Stardust

There are good films, and there are bad films. Occasionally, you might get a really a good film, and similarly a really bad film.

College Group's special for this month was to go for a movie (the initial plan for a One Tree Hill marathon was wisely scrapped), and the task fell on the hands of Daphne and me. So we discussed, and called up a few people, and discussed, and booked tickets, and called up the people again, and even booked the tickets another time. It sorta (roughly lah) went like this on the phone:

Me: So, what should we watch? I mean, Judith's watched Bourne already, and so did Crissy.
Daph: Erm..that's why. But you and Justin haven't watched it ma.
Me: Nah, I'm okay with anything.
Daph: What about Shoot 'Em Up? They seem to be promoting it on GSC.
Me: You can call the shots.
Daph: Okay lah, then I'll book.

Next day...
Me: So Crissy, you wanna come for Shoot 'Em Up?
Crissy: Huh? No lah..I'm quite picky with my shows. If Stardust I come lah.
Me: Har? Oh, okay then. I'll see how.

Later
Me: Crissy will only come if we are watching Stardust.
Daph: Aiya..(checks the showtimes) okay lor. Stardust lah then.
Me: Okay then (I've already booked the tickets just in case). But what is it about?
Daph: (Starts reading the synopsis) ..... and like that lah.
Me: (Didn't quite understand) Oh I see. I'll tell Justin lah.

Justin: So we're watching Stardust?
Me: Yea, cause Crissy suggested it ma. Any idea what it's about ah?
Justin: Nope.
Me: Okay.....

When I mentioned to Crissy that we've changed to Stardust and asked if she would wanna come, she said she couldn't make it because of work. Many others were busy too, and me and Daph wanted to cancel it but since we've been planning it for two days already, we went along with the movie anyway. And it was eleven bucks! Like, Sunway's really ripping us cinema-goers off. But then again, the cinema was new and clean, so no complaints la.

So there we were at the cinema, wondering what on earth Stardust might be about. I had neither seen a trailer on tv, nor read about in on the newspaper. There weren't even any pictures of it in the cinema section of The Star. It was an absolute zero-expectation kind of thing, so for that very reason, I chose not to post any sort of pictures or videos whatsoever. I won't even say whether it was great or lousy, just go and watch it for yourselves. The less you know, the better, I feel.

Thoughts

With hardly a month left to STPM (or SPM with the 'T' as Tina would call it) most of you who are reading my blog now would probably wonder where I find the time to do so. Simon's blog had been eerily quiet, a sure sign that he's been putting more hours into his books lately. So where does that leave me? I'm guessing that most people would be thinking along either of the two extremes below:

a) I'm wonderfully prepared and extremely ready to face whatever those people up at the Examinations Board can cook up, so now I can afford to hang around online more, and hence the quicker blog updates. OR

b) I'm so hopelessly under-prepared that it wouldn't matter much if I put in one hour or even one day less of studies. Since I can't save it anymore, why bother? Blogging's so much more fun...

Honestly speaking, if (b) was what you thought of me, then you're pretty much correct. The past one month was a challenge in so many ways that I cannot even begin to find a way to describe it properly in the context of a blog. And I say challenge because I was pushed out of my comfort zones, far out into what you would probably call the 'I'm totally lost and have no idea what to do' zone. I was broken along the way, and even now I continue to struggle with very personal issues, like ************ and ******** ** *** (You can only see it if you close one eye, hold up two fingers and try to read the stars through the two fingers).

In the midst of the confusion and fear though, I did realize that whatever I had been going through, and am still facing; would undoubtedly mould me into a better person someday. I've come to accept that no one can stay the same forever and that change is inevitable. When the storm strikes, what would you do? When the rain falls, where do you run? At this point, I understand that while no one likes to change, or to be changed for that matter; you would only grow as a person by changing your ways. I could say that I've been stunted for a while, so it's kinda painful to be 'growing' again.

Having thought about it more, I'm starting to relish having been put through so many things this year though. I'm actually somewhat excited, deep in my heart, because it seemed like God had cleared the mist that had shrouded my path for quite some time now. I moved on from the previous checkpoint where I stayed for very long, through the treacherous and narrow road littered with loose rocks and sharp stones here and there. I've not reached the next checkpoint yet, but I'm eager to keep moving forward. I am.

I'm starting to kick into exam gear now (a tad bit late, I know), so I pray that in the next four weeks left, I would be able to not only put some genuine effort into my STPM, but also get nearer to that elusive next checkpoint. Onward!

I do like to thank someone though, whose one phone call had made a whole lot of difference to me. I was saved from certain doom (yeap, doom), and the timing couldn't have had been more precise. God's timing, I was sure. But thank you so much, ****** for taking the trouble to call me..

Will I ever change my ways?
Good intentions never saved the man...
Is this all that life is meant to be, surely there's more.
If I don't go where my destiny's calling me,
obviously I'll never know~ Juwita Suwito - Destiny's Calling

Yay For Juwita!

When Jon brought to church the CDs that he bought for the TRU audio library today, the only artiste that I was familiar with and actually fond of was only Juwita Suwito. I loved her Visit Malaysia song, with its catchy tunes and slick vocals and all. Only In The Dark was my favourite among the songs in a special Tsunami compilation. Her songwriting always caught my fancy, and I was really eager to borrow the CD once they put it up in the library.

But just a few minutes ago, I was looking for the Tsunami compilation CD because I wanted to rip Only In The Dark again. I couldn't find it, so I went to google instead. Lo and behold, this guy called DBCHING had all the songs from 2 of her albums. Yes. But that means pirating. Noooo.

I downloaded anyway, having to swallow the guilt of pirating from an artiste that I like, and Christian some more...nuts. Then I poked around this Ching guy's MULTIPLY blog (the songs were there) and found out that hey hey, he works with Juwita! Not sure in what area, but I suppose it's in distribution and that kind of thing. And you know what's even better? The Ching guy said "Thank Juwita & everyone else at Four Forty Records as they're the one who made the songs possible to be shared". Brilliant stuff, that Juwito. Brilliant :D


If you wanna listen, then head on to http://dbching.multiply.com/music
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Advertorial

Okay, so this is not quite a real post or anything, but I was asked (*cough*offered*ahem*) by See Huang, our resident Gaming Executive IN-CHIEF (I'm sure those of you who know him would more than agree :D) to post up a little advert for his garage sale. Only he's not selling pots and pans and broken lamps but rather some pretty nice...stuff. Read on.

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Hi guys. Here's an updated list of the garage sales.

Game Machines
1) Playstation Portable (Silver), Earliest Firmware (1.5) - nearly MINT, just used it for 5 minutes before it became bricked. Not for sale until fixed. See me in perhaps another 2 weeks. ~ RM 550 Original Price RM 690
2) Playstation Portable (Black), Latest Firmware (3.52) - secondhand, but fully functional Value Pack. Comes with free original game (Loco Roco), battery, 32MB Memory Stick, earphones, pouch, and remote control.. MADE IN JAPAN. ~ RM 450 Original Price RM 1000

Unbuilt Models
1) 1/60 scale S.E. Type-R13EX Test Type Combat Robot Phantom Labor (From Mobile Police Patlabor) Model. RM 30
2) EX Model 1/1700 Mobile Ship Albion (From Mobile Suit Gundam 0083 Stardust Memory) Model. ~ RM 70
3) 1/60 Wing Gundam 0 (From Mobile Suit Gundam W) Model. RM 50

Hotwheels Racing
1) 1:18 Hotwheels Diecast Ferrari F2002 Michael Schumacher Limited Edition (only 25,000 produced). Boxed, complete ~ RM 70
2) 1:18 Hotwheels Diecast Ferrari F2001 Micheal Schumacher Boxless. RM 50

Assorted Animes DVD
1) Bleach Episode 1-60, 6 discs, Chinese & English Sub RM 20
2) Bleach Episode 41-87, 6 discs, Chinese & English Sub RM 20
3) Fullmetal Alchemist Volume 1, 14 episodes (Recommended!)Japanese, Mandarin & English Audio. Malay, Chinese & English Sub RM 25
4) Fullmetal Alchemist: Conqueror of Shamballa Movie, Chinese & English Sub, RM 15
5) Escaflowne (A Girl in Gaea) Movie, Chinese & English Sub, RM 10
6) The Vision of Escaflowne (Series) 26 episodes Complete, Chinese & English Sub, RM 25 (2 Available)
7) Genesis of Aquarion (Series) 26 Episodes Complete, Chinese & English Sub, RM 12
8) Record of Lodoss War (OVA) 13 episodes Complete, Chinese & English Sub (Warning: Poor literal English Sub), RM 12
9) Cowboy Bebop, 26 Episodes, Chinese & English Sub (Warning: Poor literal English Sub), RM 12
10) Zone of the Enders, Chinese & English Sub, RM 12
11) Neon Genesis Aquarion Series plus 2 movies, Chinese & English Sub, RM 30
12) Genesis Climber Mospeada (aka ROBOTECH The New Generation), 25 episodes Complete, Chinese & English Sub, RM 20
13) Ghost in The Shell Movie 1, Chinese & English Sub (2 available), RM 15
14) Transformers the Movie, English Audio, VCD, RM 5
15) Transformers: Super God Masterforce (PAL Region), 42 Episodes Complete, English and Mandarin Audio, RM 20 (Japanese Anime spinoff after the original 80s Transformers)
16) Transformers Victory (PAL Region), 36 Episodes Complete, English and Mandarin Audio, RM 20 (Masterforce Sequel)

Macross DVDs
1) Super Dimension Fortress Macross (aka ROBOTECH The Macross Saga), 36 Episodes Complete, Chinese & Literal English Sub, RM 20
2) Macross: Do You Remember Love? Movie, Chinese & English Sub, RM 15
3) Macross Zero (OVA) 5 episodes Complete, RM 15
4) Macross 7 Volume 1, Episode 1-26, VCD, Chinese & English Sub, RM 20
5) Macross 7 Volume 2, Episode 27-49 VCD, Chinese & English Sub, RM 20
6) Macross 7 the Movie: The Galaxy's Calling Me! Chinese & English Sub, RM 157) Macross Dynamite 7 (OVA) 4 Episodes Complete, RM 15

Gundam DVDs
1) Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team (OVA), 11 Episodes Complete, Chinese & English Sub, RM 20
2) Mobile Suit Gundam, 43 Episodes Complete, Chinese & English Sub (Buy at your own risk, English translation very poor!), RM 10
3) Mobile Suit Gundam 0080 (OVA), 6 Episodes Complete, Chinese & Literal English Sub, RM 15
4) Mobile Suit Gundam 0083 Stardust Memory (OVA), 13 Episodes Complete ( Recommended!) Japanese & English Audio. Chinese & English Sub. RM 25
5) Mobile Suit Gundam 0083 Stardust Memory The Movie, Chinese & English Sub, RM 15
6) Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, 49 Episodes (corrupted final episode), Chinese & English Sub, RM 15
7) Mobile Suit ZZ Gundam, 47 Episodes Complete, Chinese & Literal English Sub, RM 15
8) Mobile Suit Gundam F91 Movie, Chinese & English Sub, RM 15
9) Mobile Suit Victory Gundam Volume 1, Episode 1-26, Chinese & English Sub, RM 20
10) Mobile Suit Victory Gundam Volume 2, Episode 27-51, Chinese & English Sub, RM 20

DVD Movies
1) The Lord of the Rings The Two Towers (US Region), RM 30
2) The Others (US Region), RM 20
3) Spiderman 2 (Malaysian Edition), RM 5

Assorted Original Video Games
1) Kingdom Hearts 2, PS2, (US Region), no cover, RM 15
2) Shadow Hearts: Covenant, PS2, (US Region), RM 50
3) Virtua Fighter 4, PS2, (JAP Region), RM 50
4) SSX, PS2, (JAP Region), RM 50
5) Megaman ZX, Nintendo DS, (Region Free), RM 50
6) X-Box 360 Asian Region Crackdown, RM 50

Guys, as I've said, everything here are in very good condition. Please forward this email to any of your friends who you'd think are interested. If you're interested, please reply me or just text me to 017 6761920.Thanks.

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Okay, back to the books then...