought by suspicious neighbours) found no mermaid but his dismembered dead wife along with her stillborn baby. But they do found an unidentified fish scale. So, the end is left ambiguous of if there really was a mermaid, or the whole episode is just the artist psychotic hallucination due to the trauma he suffered for losing his wife? Rather sour and disturbing story.

Finally he can't take it anymore, bloody scene.

Gore wise, the idea not so realistic. The injury the mermaid suffers, the lacerations as a result and it bleeds and pus coming from the wound has rainbow colors which the artist use to paint. We get to see the mermaid vomits some worms and the nicely act psychotic artist chopping of the mermaid into pieces at the end. The effect is good enough and real enough, just the rainbow color pus reminds us that this is just fantasy. Overall, still a damn disgusting entry, but the mermaid does have nice figure.

This episode is more to disgust rather than gore.

Time to think or get serious or get moving or whatever

Although some may see it coming, but it hit us hard.

Just when I think I may stuck here forever, things happen in a way that there is good chance I won't be here anymore. From time to time I did browse for other opportunity, but half heartedly. Although it's pain in the arse here, but at least I'm here, somewhere. Things happen, and somehow motivates me to work harder in seeking other choice.

Out of sudden, our fate becomes like the Terminator series character. The future is not written yet. But Judgement Day will come, maybe just later or maybe sooner. Difference is, the Governor of California won't come here naked, mug some stripper's clothe and blast a shot gun at you. Well, that's not so bad. If really Skynet of the Matrix is taking over, you just either dead or being turn into a battery, sleeping in goo.

Regardless we are safe or not, regardless they gonna wipe out all of us here. I think I've been around too long. It's time to be serious in escaping. The fire of motivation is fading. I'm starting to be mechanical. But, being what I am, expert of no skills, no knowledge, my vision is gray. I like to learn more, get to know new things. I am a curious person. I enjoy getting new input, providing it is something I wanted to do, rather than I have to do.

Wish me luck in my quest. Even if the ship is not sinking, but I would really like to see what other ships can do or in my usual way, even if the shit has not flushed away, but I would really like to see what other kind of shit I can shit.

Teaser: The Storm Warriors (風雲 II)

The teaser of the sequel for 1998's The Stormriders.

Film named, The Storm Warriors.

Uneventful tired off day

Last Sunday, the wedding of a cousin in Teluk Intan. For reason unknown, or some culture thingy, there's no wedding dinner, but wedding luncheon instead. So, my whole family have to get to Teluk Intan all the way from Klang for it.

The old man is old, and despite his decades long experience as a competent driver, his recent stunts really scares the shit out of me. So I proposed to drive. Damn, why can't I just say I wouldn't go? Then I no need to endure his drive, and no need to drive as well.

I have no problem driving long distance, but driving there and return on the same day, with little rest in the middle is not really a good idea to spend a Sunday. So I take a day of on Monday. I let myself indulged in the Japanese detective manga on Saturday night. By the time I bed, it's already 3 am and we were to start the journey at 7, cause we planned to have breakfast in my mum's hometown - Bidor. Fine.

After three hours of sleep, I'm fresh enough and manage to get there. But things take a some sort of anti-climatic turn. After the breakfast, when we reached my cousin's house, it is just 10 something, and the lunch starts at 1 pm. Three hours, no place to rest. Can't even take a nap on the couch because there's a lot of guest around. Damn...not a Starbuck around, that I know of.

Boring part skipped, after the dinner, journey home. Reach Klang safely at 6. Took a very short and interrupted nap. I was waiting for dinner, wondering where we are going for dinner, but was almost 9 that my brother says he's going to buy some steam buns for the family. Steam bun!? For dinner? Damn! Pissed. I waited for him to get back home, along with his buns for mum and dad, and I head out by myself to have some dried kueh-tiao (variation of char kueh-tiao, done by 'dai-chao' stall instead of char kueh-tiao hawker), take a few puff and felt relatively fresh.

The got home, what watch some black-magic themed Hong-Kong old films with the whole family, except for the sis, ordered to bed early for school. Hmm...apparently black magic theme is just a excuse for exposing skins. Out of 8 titles in the DVD, 7 are considered Category III films. We watch 2 rather slapstick early 80s satire plus social commentary soft core porn black magic films. They are entertaining, providing you don't take it seriously. Just imagine some Scary Movie series, and imagine it is your grandchildren watching them and they have no idea of those classic slasher film the series is parodying...yeah, they will be clueless.

The showings ends around 1 am, still I'm not very tired or sleepy. Got online and the line is not stable...thought of editing a few more photos from TWSY wedding...but the source pictures from my camera is limited and not quite inspiring enough. By the time I decided to sleep, it's already 2 something.

Alas, long sleep, woke up around 11am Monday morning. Dad at home as well, taking leave. Bro is home as well, today his off day. Damn, not Sunday by too many people in the house, and the baby my mum babysitting is here. I don't like this, it feels strange.

I watched Hostel alone in the room...rather disappointed to find that the ending for the DVD is the non-gore ending. The one the guy kidnap the Dutchman's daughter and flee on a train. Diu! Had a few chat online with friends after that, feeling rather tired in this uneventful day, decided to take a nap, around 4 pm something and got up at almost 6. Not a long nap, cause too long it won't be a nap, but it is enough to make me feel fresh. Even now I am fresh. I can't sleep late tonight. If I sleep at 2 my body will expect to up on 10 or 11...and if I up on 7 to work...it will be bad for me.

Damn, tired weeks. Shoulder sore, muscle pain. Think I need some nice massage. Anyone got any recommendation? Do tell. Help.

Trailer: Dragonball: Evolution (2009)

This is the trailer for the upcoming live action movie this year...

Well, I don't know about you, but I'm rather worried. The last Hollywood remake of a super famous Japanese franchise - Godzilla is nothing like Godzilla, but at least its trailer didn't tell us that the original big guy is not there.

But this...well, Old Gohan is alive! Where's Roshi's turtle shell, shade and facial hair? And he does not look like a pervert! Goku going to college? Bulma like a bitch? They have Yamcha but no Krillin, the strongest human being on Earth (Goku is a Saiyan, btw)?

Oh! Please, don't mess up with Piccolo. If there is no Vegeta around, don't bother to let Goku goes Super Saiyan.

I'm really afraid, but let us hope that the dude making the trailer is doing a bad job. Maybe the movie will turn out OK.

Now, for me, the original anime really captures the essence of Dragon Ball Z, except for those long pan shot used to drag the scene / running time (so that they can have more episodes). If the live action failed, maybe they should consider doing something like the intro in Budokai Tenkaichi 3 game, but with better rendering of the character; imagine them with tiny details like hair, fabric, texture like the Pixars film but still maintaining the hyper kinetic action of DBZ. If not, I will still enjoy watching 3D polygon with cell shade coloring....

This, is very cool, very Dragon Ball Z

Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 game intro