Double Take Largest Jazz Concert by a Duo

Go support our local Malaysian musician, Double Take. Yea.... the largest thing and Malaysian Book of Record thingy is kinda gimic but hey, it's Malaysian ok??? Forget that and enjoy their good music.

Double Take in Coffee Bean, Damai, Kota Kinabalu

Double Take, my favourite local jazz duo held a pre-launch show for their coming Christmas album in Coffee Bean, Damai, Kota Kinabalu. Served as a teaser for their album launch the next day in Aru Restaurant, Tanjung Aru, a combination of songs (from debut album, coming Christmas album and other familiar tracks) were performed; Mia her usual self and Roger with her fantastic finger guitar. Tracks performed:
1. Christmas song (sorry... forgot title)
2. Close to You
3. All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth
4. A Brazilian Portuguese number
5. Black Coffee
6. Final number (some song for goodbye)
Hahaha.... I know I'm not a good reviewer, and bad memory as well.

We Don't Live Here Anymore

A story about two couples, Edith (a fantastic Naomi Watts) and Hank (Peter Krause of Six Feet Under fame), Terry (Laura Dern) and Jack (Mark Ruffalo). Edith and Jack started an affair; Terry and Hank followed suit. I was dumbfounded by the fact that Hank knows it all the time and was INDEED happy as someone love his wife Edith in the way he can't. Instead he finds himself drawn to Terry. Jack was in guilt having an affair with Edith, who was some sort of alive from the affair, unleashed the passion suppressed all these while. Terry was in the dark all the while and she was puzzled why her husband, Jack was not showing any reaction knowing and noticing something started to grow between her and his best friend, hence she went hysterical but became amazingly cooled off when she knows everything.
+ : actings were natural as these are fine actors. it's not really acting as the way the arguments and reactions were portrayed in such a realistic way, sans the over-the-top and dramatic reactions which we were fed all the while. one of the scenes at the end, a dialogue between Jack and his children (2 of them) is so natural, the way the parents always tend to brush off their kids' questions and suspicions are so real. naomi is so convincing as a depressed, emotionally and sexually housewife, without overacting, which is the hardest part.

Compensation? Or preparation?

Melinda and Melinda

OK, I always wanted to watch a movie by Woody Allen and recently I got his latest work, Melinda and Melinda (M&M). Oppss.... I forgot that I watched The Curse of the Jade Scorpion (TCotJS). Heard a lot of his works before but never really watched his classic work like Hannah and her sisters etc. TCofJS is quirky and I love the music used, it's jazz. In M&M, jazz is featured prominently and I love the setting. The New York thingy always blend well with jazz and he did it effortlessly. Not having watched a lot of his movies, I dun think I'm qualified to criticize anything but I have some feeling of lacking something after watching M&M. It's like half-way through your throat, which is frustrating coz it's not really satisfy your hunger but at the same time, it will be too much to have another meal. Got it? OK, I'll get his other works and watch.
Some interesting but cliche quotes :
Comic or tragic, the most important thing to do is enjoy life while we can because we only go round once, and when it's over, it's over! (Could this be more cliche?????)
We laugh trying to mask our fear for mortality. (OK, this seems deep)
Finally, I think this applies to me; Get out and reinvest your emotion. Don't indulge your depression. (Yeah... I gotta reinvest and is my depression an indulgence?)

My List

1.Finding Neverland
2. The Corpse Bride
3. Melinda and Melinda (Woody Allen)
4. Broken Flowers (the excellent Bill Murray)
5. The Sea Inside (Javier Bardem)
6. We Don't Live Here Anymore
7. My Little Airport (a HK indie group)
OK... I'm broke. Not counting the snacks I bought and ate during those lonely and busy nights of my outstation for the past 3 weeks!!!!! Officially broke.

What's next for our ex-?

If I'm not wrong, I think yesterday was the 2nd time national English papers have Sabah on their front cover news!!!!! The 1st time was our ex-CM gambling case, which was overshadowed by the London blast. Lucky for him? Then yesterday we made the headline again.... One of our ex-Minister was detained by the police for suspect of involvement in a fatal gun-shot case of a 20 yo boy. I wonder what's next for our ex-?

Things

I think it's near. I mean the end of the world. I wonder how will it end. OK, I'm not a religious person though I respect people's religion very much; so I dun know how each religion describe the way the world end. But with Katrina and her gang comes to visit more frequently and with the bird flu starts to sweep over as epidemic (or pandemic?? gosh... i forgot my biology).... I really wonder.
So???? What should we do? More charity and live everyday to the fullest.... treat everyday as the last day...... though they sounded cliche, but they're damn true. So.... enjoy life!!!!

As I checked my email I found out that one of my coursemates did the irritating in this junk-filled-IT world now. So many forwarded messages.... I mean really loads of them and she conveniently send it out as mass email to everybody. 1st, she sent via mass email, which is so unthoughtful as some of the people use company email and this will lead to overloaded of the mailbox. 2nd, all her contact's email address were revealed and we got spams due to her inconsiderate actions. So, I decided to banned her from sending anything to me anymore. This will be the 2nd time I do this as I banned her before when she's still with her previous company. So, I opened her forwarded email and stumbled upon the below horoscope/zodiac description abt Taurean... yeah... me, a Taurean. Needed some confidence boost and the description on the art part sounds nice hihi.....

Taurus 21/4~20/5
Day of the week
Friday
Birthstones
Emerald, Sapphire, Turquoise
Colours
Pink, Emerald Green
Flowers
Lily, Hyacinth, Rose, Peach Flower
Essences
Rose, Sylvan Pine
GENERAL FEATURES: Earth sign ruled by Venus. Taurus represents art, beauty in all its forms, and strength (not only physical). Taureans are realistic, security loving (both on the material and psychological level) and they like routines, also in their love relationship. In order to obtain this kind of security, they use all their qualities: resistance, quietness, patience and practical intelligence. They seldom lose control, but when they get angry they can be violent. This is the reason why it is necessary for him to find the right partner. Taureans live love in a complete manner, they are constant and never vain. Among their most suitable careers: interior decorator, teacher, cook and any job concerning earth and nature. This is the sign of the Zodiac which most of all likes relaxing, but only after having reached a prefixed goal, of course.
SEDUCING TAUREAN MEN: With Taurean men you mustn't be in a hurry or over-hasty. In fact, Taureans need a long time to understand if they have finally found the right woman. The secret to win their love is being first a good friend. If you invite him for dinner, remember that he likes eating and prepare abundant helpings.TIP: at your first date use romantic music and lights. (so, dun hesitate..., I'm ready)
SEDUCING TAUREAN WOMEN: If you are determined and patient you're the right man. Taurean women are jealous, extraordinary and fascinating, they love being flattered and courted. They like perfumes, so give her the best you can find and don't forget to use one when you're with her, because she will smell your skin. TIP: at your first date don't ask her to play tennis or to go for a walk: she's rather lazy!!!

Posh Place to Blog

OK, for the 1st time of my professional blogging experience, I'm blogging not from the comfort of my own "little" comfortable apartment. I'm actually in Miri airport and enjoying the facility of the executive lounge for business class and 1st class passengers. Haha... yeah... naive me bought a business class ticket so... here I am.

National Integration

OK, I figured out that the best way to foster national integration is via FOOD!!! We saw the proof of our multiracial society fighting TOGETHER for food during the open-house session in the festive season. I saw another way just now, after a jogging session with my parents. We went to the pasar buka puasa and as what you can expect, it's full of people. Besides our Malay friends who are searching for delicacies to buka puasa, there are lots of Chinese and non-Malay too. Is this a way to foster national integration? Maybe, but for sure, I think the appetite is definitely integrated!!!

Taking a Hiatus

OK, I'm going to outstation starting tomorrow and hence, I would not be able to update and blog as frequent as I would love to. Things were not going that well around the world these few weeks with the blast again in Bali. The terrorism stuff seems to be getting out of the Indonesian's government hands and our neighbour in the north also seems to be plagued by the same trouble with a magnitude comparable to those kat Indon.
I wonder what will be the next? And being the citizen of the bolehland, I really felt grateful that I'm at this side of the Borneo island and not the other part of the island.
God Bless.

Stupid Jokes II (Mandarin)

Q1) Ah Mei's dad has 7 wives. The 5th and 7th are Africans. Guess a Chinese idiom.
A1) Wu Qi Ma Hei

Q2) There's a party in the forest. Who didn't get to eat the cake!?!
A2) GRASS because Cao Mei Dan Gao

Q3) Ah bao was murdered! However, the police quickly found the killer. Who was it?
A3) Ah Dou because Dou Sha Bao

Q4) Xiao Bai and Da Bai are bros. As Xiao Bai grows older, he looks more and more like his bro. Guess a Chinese idiom.
A4) Zhen Xiang Da Bai

Q5) Osama, Bush , Blair and Saddam play mahjong. Who will win first ??
A5) Saddam Hussein because Saddam Hu Xian

Q6) What's the panda's 2 biggest wishes?
A6) i. Get rid of dark eyes ring
ii.Taking colour photo

Q7) Who will pick up the dumpling (ba zhang) on the floor?
A7) Xiang Long because Xiang Long Shi Ba Zhang


Q8) There are 3 Male and 1 Female pencils in a box. The Female pencil got pregnant!! Which Male pencil is responsible?
A8) The one without the rubber

Q9) Xiao Ming drinks milk to grow up. What does Da Ming drink?
A9) Alcohol because Jiu Yang Da Ming

Microphone Stand

OK, I admit I love karaoke. Maybe it's an unfulfilled dream of being a star hahaha... which is definitely a no-no due to tonnes of obvious reasons, so I resort to singing all my heart out in a small but comfortable rooms to a group of victimized friends who have to endure hours of mediocre singing. So, what's lacking in those karaoke joints ? Yup, they were decorated nicely, comfortable ambience plus great package deal including some lunch-hour or happy hour package which enable the patrons to sing for hours! So, again, what's lacking now?

It's the microphone stand!!! Imagine if each room is equipped with the microphone stand, the rooms will be turned into a small concert hall!!! Those rockers can sing their heart out in style parading with the mic stand as if they're holding their own concert! I read sometime ago about a rich middle-aged man in China (yup, now you can read tonnes of weird news happening in China) who forked out almost all of his lifetime savings to hold a concert by himself. He engaged an event company to organize "his" concert and I mean IT"S A REAL CONCERT! Complete with tickets and fans (yup, they're being paid to scream and cheers and shouting "anchor - haha.. the chinese version) and proper venue, the concert was deemed to be a successful one. The "singer" himself send some tickets to his friends to "enjoy" his concert and I guess it's like the best gift the "singer" gives to his fellow friends hahahaha.....

So, while we still haven't heard of the similar news in Malaysia, I seriously think the karaoke operators should think of this and maybe include it as part of the package.
A : I wanna book a room for this Sat lunch hour package.
B : With or without mic stand?
A : With mic stand please.
B : How about fans? Do you want fans? We can arrange flowers to be sent and we can play some audio effect of people clapping and cheering and even shouting your name if you want. But of course, there will be extra charge.

Wouldn't this be great? Haha.....

Politikus? I salute this particular politican

OK, if you are familiar with the local state political scenarios, you may know who am I referring here. He was one of those few who rose from bottom in such a short time, being elected as cabinet minister after winning his first state assembly election and I saw him on TV taking oath in front of the state ruler. Being the bad-mouthed me, I still remember I made fun of him when he was "melafazkan" sumpah. Yup, the bad me laughed at his squeaky voice. And that was very bad, thinking that we share the same surname.

However, I felt ashamed last Sat (not to say I was not ashamed of my other wrong-doings) when I saw him spending some quality time shopping with his wife. He was so simple in dressing, just a polo T-shirt with a simple jeans and a sandal, flashing his smile but not the pretentious-oh-they-recognize-me type which normally celebrities will condone on their fake face! He was totally blend-in with the crowd with ease. Definitely something different from the cliche stereotype perception we have (sorry... should I drag all of you in???) of politicians (or rather politikus). He was so down-to-earth and I was instantly impressed and at the same time embarassed thinking that I made a mockery of him before. I started to think of his current portfolio in the state government, a portfolio least desirable if you wish to lead a hassle-free and bo bun te minister-life. He has to deal with the chronic problem that had been bugging the state and especially the hometown of both me and him, i.e. the electricity and water supply. And mentioning about electricity, I had 3 times disruption on the same day on Sunday!!! Not to mention the some people in Sandakan had to endure a week plus having no power supply!!!! We Sandakan people always made fun of ourselves, saying that "no problem, we are now Nature City mah". Really go back to nature! What's next?
The poor state of investment, not to say foreign but the local domestic capital is definitely had the biggest factor to do with the pathetic condition of basic amenities. Well, I am not a businessman but I guess that's pretty obvious. So, praises aside, I think our Mr. Down-to-Earth has tonnes of burden on his shoulder and I really hope he can manage and turn the table around. So, Mr. Tan..... all the best to you!!!

Working from Home

I stumbled upon an article written on Working from Home, which I felt very much related. www.christopherhawkins.com/08-04-2005.htm

Bukan Idol Biasa

It's confirmed. My idol is neither Daniel nor Nita!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's the malay gal who sang Siti's "Bukan Cinta Biasa". She exudes soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much emotion with that song and yeah....... I had goosebumps all over my body!

Pay Your Deeds

I committed a crime. Yes, a crime that may end up me being caught by the police. So, to avoid that from happening, I went to the police station and settled a summon (settle legally, not with the traffic police coaxing me to settle with me inside my car and negotiate with him with my car window down). Surprisingly the summon is due to SPEED LIMIT (and I always proud of myself driving very slow?) and the original sin (no pun intended) cost RM300!!!! Yup, that's a whooping figure and I can almost pay my car installment with that amount. But normally it will be reduced to RM150 which is 50% discount (kind huh?) and the latest promotion is another whooping 50% discount which means I only paid RM70 for my wrong-doing. I only get to know about the summon when I checked it via sms after receiving a call from my paranoid mom. Yeah... she's a schoolbus driver so she's having a greater risk of being issued a summon without her knowledge. But it was me, the "usually-slow" driver who got the summon. The crime was committed on May 14, 2005 and I think it was during m y driving journey back to SDK on the way to Kalimantan for commissioning of a new system my company sold. What to do??? Pay and get over it lor... furthermore, the discount made it sounds not that bad at all...... but RM70 can buy like 10 times lunch/dinner, 8 times watching a movie on Wed, almost 3 times haircut, 39 days of Star newspaper supply and the list go on...........
Expectedly, the queue is quite long especially now during the promotion period and I indulged myself in listening to the conversations surrounding me and get some laugh from it and this ah pek (uncle - middle-aged man) topped it all when he settled his summons with the cashier. He was queueing in front of me and when it was his turn to pay, I was amused by his conversations with the cashier:

A : Ah Pek C : Cashier
A : Aiyo, sia endak manyak lah (Aiyo, mine is not tat much lah - what he means is his summon, which is 5 altogether)
C : (she just smiled i guess)
A : Ini lakat midika sana mana ada parking? Susah cari parking lah. (It's near to the Merdeka Shopping Complex, where got parking space? Difficult to get a parking space lah)
C : Yakah? Mahu terus bayar? (Is it? You want to pay all now?)
A : Midika sana manyak susah lah. Sia susah mau cari parking, itu malam hari enam sama itu malam hari minggu manyak susah lah (The place around Merdeka is very difficult to get parking. Esp on sat and sun night)
C : Mahu terus bayar? (You want to pay all now?)


That uncle repeated his dialogue for at least 5 times before taking out his wallet and paid his deeds. Gosh...... I was glad he finally do that instead of repeating his reasoning for n times. I mean what's the point of telling the cashier where or why he got the summon???? It's not like she's gonna cancel it or sth like that!!!! He's delaying the process which caused the people queueing behind him had to stand sweating under the hot sun (I didn't really complained about this coz I thought it's some way to punish us for the summon and the pay back we get. I dun mind since I got the discount). However, next time when I saw the same uncle again, I will make sure I won't be queueing somewhere behind him!!!!

Drink Drank Drunk

I watched the 7.15pm show of Drink Drank Drunk by Miriam Yeung and Daniel Wu. Being a film by Derek Yee Tung Sing, it's actually kinda under his par but enjoyable as a whole. For demanding audiences who hope something like One Night in Mongkok - Mong Kok Hak Ye or Cest La Vie, Mon Cheri - Sen Bet Liu Ching, they will be disappointed. But with standard romantic comedy format, there's nothing much you can do (Keeping the Faith with Edward Norton and Ben Stiller is exception so OK, I am biased here cox I like Derek). It's NOT like I LOVE the plot or something like that but I guess it's an entertaining watch and I felt good being able to pull off some laugh along the movie. What else can you expect from a HK movie nowadays? Miriam and Daniel had quite some chemistry and being the 3rd movie of them pairing up, they got the "mek kei" we talk about. Miriam is her usual self but I guess she toned down her comedic type of acting, which is good. Well... even Sammi Cheng opt for meatier role now, I guess you need to be versatile and diversified in roles choosing. But I want to watch "Sam Gang" as it was being touted as Miriam's breakthrough role.
Daniel is his usual handsome attractive self, perhaps too much despite dressed rather snoobish but that can't really hide his charm. The limelight was stolen by Alex Fong Zhung Shun by his "dai lou" character, which surprisingly departed from his usual cool and serious roles but instead brought most of the comic relief for the film. Guk Dek Ciu portrayed the campy gay character which had been all the while being stereotyped in most HK movies. Maybe it's because of his rather plump physique, it reminds me of Eric Tsang's role in "Gem Ji Yuk Yip".
I am listening to the HK radio now and the 3 most awaited movies will be released soon. "Perhaps Love" a musical by Peter Chan Ho Tsun (of Tim Met Met fame) with Jackie Cheung, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Zhou Xun and the male lead in the hoo-ha Korean series, Jewel in the Palace; "Cheong Hen Go - Everlasting Regret" by Stanley Kwan Gem Pang with Sammi Cheng (too much attention had been given to her till she outshines her male co-star) and ...... sorry I forgot!!! It's my age getting in again.

Six Feet Under Season 3

I got my 3rd season DVD but I can't play it in my DVD player!!! The cheap DVD player can't detect it and I'm so angry. Now I have to get another player to watch the whole season! And that means I will be robbed from the luxury of watching it at the comfort of my own little flat with food and drink within reach.................. OK, it can go on and on.................shit