After all, I think I'm bored, and a little pathetic to blog in the morning of 1st Jan. *Save the crap*

Actually this should be up last night, before 2009. My connection was really bad and I turned to watch Emmy on TV instead.

Let's see how many movies you have watched that really make it into the top 50. (From the Empire Magazine)

1. The Godfather (Francis Ford Coppola, 1972)
2. Raiders of the Lost Ark (Steven Spielberg, 1981)
3. Star Wars Episode V: Empire Strikes Back (Irvin Kershner,1980)
4. Shawsank Redemption (Frank Darabont, 1994)
5. Jaws (Steven Spielberg, 1975)
6. GoodFellas (Martin Scorsese, 1990)
7. Apocalypse Now (Francis Ford Coppola, 1979)
8. Singin’ in the Rain (Stanley Donen, Gene Kelly, 1952)
9. Pulp Fiction (Quentin Tarantino, 1994)
10. Fight Club (David Fincher, 1999)
11. Raging Bull (Martin Scorsese, 1980)
12. The Apartment (Billy Wilder, 1960)
13. Chinatown (Roman Polanski, 1974)
14. Once Upon A Time In The West (Sergio Leone, 1968)
15. The Dark Knight (Christopher Nolan, 2007)
16. 2001: A Space Odyssey (Stanley Kubrick, 1968)
17. Taxi Driver (Martin Scorsese, 1976)
18. Casablanca (Michael Curtiz)
19. The Godfather Part II (Francis Ford Coppola, 1974)
20. Blade Runner (Ridley Scott, 1982)
21. The Third Man (Carol Reed, 1949)
22. Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (George Lucas, 1977)
23. Back to the Future (Robert Zemeckis, 1985)
24. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (Peter Jackson, 2001)
25. The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly (Sergio Leone, 1967)
26. Dr. Strangelove (Stanley Kubrick, 1964)
27. Some Like It Hot (Billy Wilder, 1959)
28. Citizen Kane (Orson Welles, 1941)
29. Die Hard (John McTiernan 1988)
30. Aliens (James Cameron, 1986)
31. Gone with The Wind (Victor Fleming, George Cukor, Sam Wood, 1939)
32. Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid (George Roy Hill, 1969)
33. Alien (Ridley Scott, 1979)
34. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (Peter Jackson, 2003)
35. Terminator 2: Judgement Day (James Cameron, 1991)
36. Andrei Rublev (Andrei Tarkovsky, 1969)
37. A Clockwork Orange (Stanley Kubrick, 1971)
38. Heat (Michael Mann, 1995)
39. The Matrix (The Wachowski Brothers, 1999)
40. Vertigo (Alfred Hitchcock, 1958)
41. The 400 Blows (Truffaut, 1959)
42. Kind Hearts And Coronets (Robert Hamer, 1949)
43. The Big Lebowski (The Coen Brothers, 1998)
44. Schindler’s List (Steven Spielberg, 1993)
45. Psycho (Alfred Hitchcock, 1960)
46. On The Waterfront (Elia Kazan 1954)
47. E.T. (Steven Spielberg, 1982)
48. This Is Spinal Tap (Rob Reiner, 1984)
49. Evil Dead 2 (Sam Raimi, 1987)
50. Seven Samurai (Akira Kurosawa, 1954)

My all time favourite is one of the Top 4. Not bad....

To avoid being cursed by my friends, I tried NOT to tag anybody here.
If you're up for it you could try to complete it in your blog i will drop by to do some review. (e.g. those ppl who are too bored and with nothing to do after dinner. *wink wink*)

1) Was 2008 a good year for you?
-I'd say so-so, if you know so-so means OK-OK. Normal life but chaotic at the end of the year.

2) What was your favorite moment of the year?
-Las Vegas - down the Strip. (Funny huh, for most of the ppl they don't think that's fun, too tired for the legs)

3) What was your least favorite moment of the year?
-Got to know i might lose my job if i fight for my dream?

4) Where were you when 2008 began?
-At home, just came back from the States, and my house got a black-out on that same day! Grrr..

5) Who were you with?
-Family

6) Where will you be when 2008 ends?
-Home again

7)Who will you be with?
-Family again. I am a family person.

8) Did you keep your new years resolution of 2008?
-Trying not to but I have to.

9) Do you have a new year’s resolution for 2009?
-Trying not to tell anybody.

10) Did you fall in love in 2008?
-Yes, I did.. It's a repeat from the previous one.

11) If so with who?
-Sorry, this is a secret. If i tell you, you will be 6 feet under.

12) If yes, do they know?
-Of course.

13) What was the stupidest thing you did this year?
-Ermm... still up for jogging even I sprained my ankle?

14) What was your favorite month of 2008?
-July.

15) How many concerts did you see in 2008?
-I think one. Was that Joey Yung's? I can't recall. Maybe it was last year.

16) Did you have a favorite concert in 2008?
-No choice :S

17) Did you drink a lot of alcohol in 2008?
-Heck, yes. Too much.

18) Did you do a lot of drugs in 2008?
-Vicodin as painkillers? I did for my ankles.

19) How many people did you sleep with in 2008?
-More than 5. In US by itself I already slept with 3 or 4 at least. For different road trips.

20) What was the worst lie someone told you in 2008?
-"I don't know how could this happen??!!"

21) Did you treat somebody badly in 2008?
-I think my parents. Sigh.. sorry Mom and Dad.

22) Did somebody treat you badly in 2008?
-Yes. A few.

23) How much money did you spend in 2008?
-2x what I had spent in 07.

24) What was your proudest moment of 2008?
-When someone told me "We actually appreciate you and your talent"

25) If you could go back in time to any moment of 2008 and change something what?
-I won't choose to travel in summer 08 to the US. maybe 3 months earlier.

26) What are your plans for 2009?
-This is again, a repeat:S Well, i want to make myself tougher up against the enemies, fight them off with my brain, pay back to the society and perhaps wait for the right moment to take off! (Don't think too much I'm not a daring person to do cliff diving or b-jumping.)

Before the year ends, I would like to tag Shu Khan, Anj and Anthony S. Have fun pal!

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?:
-I bought a 360.
-Lied to myself more often than being honest to myself.

2. 2008’s Goals:
-get promoted? (Dang! Thanks to the chaotic situation to end this year!)
-travel to the States (done, but in a way that i tried not to repeat it)

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?:
-Agnes,Mei Fen and a lot that i had not heard of.

4. Did anyone close to you die?:
-No, and that's a good news.

5. What countries did you visit?:
-Phuket(Thailand), the USA and Singapore.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?:
-A peaceful life,REAL contribution to society

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?:
-11th of August - the day i left LA. also the day i came back without knowing i will have the least chance to go back.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?:
-recognized by ppl who i respect a lot.

9. What was your biggest failure?:
-as usual, emotional dependency.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?:
-Sprained my legs twice,last week down with food poisoning

11. What was the best thing you bought?:
-My XBOX 360.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?:
-My mentor and counterpart who stand by me. My friends (too many) who were there to listen and help when i was terribly down.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?:
-Those who I trusted and then lost creditability.

14. Where did most of your money go?:
-Online shopping, gaming and food and DRESSES!

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?:
-My blog for UNICEF and my new boy (coming end of this year or early next year).

16. What songs will always remind you of 2008?:
-"Better in Time" Leona Lewis, "Lover in Japan" Coldplay, "Leave out all the rest" Linkin Park

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i) happier or sadder?: sadder
ii) thinner or fatter?: thinner
iii) richer or poorer?: poorer

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?:
-Laughing, Traveling, Contributing

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?:
-Crying, wasting the time daydreaming,

20. How did you spend Christmas?:
-With parents and my medicine pot

22. Did you fall in love in 2008?:
-Yes

23. How many one-night stands?:
-Oh... zero. (This is tough. lol)

24. What were your favorite TV programs?:
-House, Weeds, CSI LV

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?:
-Yes some of those I nvr expect I would.

26. What was the best book you read?:
-The Notebook (Nicholas Sparks)

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?:
-Alicia Keys

28. What did you want and get?:
-Write more.

29. What did you want and not get?:
-Long list...

30. What was your favorite film of this year?:
-Iron man the #1.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?:
-I cant recall. haha. 25.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?:
-Acknowledged by the ppl who supposed to understand and know what I am doing.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?:
-Spend at the last moment to get the best piece.

34. What kept you sane?:
-Shawshank Redemption? music, parents and my friends

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?:
-Robert Downey Jr, Hugh Laurie and Roger Federer.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?:
-To me they are NOT real hence I care too little.

37. Who did you miss?:
-People who I couldn't see at work?

38. Who was the best new person you met?:
-Another tough question - I have met a lot that made my days better.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008:
-Trust the right person. Don't get involve in something that will hurt yourself (suicidal). Again, I believe Hard works will pay off.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
"Numb" - Linkin Park

I've become so numb
I can't feel you there
Become so tired so much more aware
I'm becoming this
all I want to do
Is be more like me
and be less like you

Nah.. this is not a Richard Marx's oldies thread.



I have been waiting for the movie.
The story about a journalist and an "abandoned" yet talented "soloist".
Jamie Foxx is predicted to get his second academy award for the role in this movie? (Emm.. what about Mr. Downey? Sorry, I am being skeptical.)
*Foxx played the musician with schizophrenia who sleeps on the street.
2 men who in real life possess extraordinary charisma.

This ain't no superhero-Stark Ironman or gangsta-sex-bullets Miami Vice.
This is a true story, that we should spend a few bucks to watch in the theatre.

To celebrate the joy of the awakening.

I had become a routine reader (I'm a routine if I'm free usually) for a friend's blog recently. He has been continuously waking up my sleeping soul about the fact that I'm aging.

Every time kids beside us talked about Naruto; we asked for Thunder Cats.
Every time teens around us wanted Twilight; we asked for the Ghost.
Every time Jonas Brothers top the billboard; we asked where're the Backstreet Boys.

Those were the days.
It's the reality that when a stone hit the water it sinks - we aged. Those were the evenings when Karaoke, VCD, DVD or Youtube were not popular and we need to wait for RIM chart to watch their MV's. Of course at that time Backstreet Boys topped the chart almost every week. They had sold over 100 millions album worldwide, the best selling boy band of all time.

Those were the days.
When Backstreet Boys were still "Boys". They are obviously "Men" now; I didn't know how many kids each of them has, or how many times they have had divorced. Still, I think my childhood bad-guy-hero has not changed - the tatoos on his forearms are obvious, the vocal and the facial hair that a lot of people think are ugly but I said that's adorable.

It has been 15 years huh. 15 great years.
We entered primary school and left secondary schools. We watched Die Hard, Speed, Matrix and then the LOTR trilogy. Head dug deep in books - just to graduate and get accepted into a multi-national company, in order to work and paid like a slave. It's remarkable, this number "15" gives us something to cherish about, when we are at our age. Those songs from the back street had actually recorded how they had gone from good to glorious, then bad and later worse. From 5-a-team to 4 now, I have no interests to look for the reason why Kevin had gone missing from the team. How many boybands in this golden era could survive without changing a single team member? Even the Scorpions and Gun N Roses, who have the one and only Axl Rose left as the "original" frontman of the band. Nobody even asks where the N'Sync are, or the Boyzone (yep, they had made a come back, singing It's unbelievably hard to love you but I love you anyway).

Location: O2 Arena, London

Nick had become a plum and fat-azz man and Brian remains cool and singing most of the time, AJ did all the talking. (I would like to advise them not to DANCE though, as those steps are WAY off the "hip-and-fast" trend now.) Those are the familiar songs we listened to during our "golden era". The arena was packed with the capacity of 20,000 singing their songs as loud as it could break the roof of the dome.

Strange it is, that after I was done with the concert on this X'mas morning, I have planned to spend some bucks to catch their concert in America, if they ever sing in Phoenix, or Las Vegas again, and that's if I ever go back again.

Maybe, deep inside, I think I'm just old enough, to taste the once-sweet and now-bitter old melody. They might not be as popular, as rock, as punk.
But they are who they are.

I know this sounds absurb. Being a Chinese-literate and English-not-so-good blogger, I had braced myself to pen this down. The one and only reason is I am drunk. Yes, it's alcohol, and it's after my friend's wedding dinner. Most probably I'm very excited as the Wedding Dinner Saga (non-stop wedding dinners (6) since October and most of them I need to become the 'ji mui' for my girl-friends) has finally come to an end. So I ended it with a high note - deng!

With the red wine effects still with me forcing me to drive with 2 floating feet, I reached home and turned on Bob's. (Note: Bob is Robert Downey jr. - my current imaginary lover when I was extremely painful and down with "jobless" syndrome.)

Larry is really good.
*What did I say? Did I say "Larry"?
Yes, I did. Larry Paul in Ally McBeal, which RDj acted as a singer. (maybe singing is his part-time job at the pub, which also featured Vonda Sheppard).
"Excuse me!! What maybe??"
Oh yeah, I didn't watch Ally McBeal before. At least, maybe when I watched, I didn't know who the hell is RDj or Larry. Maybe I am too young to understand, or being passionate about a man like him. (RDj sings "Man Like Me" as well).

Guys, would you be able to call upon Sting to sing/duet with you on your girlfriend's birthday?
Mmmm... Yeah, I know this sounds kind of unrealistic and will make you feel that I'm still drunk.
For God's sake, I still manage to memorize and hum the song without missing out a word - this is to prove you wrong.
Cynthia and I have been real fans of him. She is better - admired him since high school.
We both chatted online that boring Saturday night and we both surprised as both drool over the matured and successfully-come-back-from-deep-shit actor.

That windy night, with me lying in bed, iPod playing Every Breath You Take, I fell asleep thinking about the man who had conquered the world of Ally as Larry. He did conquer my heart - by coming back strong. This is what I exactly need now, no?


Every breath you take
Every move you make
Every bond you break
Every step you take
Ill be watching you
Every single day
Every word you say
Every game you play
Every night you stay
Ill be watching you
Oh, cant you see
You belong to me
How my poor heart aches
With every step you take
Every move you make
Every vow you break
Every smile you fake
Every claim you stake
Ill be watching you
Since youve gone I been lost without a trace
I dream at night I can only see your face
I look around but its you I cant replace
I feel so cold and I long for your embrace
I keep crying baby, baby, please...
Oh, cant you see
You belong to me
How my poor heart aches
With every breath you take
Every move you make
Every vow you break
Every smile you fake
Every claim you stake
Ill be watching you
Every move you make
Every step you take
Ill be watching you
Ill be watching you
Ill be watching you
Ill be watching you
Ill be watching you...

So here I leave you with Downey singing Every Breath You Take with Sting

柔佛

我第一次驾着9754在路上漫步，已经是6年前的事了。
那时爸在我身边，车子驶出大路不到500米就跪在第一个红绿灯前。
庆幸那时车辆还不多，还容许我在同一个地点死火3、4次。
引擎启动后，走了又不到500米，爸就叫我停在一边，他很气馁的接过了驾驶盘。
于是他载着我，带9754去兜兜风，逛的是大学里如蛇一般蜿蜒的山路。
他临走前，神色凝重的吩咐我：要是没信心，请你不要自己驾上山，要是害怕就请朋友代劳吧。
就是这一句用心良苦的话，我真的交朋友代劳我驾了自己的车整整几个月。
这就是大学时候的我，怕车祸，怕死火。
苦命的9754, 有一次还因为我眼袋倒反盖而撞了一驾停在路边动也不动的摩多车，搞到自己的门牙（bumper）脱落。
新山人驾车，可谓是享誉全马，技术高超，数一数二。
我那种三分一桶水的驾车技术，陪我走过了4年的大学生涯。

槟城

Pulau Pinang 人驾车也不遑多让，驾车技术“狼”度实在是令人闻知丧胆。
吃你白线时，他会慢条斯理和标准无误的走在白线上，好像杂技团走钢索，一点都不没怯场。
3条线的roundabout，他们会把车驾得像只有一条线，随意把车挤过来，吓得你冒一身冷汗。
有些人却是出奇的不以为然，车可以慢得连单车都可以超越他们，好像是沿途观光。
最惹人厌的就是那些摩多车，好像只有两个轮子的交通工具被人撞了不会翻，被车碾不会扁，东摇西摆的，很明显的是活得不耐烦。明明有自己的电单车道，却偏偏“吃”进来，还要车子闪它。
每天早上出门前，心情都是好得可以唱歌的；但一旦车子驾出了公路，满口唾骂的话就如开水喉般血流不止，搞得到了公司时的心情已经是糟透了，吃燕窝都补不回了。

我并不是个满嘴脏话的人，更不像愤世疾俗，但至少我知道“规矩”是什么。
吉隆坡、槟城的塞车那么严重，是因为“人"的惰性，懒惰排队，懒惰守规矩，懒惰把“循规蹈矩”编入自己的字典里头，一切都是“懒”字，还有那超级无敌、一切罪恶的根源-自私。
我都不想像那老掉牙的阿嬷一样，一路弹，一直骂，浪费自己无敌的青春岁月和水源（口水），但实在是对这些人，我真的无能为力了，我只好发泄，再发泄，一再发泄。

你知道我的恐怖了吧？ 请不要在我车前面犯规，我可能把你撞下沟渠，或驾车追你9条街。

我知道有人一定会弹我了（可能会用AK47或M16扫射我），因为我又有新的部落格）。
请原谅我。
我希望大家能够放下之前对我的成见（写来写去都是离不开那些牢骚和酷似爱情专家的陈腔滥调），给点时间我反省，给点时间我沉淀，或许......

在这非常“忙碌”的工作时段， 我发现那些部落格愈趋普遍，只要会上网和打几个字的人都可以担当这个“大任”了。周末的“饮茶”时间，半休闲半忙碌的坐在客厅的茶几旁和父亲聊了一聊，竟然发觉退休6年多的张校长也有上网写日记的打算。当然，我爸的文笔好过我千百倍，更不会好像他的后代一样无聊和东拉西扯，他只是想尝一尝做个网上作家的滋味，毕竟自己的书已有好几本，每天上网吐出几千个字可能有助于帮组饭后消化和防老人病来袭。

为什么会想在这里成立一个新的写作岗位，是因为我太闲了。从上个礼拜开始，我已经开始到处大吐苦水。
“我怎么那么有空？”朋友A的反应:晒命！
“我觉得我没有工作做可能就要辞职了。”朋友B的反应：明天去我家，帮我女佣一把。
“你觉得我要是再继续没工作做，会不会患上忧郁症？”老爸的反应：我看你是100%的工作狂。

除了那处在潮流最尖端的Facebook玩意儿以外，我真的空闲到......
这个月下午茶的次数多过我在这公司里3年的下午茶次数。
我可以搭公司的便车到另一个部门的茶室去喝下午茶。
吃完午饭后还有时间去银行、邮政局、书局......

你说，我的生活是不是很颓废？（颓：自己的身高又不见有增高的起色；废：做的事情没有对社会的人或地球上的一草一木有所贡献）。

读到这里，我觉得你一定是感觉到我像冰块一样，没有一点点对生活的狂热。
我也有对生活有所“憧憬”的一面。
这个月看了6本英文小说(另加有图文解说的孙子兵法），成立了我和小茉莉（哦，不好意思，应该是小绿叶）的“社论部落格”，给家里添了几样新电器，看了几部爱情片和两三部烂片。
好像没有了，可能还有关心现时国际低靡的经济，还有幻想被炒鱿鱼后拿了钱可以去上哪间大学。

写到这里， 我想也是太多唉声叹气了。
其实我最近读了某人的英文部落格，有点又爱又恨，爱他的文笔恨我的不切实际。怎么人家可以“废”得很高雅，我却“废”到让人想掉头就走。

所以我最近身体发出的热能，不在于对生活的狂热了，而是不服气，不甘愿，不想妥协的热气。

如果想再进来观光，记得带灭火器和氧气桶，因为我的怨气可能让你窒息！