Harry Potter and the Goblet of fire

We went to watch this and it was quite entertaining. It did feel rushed at certain bits which made you want more, but then it also did feel draggy at other bits, so i guess it evened out. Most of it was quite unique and believable, although some bits made me think "sure or not? like dat oso can ah?".

Somehow, during the movie, i always knew what was going to happen next, even though i have never read a single book by JK Rowling, which either said something about the plot or the directorial skills, i've yet to figure out which. If you have read the previews and the reviews (and the kelonged version is the eview LOL), dealing with girls seems to be a whole different ballgame for "Mr Potter" (as Snape would say), and he and Ron seemed to have the social graces of an inept duck in a henhouse. I dare say that even our typical Singaporean male would have done better (he might cheat and bring along a cousin as a date, but that's beside the point). Did anyone notice that the ballroom scene felt like it was missing a section? One moment, the lads are sitting there feeling sorry for themselves, and the next thing you know, Hermoine is having a real go at Ron, apparently over Krum. I have no idea what a scrawny ginger haired kid would do to a hulk hogan wannabe Krum.....actually i do, he would have asked Mr Potter to kick Krum's ass for him. LOL

Kinda surprised to see a scottish chinese chick in the show, would have been funny if they had a fully chinese character, two words would sum up his/her attitude: spoyr market! Oh wait, they already have such a character in Hermoine. =)

On a different tack now, anyone notice that the first contestant to bow out in the tri-wizards tourney is french? Talk about playing to stereotypes.

organizer

Been thinking whether i need a PDA, well, now i have a paper one. LOL

Quite cool really.

zeenie is suffering

so sleepy, need coke, need coffee, need caffine.... dying bit by bit, eroding away so slowly.... zzzzzzzz

Run For Funds

From Jaywalk and friends and more friends.....

Before you can say "not another charity", let me say that Run for Funds is not a charity organisation. I shall not make any witty remarks about charities, instead, i have to say that this sounds like a good cause and has no affiliation whatsoever with Forrest Gump. (oh come on, that hardly counts as a witty remark)

My dad loves running and does it as a hobby as well as to stay fit and healthy. He's twice my age and yet i can only run (in my peak) a quarter of what he does. What's the point of this? None really, just that running is good for one's health and now someone has come up with a really cool way of spreading this benefit around, in particular, helping the less fortunate.

What can you do? You can spread the word and create some awareness and if you like, donate some money. I can't run so can't really contribute in that way. What i WILL do is pledge to skip drinking my afternoon coke and coffee for the next month week day and donate that money. How's about that? Ok lah, next month ok? =)

i luurrve things like this

The Box O' Truth #5 - The Locks O' Truth

I think it's the geek in me coupled with my childish mindset that i absolutely love reading about such experiments. =))

christmas shopping ideas

funky stuff! cool gadgets! geeky tools! What more could you want? LOL

Ahhhh, christmas is coming, just 38 more days to the end of the year. 2005 has been rather kind to me i feel and i shall miss it......nevertheless upwards and onwards! bring on 2006!!

My upcoming posts may be few and far between due to the silly season. So let me be the first (and the most kiasu) by sending the warmest season's greetings to whoever you are, wherever you are!

To all of jeanie's friends, *arooooo woof aroooouah bark bark*. =P

And it gets messier....

Again, while very little is reported in the local media, it does not mean our tiny island nation is not being noticed. The right to take away a life is always a hot issue, and external opinions will always sound out loud and everpresent. However, it does not mean we can just bury our head in the ground and carry on what we're doing. In related news, hanging may be replaced by injection. Is there even such a thing as more compassionate way of killing someone?

Singapore, the shoe hub

New Zealand's source for World News on Stuff.co.nz: Michelle Leslie out of jail, buys stilettos

Strange how we didn't really hear about this in the local newspapers? =)

updated link, sorry about that broken one!

I want i want! This is way cool. Next thing we'll have is a Cobra Hiss tank transforming into Serpentor? LOL

Star Wars: Collecting | More Than Meets the Eye: Star Wars Transformers

Fortune nuts

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Originally uploaded by zeenie.

After our need for speed was satisfied, we went to Jusco mall for a drink and I came across this sign. It did look like ordinary coconuts to me, but I bought one anyways, and boy was it good!

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Originally uploaded by zeenie.

The guy starts off by hacking away excess bits of the coconut to gain access to the meat and juice, without touching the meat or juice.

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Originally uploaded by zeenie.

The ball of meat and juice can be seen peeking out from under the 'cap' of husk, formed by careful hacking of the coconut.

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Originally uploaded by zeenie.

using a sharp flexible blade, he craved out the ball of flesh.

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Originally uploaded by zeenie.

the finished product with a straw stuck in it. it was fantastic! all the meat and juice of the coconut without the fuss of scraping the inside of a coconut with a spoon (which i usually break, when it's a plastic one).

I wonder if they had to use special coconuts?

Quickest-ever Mazda sedan

New Zealand's source for motoring news on Stuff.co.nz: Quickest-ever Mazda sedan arrives:

"Driving dynamics are naturally a strength, as with the base Mazda6.

The MPS gets the power grounded effectively, and modulates it well with DSC/TC systems. With its sticky Potenzas and torque shifting ability, it's well resistant to understeer and lines are throttle adjustable as grip shifts front to back. If you think electronic aids are superfluous with 4wd sports sedans, think again. In wet conditions through hilly terrain the DSC and TC systems will keep you on track."

Wow, i've always liked the Mazda 6, and this MPS (the M6? ;P) just takes the cake. It costs the same price as an Evo IX GT (the GSR costs another 6.5k) source.

Weekend go-karting

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Originally uploaded by zeenie.

Went to Permas Jaya in the weekend and here are the photos from the trip.

This is on the way there via the 2nd link.

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Originally uploaded by zeenie.

zeenie on a roll, looking focused at trying to make the poor go-kart go faster.

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Originally uploaded by zeenie.

Unknown to most, the stig practices his trade on go-karts, and we were lucky enough to catch him in action. yeah right.

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Originally uploaded by zeenie.

and crufty gunning for 'the stig' whose own(probably souped up by Johnny from Zhng my car? Cannot be lah, no sticker, no neon, no spoyler, no um-zi-um-zi) go-kart that was blindingly fast.

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Originally uploaded by zeenie.

Someone having a go at a minibike on a small track within the go-kart arena.
zeenie was left in stiches after a spectator shouted "Show us your wheelie!"

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Originally uploaded by zeenie.

heading home after a day's racing, into the sun...... ok, not directly into the sun, but somehow 'heading home slightly offset in the general direction of the sun does not invoke the same sense of poetic smoothness.

Will post more about fortune nuts later. Don't worry, nothing to do with the above wheelie *facepalm* so no NSFW stuff involved. Stay tuned!

Simply amazing

I was left speechless after reading this post by Ben, a friend in North California. Still unsure this lack of gab was caused by the views, the ride, the people, or the fact that he managed to ride all that distance, solo. Never knew people were so encouraging there too, good on them.

A must read for any mountain biking fan, and a source of inspiration for my expanding waistline. I shall go do a ride this weekend....wait, i ain't got a bike no more. sigh, stationary bike it is then.

Check out his other rides too.

Intellectual Property

Is this phrase fast becoming an oxymoron? Like "abundant poverty", or "almost exactly" or even "new archeology"? It would be quite amusing if not for the fact that it is happening these days, that for the sake of something intangible (despite calling it 'property'), people are willing to risk reputation and profit for the right of exclusivity.

Just look at these two recent examples from the same company, where copyrights forming a major part of the end-user license agreement (EULA) and of course, the DRM fiasco are used to 'protect' their property. By protect, it means to exclude others, who have not paid for the right, to use such property, and excluding others is a way to make money, or so they think. Instead this is backfiring and turning into a PR person's worst nightmare where everything is going wrong, and it is going to involve lawyers, engineers and hackers, and it will not be pretty. The lawyers have begun their quest and the hackers have been using it for World of Warcraft purposes, and like the 5th Horseman (of the Apocalypse)(who left before the group got famous), the crap will really hit the fan when the engineers arrive. LOL Incidentally, even macs are not spared in this and a former Apple exec's views on this matter.

a good number of links came from Boing boing, a great resource

While on the subject of nonsensical ranting and to provide a local flavour, i wonder if there is an issue of copyright regarding the white elephant T-shirts? LOL Mr Wang provided insightful thoughts (as usual) on this subject that are worth a read.

In further IP related news (i'm really on a roll today), a situation worthy of any Monty Python show. Update: this post by IP Kat speaks more of it and includes a picture of the disputed TM.

The rather shaky bridge between the companies and the consumers has been rattled. Will there be a Black Knight who will come forth to impede this link?

arrggh, my eyes!

This is a really cool trick. Kept rubbing my eyes, but nope, the things they say seem to be true. Facinating stuff. (thanks to Yuhui for this)

Now if you'd excuse me, i have to go lie down for a while..... LOL

Segregation

Ever notice how segregation occurs around us everyday? Whether it's by race, colour, creed, religion, gender or even height, it is still a form of prejudice. I cannot help but feel this way especially during lunchtime, when certain groups of people would only eat with people within their group. Sometimes it is not because they are being elitist or exclusive, but it is just circumstances that bond them together. Then there are the nomads, people with no specific lunchgroup, like me. =) I tend to lunch with whoever's around at feeding time, and the great thing is, i always learn something new, whether it be the latest car mechanical thingamagic to great places to eat, or just about family.

In a previous workplace, there was no such distinction, all across the teams and admin staff, we were all equals when it came to lunch time in the common tearoom, united by the common goal of filling our tummys. And due to my varying lunchtime habit, i would eat at various times, thus getting to know people i wouldn't have met, like someone from the corner office of the floor below, or the person running the desk at reception (something i've always been shielded from doing 'cos of my lack of people skills lol). One day i would be trading muffin recipes with a lady from another team, another day i would be playing chess with a guy from another floor, otherwise bonding with the guys (from various teams). Sigh, why is it that i feel more alienated in a multi-cultural society?

nice new car

M Roadster reborn with BMW's magic M3 engine: "Putting to rest the rumours, BMW has finally revealed an M-badged Z4."

Sounds like a ripe car to be zhng-ed (thanks mr brown), just need some stickers and stereo and speakers, and maybe a new badge? A porche Z4? A Honda Z4? LOL

MP3 player review

Armed with the view of wanting to get an MP3 player sometime, as opposed to getting a really big mobile music player (ie a car LOL), i have looked around, but am still quite confused. On one hand, people say how good ipods are, and on the other, how practical some of the other brands are (can you as thumb drive woh!).

Here's a review of the existing players out there for those who like their music on the move. =)

How bizarre

Read this story from Boingboing and couldn't help linking it. It is a really interesting story about how efforts to 'control piracy' are being used as a corporate bargaining chip. In the end, it is us, the consumers, who suffer.

Btw, the title of this post is a song by a Kiwi group called OMC (or the Otara Millionaire's Club) and it was their one hit. How bizarre indeed.