MELBOURNE SHUFFLE FTW! Since Gawai's (Ibans' harvest festival in Sarawak) around the corner, I figured out it's time to have some Gawai song trance/techno remix. Accidentally I stumbled upon this:
Iban ShuffleIgnoring the incorrect stereotyping of Iban culture by the West (the Ibans portrayed look like confused Native South American/Zulu warriors on weed doing the robot to Iban sape music), this is a FTW video. But nothing beats this ultimate For Teh Win shuffle video;
Pocong Shuffle (Pocong - Malay ghost of the dead wrapped in white burial cloth)
Well, to heighten up the mood, have some more shuffle fest at Sarawak. Haihz globalization... Oh well, enjoy the song!
Another post-apocalyptic movie, now with a Bible Haha instant spoiler from the blog caption ;p Sorry folks.
SPOILER ALERT!!!:
Not much of a spoiler anyways. The plot takes place 31 years after an apocalyptic war that tore a hole in the sky and brought down the blinding light that devastated the world (I'm assuming it's a nuclear holocaust). After the blinding light survivors burned all Bibles by the bushel for becoming the source of the war, in hopes of preventing another holocaust. However not all copies are lost. Eli (Denzel) found one intact. He's been keeping it safe to himself. He's been reading it everyday. And he's been walking West for the past 31 years to find a place of salvation for the Bible, as instructed by the voice only he can hear.
Along the way he came across another man, Carnegie (Gary), who runs a town of survivors. Carnegie wants the Bible because he knows faith will give him more power. Of course Eli don't give a damn about Carnegie's vision because he just wants to go West as instructed. This sparked the conflict and the pursuit between the two in most part of the movie. Carnegie got the Bible in the end and left Eli for dead. However after arriving back in his town Carnegie can't read it because it's in Braille (the popped dots wording system for the blind).
At the end, Eli finally arrives at his destination in the West; the Alcatraz Island. There he meets Lombardi and other survivors, who were busy recovering all the knowledge of the world in the Alcatraz Prison (used to be a prison). Turns out Eli is blind all this time and he reads out the Bible to Lombardi so it could be printed out and preserved. Eli then dies of his mortal wound obtained from Carnegie's pursuit. The End.
See the trailer:
Controversy: There's a hubbub about the ending of the movie, where the Bible is shown being placed between the Torah and the Koran, and the screen zoomed towards the Bible. I don't see anything wrong with it. Chronologically this is correct because Lombardi wants to sort the Holy Books in order of appearance. Torah was first to be descended from the Heavens, followed by the the Bible, and finally the Koran. In terms of movie-making, this is appropriate because the movie revolved around the Bible so it makes sense to zoom the screen towards it instead of the Torah or Koran. I won't cover further controversies such as people ranting why they put up NKJV etc online. I find it ironic because the movie's war was started because of such Biblical controversies :S
Ham rates The Book of Eli:
The movie gives a perfect typical post-apocalyptic theme and mood. It's kinda reminiscent of Will Smith's I Am Legend, although unique in terms of "save-the-last-Bible" plot. The movie is violent, but Eli only resorts to violence in self-defense (which is good). Eli can be heard quoting the Bible in several scenes such as "And to the dust, we shall return" followed by a bloodied hack-and-slash gore fest ala Blade. Awesome? Or has Hollywood decide to poke at the Bible for instigating violence.
Arguably not one of the best movie for Denzel (I don't feel the umph! from his in this movie), but the portrayal of social decadence after the lost of faith gives a gritty reminder to what's happening to our world today.
The Hurt Locker is one of those rare movies that do not over-glorify Uncle Sam's occupation in Iraq. Nor does it rely on over-CG Hollywood special effects to WOW the audience. And it is definitely not as ridiculous as Delta Farce.
SPOILER ALERT!!!: The plot is really simple, really. We follow a team of bomb-defusal squad of the US army in war torn Iraq, who defuses bombs planted by insurgents from the start to the end of the movie. What makes it interesting is the movie's attempt to make viewers 'be in the war' and grow attach to the small 3 members team. Owh people live and die in this movie, the violence of the war is portrayed with pure epic, and you'll question the ethics of the war. Kudos to the director Kathryn Bigelow for showing the world that females can make an epic war movie too.
See the trailer:
Ham rates The Hurt Locker:
The last time modern warfare got personal for me was Black Hawk Down that have set the bar high. Although not as epic as Black Hawk, Hurt Locker still manages to captivate me with the suspense of bomb-defusing in the streets of Iraq. Remember how the Hero of the movie always manage to defuse the bomb in the last 1 second? Well, none of those bullocks are available here.
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Hollywood celebrities in Iraq
Not often can we see famous Hollywood actors acting in movies of the Second Gulf War. This time Matt Damon geared up and set to go head on with not just insurgents, but his own country as well (oops spoiled).
SPOILER ALERT!!!: The plot follows an ordinary US soldier Chief Warrant Officer Miller (Damon) who raids locations said to hold weapons of mass destruction. After a few raids with no clear signs of WMD in the locations, Miller begins to question the credibility of the intel report given to him. After doing some digging he uncovered a whole load of whoop-ass regarding conspiracies involving the CIA, US Army, Iraqi rogue general, and the US media that produced falsified information for their own benefits in the war. To help portray the spirit of the good Americans that want the war to end, Miller becomes a Hero and goes down to bring justice and show the world that not all Americans are barbaric war-mongers.
See the trailer:
Ham rates The Green Zone:
The conspiracy build up from the beginning to the mid of the movie is excellent, but too bad when Damon decides to kick ass the plot turns into an expected typical American-war-hero plot. You know the typical "I-turn-hero, everyone-betray-me, then-get-caught, then-kick-ass, then-kill-boss" plot. Meh.
The world went into a standstill, as millions of people got distracted replaying an old-time classic from the 80s...
This morning I woke up all groggy and pretty much messed up after a crazy night. Then automatically my body motor systems turned up the laptop and went online, as it has been for the past 5 years. To my surprise, I was graced by a very familiar character from my childhood; パックマン (PAC-MAN)
At first I thought it was just a doodle (static creative illustration of Google's logo distorted to match the event), then suddenly the 4 colorful ghosts started moving and I automatically moved the yellow guy using my directional keys. It's the 80's and 90's all over again for me...
To commemorate the 30th birthday of NAMCO BANDAI Inc.'s epic game that's considered as one of the grandfathers of video games, Google gave surfers the chance to play a map based on GOOGLE layout. I finished it in less than 2 minutes with 1 death and gosh was I delighted to be able to re-experienced the game that was part of my innocent and simple childhood life. To play, head over to www.google.com while the event lasts.
P/S: you may notice I have 1 PAC-MAN and 1 Ms. PAC-MAN in the screenshot. To get this, simply click the "Insert Coin" button twice quickly. Player 1 will be using directional keys, while Player 2 will be using WASD keys. Enjoy!
Sibu people are not fond of money politics and death threats. Keep the RM5,000,000 because it's someone else's hard-earned money...
It's official. Sibu is now under DAP. The long 1-week campaigns from both sides has ended with these results:
Pakatan Rakyat's DAP: 18,845 Barisan Nasional's SUPP: 18, 447 (after additional +2,000 postal votes) Independent: 232
I wasted 3 hours waiting with a lot of anticipation for the results to be announced at 9pm Sunday, 16th May 2010. I even paused all assignments to witness how a new history was about to unfold. Things looked bright for the party with the ideology of democratic socialism and social justice...
The Chronology The Death
The passing of the late Datuk Robert Lau Hoi Chew on April 9th 2010 left the Sibu constituent vacant. Wong Ho Leng from DAP and backed by Pakatan Rakyat, came forward to challenge for the seat.
His main contender was BN's SUPP "fighting cock" Robert Lau Hui Yew (aka Robert Lau Jr. although they're cousins).
Narawi Haron, representing himself as a Bebas or Independent party entered the fray to evaluate his popularity after his defeat in 1999 election.
The Vote-Fishing
DAP used the 'Allah' issue as well as some native land rights issues to convince voters. Also they managed to slot in the Block L & M (off Limbang), two oil wells the government sold to Brunei in order to maintain Limbang.
SUPP used how they have money and DAP is all talk. Surprisingly SUPP used the 'kampua will be banned" as another twist to gain voters because DAP supports PAS (another Pakatan Rakyat component party) vision of an Islamic state. I for one am offended by this offensive insult. There's halal kampua in Sibu la boss, 5 shops I know sell them e.g. Sunny Cafe near RTM, Mas Corner near Lau King Howe Memorial, that small cafe not far from A-Plus, that smaller cafe near the old Cathay road, and many more random roadside stalls.
Bebas used, well nothing. The candidate just wanted to win back his pride after he lost in the 1999 election where he lost his deposit. Narawi Haron assumed he could get 4,000 voters and get his votes back.
The Epic Mistake BN Made:
It is this speech made by PM Najib Tun Razak on Saturday night, less than 12 hours before polling begins. His blunder? Offering a bribe to the Rejang Park people RM5 mil if they vote for SUPP's Robert Lau Jr. That is taxpayer's money man... listen to his speech:
The Polling Day Everything went alright and smoothly. But by 7pm ballot counting began. The ticker went up tremendously at all tweets, blogs, facebook groups and other online site Sibuians, Malaysians and others can access. The world was watching.
SPR (Election Committee) Controversy
The results were clearly favouring DAP with a 3,000 majority lead (18,000 against 15,000). But the results' announcement was delayed without any clear notification.
There were rumors of '2 missing ballot boxes' as well as 'miscounting of the postal votes'.
Postal votes are basically BN's last resort weapon where the votes comes from Sibu government personnel (e.g. army) working outside Sibu. it's like a money cheat code because those outstationed did not get a chance to know how the vote-fishing was going. 2 hours passed with the results 2 hours late...
Speculations about "dark magics" by BN occured with an ironic blackout at the ballot counting station in Dewan Suarah Sibu/Sibu Civic Center.
The Rocket Launches
Finally, and officially, at 11pm DAP won with a majority of 398 even after BN's postal vote reinforcement.
This was a miracle and a WTF moment for the Sibu people as a whole, both DAP and BN supporters.
Drunks were sobbing by the roadside as they lost their bet, Najib and the Deputy Prime Minister left the polling scene, facebook saw a spike of several pro-progress youths and adults alike.
The Aftermath
Sibuians now look forward to the new era of progress under the wings of Wong Ho Leng. Sibu is established as the second DAP base after Kuching.
Despite their lost, BN intends to keep all the promises made by PM Najib Tun Razak (that means you still lose your taxmoney...). As a Sibuian said "u no need to sign that cheque on Monday la Najib"...
No updates from Bebas candidate.
Sarawak Geo-Political Map as of May 2010 AD. With DAP getting a foothold in the south and the new central region, the future looks bright for the democratic socialist party.
They now can face Sarawak's Pehin Abdul Taib Mahmud's stronghold in Mukah. To the folks in Mukah, please consider voting for progress, because the Sibu-Mukah road has been horrible (read) for many years. Despite the Pehin's presence in Mukah and the millions of RM the government has, I don't see much effort for the road.
Hopefully our neighbors of Kapit, Sarikei, Betong, Sri Aman and Samarahan would join us in ignoring the money politic and go for progress.
Bintulu and Miri is still a stronghold for BN in the north, where progress are clear but some are not known e.g. Senadin area, or the deadly e-Mart-Senadin road (read).
This is just an analysis based on Total War experience.
Kampua 4 Life The inappropriate threat of kampua banning by BN is no more. Kampua is safe again for now, both halal and non-halal. This just shows how we Sibuians cannot be separated from our beloved dry noodle. You have already politicized religions, don't politicize our food bro...
At the end of the day we stood united, no matter what race/religion, despite all the segregation propaganda gimmicks like what they have done in the West. I'm proud to be a Sibuian. Viva la Sarawak!
The death of the late Datuk Robert Lau Hoi Chew has created a vacant post for the Sibu parliamentary. With a by-election in hand to fill the post, 3 sides are now vying for supremacy. With Anwar Ibrahim from PKR and our PM Najib for the BN side flown in to oversee their candidates and campaigns (plus extra 2,000 police personnel flown in to bolster security), Sibu is now a political hotspot with candidates working their best to fish for the people's votes.
The 3 parties are: Barisan Nasional's (National Front) Sarawak United Progressive Party (SUPP) Candidate: Robert Lau Hui Yew (aka Robert Lau Jr.)
Pakatan Rakyat's (People's Alliance) Democratic Action Party (DAP) Candidate: Richard Wong Ho Leng
Bebas (Independent) Candidate: Narawi Harun
They have until May 17th to convince the people to vote for them, as the polling day would be on May 18th, Tuesday. If you are eligible voters, go out and vote! Oh and don't forget to share some snapshot of how the campaign is going :)
These are the things I look forward to from May 2010 - 2011
Starcraft II(release date 27th July 2010) Finally, after 12 years since the first game that drove RTS players like me and South Korea to epic total war, Blizzard finally announced the official release date of Starcraft II. Looks like it's time to cock your Gauss rifle Marines! The Zerg rush has return! Kekekeekekeekekekeeke!
Owh Blizzard will release it as a trilogy, so the first part named Wings of Liberty will be released first. From what I understand each chapter represents each species. So Wings of Liberty would be Terran, and the later two would be the brutal Zergs and psionic Protoss.
Microsoft Office 2010 (somewhere in 2010) Finally something new to replace the Office 2007 that is getting obsolete by name. Currently under BETA and the final manufacturing version should be available very, very soon.
Get the BETA and more info on Microsoft Office 2010 here. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tide (2011) Finally! Jack's quest for immortality continues to this forth installation of the PoC. This time its related to the map that leads to the fountain of youth as seen in PoC3: At World's End. Jack's not alone, because Blackbeard is after the same goal too... Nyarrrr!!!
Sam Worthington is on a killing spree. From the Terminator, to Avatar, to Clash of the Titans and then for the new James Bond. But sadly, he was turned down because producers did not see him fitting JB's post as the womanizing, tech-savvy, Italian-suit-obsessed Mi6 agent. Either way that means a new James Bond is on its way soon, perhaps in late 2011 or 2012. Hopefully it isn't as lifeless as the previous Quantum of Solace.
Sorry no official link.
Command & Conquer: Generals 2 (Unknown Release Date) OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG! *fanning my face with my hands vigorously* The moment I heard EA bought the generals2 domain name I knew they are working on the sequel to one of my favorite RTS of all times. Then the day when I came across this music score which apparently will be used in the Generals 2, I went OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG! *more fanning*
Although leaked and could be fake, one thing is for sure. Looks like all you veteran Generals out there will be called back to duty. From the music score, I'm guessing we will lead the original 3 factions again; the quasi-religious terror group Global Liberation Army, the huge overpowering red army of China, and the ridiculously high-tech-armed United States of America.
*COUGH COUGH COUGH COUGH* Nah just kidding, it's harmless, just smells...
What looks like a cool scenery of the campus in the morning actually smells like haze... smells like home... owh it's not morning its evening, I mostly have late evening classes...
Visibility still okay, hey I had worst in Sibu '98...
Wow I didn't expect Perth to experience haze as well. This seriously brings back memories of Miri campus where the air reeks of the smell of smoke. When asked about the source, the answer was not surprisingly our famous and close neighbor... didn't manage to catch the news to verify though, since I barely got time to do so this week.
However what makes this haze unique is that it is the opposite of Miri's hot, steamy and choking variant. The haze here do smell, but not to the point of choking one's lungs. And it's cool at 20°C. This is a nice change of experience ;)
It's autumn, but it's summer at my desk and winter at my bed
It's mid autumn now(?) and everything is cooling down. It can be as high as 26°C in the morning (seriously there's sun but no heat) and a freezing 9°C at night. So to warm up we who were born naked wrap ourselves in thick clothing of other animals and/or synthetic material.
Today's forecast; sunny at the west with a chance to smell like ramen, and cold winds from the east.
Since I'm being optimistic I'm gonna say my room has a gifted curse/cursed gift. To help warm up a good simple heater can be turned on to give some warmth to your cold hands and feet. Sadly for my room the heat flow is limited as seen above.
My bed is exactly under the window and even when it's closed the coldness can still creep in. The heater is FAR FAR away and is blocked by a chunky towering wardrobe. The heat never reach my bed hence I'm forced to rolled up into a thick human sushi to avoid becoming a popsicle. To add insult to injury the heater only manages to heat up my ass and my back when I'm doing assignment, making me feel more stressful. Do you know how it feels like to have hot ears AND being stressed?!
I like coldness, but this is obviously not the Sibu cold and wet weather that I got used to. Thankfully the food here are all heavy and generates a lot of heat. Looking forward to the harsh and cold exam month of June.
Is it normal for people to scream and swear when playing games?
I looked back to my past years, and I realized the answer was YES. Why, barely a few nights ago a few security guards came knocking on my door to check out an apparent noise disturbance. Well it couldn't have been us as the house is always loud. But then again when I reflected back, we could have made serious noise unconsciously when we were in our euphoric climax(es).
What? It's Thrill of the Hunt
Long ago we used to participate in group hunts for food that runs and bites back. When hunting was rendered obsolete thanks to refrigerators and McDs, KFC etc, we converted the primordial urge to hunt into something else e.g. cheering for the group when your club scores a goal. As the gene pool gets more desolate from the hunter-gatherer functions, the newer generation find the same thrill of the hunt in games.
Why? We Just Love Psychotic Frenzy...
Well during the hunt of any sort our adrenaline kicks in and and all the senseless screaming, shouting, swearing and physical abuse comes in uncontrollably. Normal individual would utter words others would never imagine he/she would shout normally, just like someone with Tourette's syndrome. Some will begin banging and bashing their machines or their teammates, resulting in a domestic violence WHILE swearing etc.
From my own experience I would swear in 3 different languages and tilt my head backwards to face the sky asking "WHYYYYYYY?!!!!" silently, then back to the killing. Occasional middle fingering is normal from time to time and thank fully no bashing of properties and/or individuals were involved.
It's an impulse reaction to a stressful situation. It's like crying while chopping onions. Angry when Streamyx is down again. Happy when you eat KFC after a long weekend.
It's all those emotion.
When? When We Reach Orgasm All the tantrums and unprecedented behaviors can occur during these scenarios:
During an OWNAGE where everyone and everything is being killed
When you are being killed
When you almost die
When you hit 0 HP and dies
After you character dies
When you feel the game is imbal
Lingoes: OWNAGE (basically when you get raped by the opponent) Imbal (for imbalanced, when you think the game is not balanced)
Where? Worldwide...
Apparently this 'disease' is not an isolated case e.g. happens for Asians youth only. It's a global pandemic that usually affects male who happens to have medium-high contact with electronic games. What started out as a minor case of swearing over Monopoly has now turned into an uncontrolled malaise over the internet and local area networks.
Below are examples of gamers worldwide showing chronic swearing and physical abuse:
This is just Counter Strike. The same happens to DotA, Mordern Warfare and other multiplayer games involving interaction (well mostly killing) other human players.
Cure? There is currently no cure, because a gamer cannot be treated when he is off the game. whereby he becomes normal. Once in contact with a game the gamer changes dramatically and the only solution when this change happens is to either:
Physically abuse them back to shut them up, no point swearing back as they're immune
Call the relevant authorities
Tell them to go play somewhere else
You pack up your sleeping bag and sleep somewhere else
Join the swearing frenzy
I am a gamer myself but I can say my hardcore-gaming days goodbye as I slowly phase out playing games from my life thanks to other more important and demanding aspects of life. However I will not deny the fact I am one of the swearing gamers, albeit not chronic, and I'm not ashamed to admit it. I MIGHT swear again (in-game)...
To all people out there who knows such nuisance gamers, please refer to the strategies mentioned above. To those who live with such nuisance gamers, be safe to know that no one is being murdered in your house. To the nuisance gamers, PLAY HARDer!
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