Pocket Snowmen.

The day's entry comes in the form of a tribute to a friend who went before his time. It also comes a day late, which I am regrettably sorry for, as I am still at a loss for words. I could have never guessed that you'd be laid to rest before any of us, as we were the ones with the many vices. From high-school, I knew you to be a mild-mannered, reverent, inspirational and talented individual. My man, Markus.

We'll always wonder why you had to say goodbye so soon. You were someone we needed here still: to guide, to reform, to look up to and follow suit.

"But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us." - JRR Tolkien

And you did a whole lotta good with your time, mate. And for that, you've been bountifully rewarded. Pray we're shown the way just like you were, and um.. maybe put in a good word or two for me with The Gaffer? The whole CF epic would do nicely, thanks. :)

It saddens me so to know we'll have to put off our next futsal session for the meantime, but I'll bet the grass, or should I say turf, is way greener on the other side. It was truly an honor having met you, Markus. Godspeed.

Markus Ng - Strife

Fwoosh~

2009-02-01T10:25:00.004+08:00

Okay, I realize my last post was about 4 months ago, but that doesn't mean that I update per annum. There's been a rush of To Do's at work, but mostly it's just due to being lazy. Nothing much has happened within that time frame anyway: poker home games, weekend futsal, EPL, WSOP final table in which Peter Eastgate won 9 million smackeroos, EPL, intern Elton Jane coming and going, more poker home games and EPL, year-end PD trip plus DUSOP main event in which Small B won but was eventually owed his winnings, Elton Jane's grand theft auto experience, the opening of Big B's 2nd Capri outlet in Uptown, Obama's inauguration as the 44th President of the United States hand-in-hand with the change of power of DUSOP's president, more EPL concurrent with the event of Manchester United taking over Liverpool at the top of the league standings (hammering Chelsea in the process), CNY hometown visit, the purchase of new shoes, memorable poker bad beats, more late EPL match-ups and of course, poker. NOT FORGETTING the occasional dinner, 'quality time', and shopping sprees with Jo, to be added in between. :)

Okay, so there were many things you've missed. SORRAY.

But in all honesty though, it's much less of a hassle if I update this way.

Hip And Soulful Storytelling.

2008-09-19T08:41:00.014+08:00

K'naan - In The Beginning

So...

In the beginning, there was a hum

From a poet whose pulse fell,

DRUM DRUM DRUM.

He would perform prayers and all

'Til one day he heard a voice call,

"COME, COME, COME."

Suspicious, he moved with vicious caution.

Dismisses, he thinks he's a little off.

People get held back

By the voice inside 'em.

The voice said, "I'm poised to speak inside you.

Rejoice and please let me invite you

To evil, greed and lies too."

Confused and dazed, he moved in ways

And soon became a coon and

BOOM BOOM BOOM!

And 'knock' on his door,

His lord is no more.

And 'knock' on his door,

His soul is no more.

That was at the beginning.

As the story goes on...

So...

The poet's got a proposal,

He would always hope but never know

What it feels

To be free.

He would be the frozen;

Imposed as the chosen on all those opposing

But he would be greedy.

That's got him there;

He's power-hungry and proud too.

People don't care,

People just scared.

People don't care;

People, just pray.

That was at the beginning.

There was a hum,

And things change...

They say it's better to light a candle than to curse the dark.

In the eyes of the youth there are question marks

Like freedom.

Freedom for the mind and soul;

We don't see them.

See them for their worth at all;

That's why we lead 'em.

Lead 'em to these wars and what is it we feed 'em.

Feed 'em our impurities and who it is we treat 'em.

Treat 'em like the enemy;

Humanity will need 'em.

Need them like the blood we spill and where freedom?

Freedom for the hearts we fill;

We mislead 'em.

They hunger for the love we give

But we cheat them.

The cops beat him when all he wants is his freedom.

So they defeat him.

Whatever spirit he's got:

Beaten.

And they teach him the rest of the world don't need him.

And he believes it's a disease that he's heathen.

Put up your fists if all you want is freedom.

Put up your fists if all you want is...

That was in the beginning.

And things change...

And we keep holding on,

And we keep being strong.

And we keep going on

And on and on and on...

Berbatov's A Friggin' Red!

2008-09-04T12:46:00.000+08:00

And about time, too. After our unconvincing opener against Newcastle and failure at adding another trophy to the cabinet with our defeat to Zenit St. Petersburg, it's only fitting we bolster our attacking options.

So, after months of seemingly endless speculation, Dimitar Berbatov signs for Manchester United for an estimated fee of £31 million, on the last day of the transfer window.

The picture's authentic, folks.

Oh, how I'd hate to be Liverpool next weekend.

An Obese Bundle Of Annoyance.

2008-09-01T11:50:00.000+08:00

No, I'm not talking about little kids, or newborn pets or whatnot. I am talking, however, about a temporary staff who happens to be working in the very office I'm situated in, and she sits 2 GODDAMNED CUBICLES away.

I understand now why many 9-5ers choose to vent their frustration in their blogs: SHE'S SO BLOODY NOISY. Now I'm sure that's not really the case, but SHE REALLY FRIGGIN' IS. She brings new definition to the term 'Squawk Box', and I'm sure if given the chance, she would take Becky Quick's anchor position in a jiffy. Worst of all, besides the fact she can't shut it, she speaks in an American accent (authentic, I made a bet with my colleague) so she really sounds like a genuine dumb blonde. What with our Malaysian culture in the mix. Lahs and mahs and mah chee byes.

Every morning, as I enter the haven that is my workplace, she greets me with a squeaky, fever high-pitched, "Hi Scotty!" I just cringe and return her a look of what I think a person who has just stepped in dog doo would look like and hope to God it passes off as a smile. 'Cause if it doesn't, she goes, "Why the funny face?" DO PEOPLE WHO TREAD ON DOG SHIT GIVE YOU A FUNNY LOOK? I DON'T THINK SO.

For crying out loud, we don't give two shits about whether you can speak like, 12 different languages (yeah, she can), we don't care if you've seen people fatter than you, or whether you dislike taugeh. We certainly wouldn't bother you (or be bothered) if you've "gone insane" and would rather commit suicide than hear your experiences in a public shower in Sweden (or was it Switzerland) again.

Well, ME at least.

Rumor has it she'll be working here another 2 weeks. After that, hopefully, she'll manage to heave her big behind out the door and leave us be.

I guess I've held up this entry for as long as I could. I've had it being nice.

Paul Scholes, A Reluctant Hero.

2008-08-01T14:57:00.002+08:00

Many people today seem to associate Cristiano Ronaldo as the standing symbol of Manchester United. The Portuguese midfielder has come a long way from his Sporting Lisbon days to be, without a doubt, one of the best attacking players football has ever known. Now however, what with all the tabloids and the media at his heels amidst the recent transfer rumors he's gained popular headlines with, it would seem that talent (genuine football talent) is restricted only to the pitches or YouTube videos and footballers, in general, are never lead-by example fellows.

In stark contrast, Salford-born Paul Scholes was relatively quiet when he first jumped on the Old Trafford bandwagon, and has never looked back since. The camera-shy midfielder has come to be known as a one-club man, along with fellow team-mate Ryan Giggs, having spent their entire professional careers at Manchester United. Without the youthful exuberance of his younger colleagues, Scholes instead chooses to dazzle the Old Trafford faithful with his unrivaled ball-control, immaculate passing and dazzling long distance goals.

Okay, I concede, so do many footballers. But what makes Scholesy stand-out from the rest is his ability to choose not to stand-out. While Ronaldo makes more headlines courting beautiful women while recovering from his ankle injury in Los Angeles, Scholes would've given anything to be back home with his family in Lancashire, out of sight and mind.

But he's on pre-season duty instead, fullfilling one of his commitments that comes with playing for arguably the most popular football club in the world. What most people see as an iconic cementation in football history as the best, the highest paid, and the most famous, Scholes is quickly to denounce.

“I can't say I can't wait to finish my career, but I'm looking forward to finishing and everything that goes with it,” he said. “The only thing I will definitely miss is the football."

After his spectacular 30-yard rocket against Barcelona, you'd have thought he'd at least stay on for the celebrations that United were advancing to their first Champions League Final in nine years. But this was not the case. Reporters were promptly disappointed that Scholes had eluded them once again. In a rare interview in the days that followed, he modestly concluded his goal was merely "a moment" in the match, though most would have admitted it meant much more. Having missed the Final in '99 due to suspension, how couldn't it?

I'll also go as far as to assume that not many, if any, could picture Scholesy in another jersey other than Manchester United's. He'd probably go as far as saying he was never offered the opportunity to join another club anyway, when odds are teams would have no chance of prying him away. Either that or he was really hush about all of them.

Paul Scholes is the epitome of a generation of footballer seemingly long gone. Diligent and hardworking, meek yet steadfast, humble and modest to the end.

"He scores goals galore,

he scores goals!

He scores goals galore,

he scores goals...

He's scores goals galore,

he scores goals!

Paul Scholes, he scores goals..."

Kudos to you, Ginger Prince, stalwart of Manchester.

Brandon Hardesty, Master Mimic.

2008-07-18T11:10:00.000+08:00

I came across this video on YouTube a while back. This guy's done countless scenes from many movies in his Re-Enactment series, among other short clips. The clip below is his 18th from the series, and his portrayal of Jeff Goldblum is flawless to say the least.

".. and before you even knew what you had, you patented it, you packaged it, you slapped it on a plastic lunchbox, and you're selling it, you want to sell it!"
I've always been a 'Jurassic Park' fan: watched the movie more times than you can count (probably), read the novel and in addition, the whole Chaos Theory thing entwined into the superbly ingenious story-line regarding how man abuses his power and place in nature to try and recreate what nature itself thought best to end, which was the reign of dinosaurs, really does make your head spin. The above scene discusses just that. It's just summarized, of course.
Here's another scene he does from 'Pan's Labyrinth'. Excellente.

He's done 'Juno', 'A Few Good Men', 'Reservoir Dogs' and a couple of others. Go watch and learn something.

'Wanted' Blows. Hard.

2008-07-16T10:36:00.001+08:00

Avoid this movie at all costs. ALL COSTS. By any means necessary. Don't let the star-studded main cast (Jolie, McAvoy, Freeman) or the beautifully airbrushed movie poster fool you (for those who were lucky enough to choose Hancock above this piece of shit). Krusty, I feel like ripping your guts out for even RECOMMENDING me this movie. I happened to have found out much later he hadn't even watched the movie yet, solely suggesting it to me because he heard Jolie appears 'nacked' (which, to our dismay, was also censored). WARNING: SPOILER ABOVE.

To give you an idea how angry I am after drafting this entry and deleting all the unnecessary yet essential vulgarities that I might need in order for ideal movie justice to be served, IT'S BEEN TWO WEEKS SINCE I SAW IT.

'Wanted'. I really whiled my life away on that one. Bullet-bending bullshit.

Bubble Town The Shit!

2008-07-03T15:00:00.000+08:00

Added a new application on Facebook the other day. Bubble Town. Been playing it ever since. It's kinda like Puzzle Bobble but without the time pressure so playing a game could last hours. I'd like to elaborate further but I'm kinda busy multitasking right now.

It's also the new 'in' thing in the office. You and friends/colleagues can compete on who gets the highest score, see. So plainly put, BRAGGING RIGHTS.

ALLY, I SO OWN YOU.

Bubble Town. The best thing that's happened to me since your mom's hernia operation.

The Way Of The Lethargic Seafarer.

2008-07-02T12:53:00.000+08:00

Just got back from Paya Beach, Tioman after a 4-day stint with Jo. Aside from pesky sand-flies and the royal rumble in my bowels, it was without question the best time I had all year. Would've liked more photos taken of me though. Snorkeling was great, PLUS I had a glimpse of a certain someone coughing out foamy sea phlegm, from her nose. Totally awesome.

First sight that greeted me when we got there was how many friggin' buffed-up Chinamen there were that were clad in tight rubber suits up to their waist who were all about going scuba-diving. And the whales that went with them. Seriously: Not one decent-looking bikini-wearing mother. Jo instantly pointed out that there was her and I didn't hesitate to agree.

Our rooms were really cozy, to say the least. Only drawback is when an anonymous decides to get IIBS (Insanely Irritable BowelS) there's nothing much you can do to clear out the smelly air. Jo foresaw this when she brought along a bottle of her most expensive perfume.

On another note, I forfeited about 400 BUCKS (I'm hurting as I'm typing this) when I didn't cash it in when I had the chance because I totally believe in karma.

From start to finish, I was:

a. a luggage boy.

b. a slave.

c. a PROFESSIONAL MODEL PHOTOGRAPHER.

This isn't an MCQ. I was all three.

All in all, great holiday. :)