Pat's Sanitarium

Twisted

2008-02-20T09:35:00.004+08:00

Mood: Curious
Reading: Restaurant sorry over F word bill
Currently listening to: Dance, Dance - Fallout Boy
Quote of the day: "In America, through pressure of conformity, there is freedom of choice, but nothing to choose from." - Peter Ustinov

Spotted this article on the BBC news.

Freedom at last for digital media! Down with DRM!

Jon Lech Johansen became the "enfant terrible" of the DRM industry when he released software which cracked the encryption codes on DVDs, aged just 15.

His firm, DoubleTwist, has now released software allowing users to share digital media files across devices.

It would allow songs bought on Apple's iTunes to be shared on other devices.

At the moment, the only portable music player which can store content downloaded from the iTunes store is Apple's iPod.

Users can copy downloaded songs to a CD and then copy the disc back on to the computer so that the songs can then be moved to other portable devices - but the quality of the music is affected...

...The new software from his San Francisco-based company DoubleTwist will allow users to share both user-generated and professionally created music, photos and video clips between computers, mobiles and game consoles.

Media which lives on a computer can be moved to a variety of mobile devices by dragging and dropping the files to a desktop folder which then drops copies on the external device over the web.

Initially the system will allow file-sharing with Sony's PSP games console, Nokia's N-series mobile, Sony Ericsson's Walkman and Cybershot handsets and Microsoft's Windows Mobile smartphones.

The software converts media stored in one file format to those used by the other devices in a system that mimics the process of ripping a CD onto a computer.

One hundred songs can be converted in about half an hour, with a slight degradation in sound quality, according to the firm.

"With digital media such as video from a friend's cell phone or your own iTunes playlists, it's a jungle out there," said Monique Farantzos, co-founder of DoubleTwist.

"The digital media landscape has become a tower of Babel, alienating and frustrating consumers. Our goal is to provide a simple and well integrated solution that the average consumer can use to eliminate the headaches associated with their expanding digital universe," she said.

And best of all this software is FREE for download! Go and get it now!

In other news it looks like Sony's won the next gen hi-def DVD war (fair enough i say, since the poor buggers lost the Betamax/VHS fight back in the 80s) so it looks like the future is Blu-Ray.

As the article states, at least now consumers should be able to stop worrying about which format to buy - lord only knows i was holding back on a certain purchase until this could be resolved. That PS3 is seriously starting to look a tad more appealing than the Xbox 360 (although yes, the HD DVD player does not come standard with that)...

Well, here's hoping that you didn't buy a HD DVD player. ;)

Appleseed 2

2008-02-19T15:39:00.003+08:00

*cue fanboi mode*

On a related note to the last post i can't wait to catch the sequel when it comes out!

Check out the trailer:

And as a bonus, in case you missed it, the nifty action sequence shown in the Sega game:

Appleseed 4 eva! :D

/fanboi mode

Boom Boom Satellites

2008-02-19T11:16:00.003+08:00

Mood: Thankfully bored :)
Reading: Ivory Coast's 'big-bottom' craze
Currently listening to: Nothing
Quote of the day: "I don't know anything about music. In my line you don't have to." - Elvis Presley

Lazy youtube day - hopefully i'll post something more substantial soon... ;)

Anyhow, the Boom Boom Satellites are one of my favourite bands out there (although i'm still not too sure about their latest album - a tad too pop/disco for my tastes) and i just thought that i might just share a few videos of some of their songs which i liked.

They're from Japan but all of their songs are in English (er... although the pronunciation and grammar can be a bit dubious at times) and they've got a pretty cool rock and electronica sound that is usually heavy on the guitars, drums and bass - all in all very cool...

Enjoy!

And here's the one that made me first notice them - its their headline track for the Appleseed movie (another favourite) and... oh man... what an awesome trailer!

Starlight (Live at MTV Awards) - Muse

2008-02-12T11:48:00.001+08:00

Mood:
Reading: Muse - The Band
Currently listening to: none
Quote of the day: "Performance is your reality. Forget everything else." - Harold Geneen

Finally got around to snagging this video! I remember watching this performance on TV live a while back and... wow!

I mean, its a good song and one which was seriously overplayed over the radio, but thats not the point. The point is that this is one of the best live performances i've ever seen! In terms of theme, lighting, timing, song tweaks, the fact that he sang it perfectly live... unbelievable! A perfect performance and very, very memorable (and i'm not even a big Muse fan) - check it out:

(apologies in advance for the resolution)

How To Make Better Decisions

2008-02-12T10:53:00.002+08:00

Mood: Pensive
Reading: Masked protest over Scientology
Currently listening to: Hysteria - Muse
Quote of the day: "Decisions are made by people who have time, not people who have talent." - Scott Adams

Spotted this thoughtful little article by Garth Sundem over at BBC News that i think is worth sharing in full - have a look! ;)

Also be sure to try out his Decision Calculator...

By Garth Sundem

With Valentine's Day around the corner, don't trust your instincts when it comes to selecting a mate. Human decision making is seriously flawed - but it can be fixed with a few simple sums.

Be warned: this article deals primarily with shark attacks, the lottery, beer, and how to get a date using mathematics. Is it a good decision to keep reading? Unfortunately, the answer is "you need to keep reading to find out."

Sound irrational? Good - your massively irrational mind should have no problem with it, then.

Consider this: every year in the United States, when the Discovery Channel broadcasts "Shark Week" visits to Florida beaches decline. Presumably, the network's programming makes the waters no less safe (assuming sharks are not, in fact, empowered by cable television).

DILEMMA SOLVER

Try Garth Sundem's decision calculator (link below) for the following dilemmas:

Should you apologise?

Should you buy something (or not)?

Should you join a gym?

Garth's decision calculator

However, after watching a week of kicking legs seen from below, the idea of shark attack is refreshed in our minds and we choose not to offer ourselves as bait. This phenomenon is known as an availability heuristic - a heuristic being a rule-of-thumb. Our rationality is subverted by easily available sensationalist images.

On the sunnier side of the availability heuristic is the lottery. Should you invest £2 a day or use it to buy lottery tickets?

Maths makes the decision obvious. Suppose you invest two quid every day at the reasonable rate of 10%. It will take you almost exactly 50 years to accumulate £1m. To earn this same £1m in the National Lottery, you would (on average) have to match five numbers and a bonus ball, at odds of 2,330,635-to-1.

If you spent two quid a day for 50 years you would total just over 36,500 tickets and would thus have only a 1-in-63 chance of making that million pounds. However, the available image of immediate wealth subverts this rationality.

Beer rating secret

Alphabetically, the availability heuristic is only the first in a long line of psychological mechanisms that lead us into bad decisions. Imagine - if you will - beer. See, wasn't that nice?

Which beer do you like best? The most expensive (and least dusty)

At your local pub, you have many beers to choose from. Which is best? If you are like most human beings, the answer is "the most expensive one." A number of studies have shown that by switching price tags, you can switch preferences (for obvious reasons, this is a favourite experiment among university psychology students).

And what about the power of suggestion?

Imagine I handed you a cup of hot coffee and then asked your opinion about a person whom you had recently met; now suppose I instead handed you a cup of ice-cold soda. Experiments show that your opinion of this person would be different because you have been primed to feel warmth or coldness.

Add to the list...

framing (how you present data is as important as the data itself)

impact bias (overestimation of possible outcomes),

confirmation bias (recognising only data that supports your hypothesis)

loss aversion (we stand to gain more than we would lose, but our fear of loss prevents us)

selective perception (seeing what you want to see),and

rosy retrospection (integral to the repeated experience of family Christmas)

...and you seem doomed to blunder through life led by your brain's clumsy irrationality.

Is there any hope for the human race? In the example of the lottery, mathematics offered incontrovertible rationality. Might we be able to apply mathematics to other situations, as well?

The secret to Errol's smile? A hot cup of tea

A rudimentary attempt at this is the list of plusses and minuses, in which one lists the positive aspects of a decision on one side of a chart and the negative aspects on the other, and then weighs these against each other as if on a scale (the heavier side wins).

To add a layer of mathematics, if one factor on the list is more important than the others, we might multiply it by two. If it is very important, we could even square or cube it.

Suppose you were sitting in the aforementioned pub, drinking the aforementioned beer (perhaps while holding the aforementioned lottery ticket and worrying about the aforementioned shark), while sneaking peeks at a beautiful woman sitting at the bar. What do you think would influence your chance of success with this woman?

It will certainly help if you are attractive - especially in comparison to her (you might say your chances increase in direct proportion to your looks/her looks); it will also help if you are a witty conversationalist and willing to pursue the interaction aggressively, and hurt your chances drastically if she already has a boyfriend (esp a large one).

Putting this into an equation, we could come up with the following (W=Witty, G=Aggressive, Ay=Your Attractiveness, AH=Her Attractiveness, R=Her "Amount" of Current Relationship; all variables from 1-10 with 10 being high):

You would, of course, have to evaluate the results on some type of scale, like the one here:

If ASK is less than zero you should lower your standards

If ASK is between zero and 1, you have exactly a snowball's chance in hell with her

If ASK is between 1 and 10, game on!

If ASK is greater than 10, consider her more attractive friend instead

In practice, using this equation (and equations in general) to make decisions can have an interesting secondary effect. As described by the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle, by introducing tools to measure a situation, we can affect the situation itself.

To whit: one of my university students decided to apply this equation to calculate his chances with Girl X Of His Dreams. Alas, the equation predicted little hope.

However, Girl X Of His Dreams was flattered that said student had cared enough to calculate his chances (an endearing display of vulnerability, perhaps?), and they ended up having dinner.

Beware, though - as described by the Uncertainty Principle, the introduction of this tool could easily have had negative consequences, turning a calculated sure thing into no chance at all (if the girl had decided that anyone who uses an equation to determine their chances at love was decidedly creepy). The moral is, perhaps equations can help you make decisions, as long as no one sees you doing it.

Try Garth Sundem's decision calculator for the following dilemmas: Garth Sundem is an American professor and author of the book Geek Logik: 50 Foolproof Equations for Everyday Life. He demonstrates his ideas in Horizon on BBC Two at 2100GMT on Tuesday 12 February.

Gong Xi Fa Cai!

2008-02-12T10:06:00.000+08:00

Mood: Tired
Reading: Saudis clamp down on valentines
Currently listening to: Say What You Want - Texas
Quote of the day: "To know the road ahead, ask those coming back." - Chinese Proverb

A bit late, but welcome to the year of the Brown Rat everyone!

Been seriously busy doing the family rounds, collecting ang pows, drinking myself silly, watching others gamble and meeting up with a plethora of old friends who have returned for the festivities. All in all, i'm having a good time - albeit feeling a little guilty for not having the time nor inclination to do any exercise... *pinches stomach*

Anyhow, time for the traditional chinese horoscope reading... should be a good year for my brother (he's a rat) but lets see if this also holds true for simians:

(from rattopig)

Lillian Too at wofs.com

Try to be more alert when it comes to personal safety. Do whatever you must to protect yourself from robbery or burglary. Do not display your wealth unnecessarily.

Yang Taitai at Chinese-tools.com

General

Take what you’ve earned and squirrel it away for a rainy day.

Love & Relationships

In your relationships with others, be more flexible so as to avoid useless clashes.

Career

What’s really important in life? If you said your car, job or money — well, you’re way off base.

Lucky number : 18

Best time of the day : 14h00

Compatible Sign : Rat

Astrology.com

Using your imagination at work will come in handy and bring you success, especially if you’re in management. The Wood element favors love, and the Pig sign provides a possibility of a cheerful and good-natured love life, so enjoy your partner tonight. You might want to go to a downtown gourmet restaurant.

Asiaone.com

You’ll show iron willpower despite your smile and rather urbane manners. Whatever your objectives, you’ll reach them because you’ll throw all your live forces into the fight. Your nervous balance will be threatened by contradictory influxes.

Master Rao at AsiaFlash.com

If you always want to have the last word in your life as a couple, a breaking off will be inevitable. This will not be the right moment to launch a business or to envisage a professional reorientation; continue patiently to tread your road. Refrain from fats and sweets. Try to improve your lodging for this will have a positive influence on your morale. Beware of euphoria so that you won’t spend the money you will not have earned.

Astrology.ca

You may be traveling soon. If you are heading out for a vacation, make sure that you have all the medications and travel insurance you may need. If you are heading across town, you may have unexpected yet positive encounters with unusual people.

Geez talk about mixed... ;)

Missing In Action

2008-02-05T10:04:00.000+08:00

Mood: Bored
Reading: Climate set for 'sudden shifts'
Currently listening to: Pill - Boom Boom Satellites
Quote of the day: "A hobby a day keeps the doldrums away." - Phyllis McGinley

I suppose a little update on what i've been up to is in order (its been more than a year after all) now that i've decided to start posting again:

Left my old job with NSS back in August and am now working for my father (and in a stunning reversal of generall accepted nepotistic practice i'm actually earning HALF of what i used to *sigh*) as well as a business development consultant with some ex-colleagues of mine who have set up their own Information Security business. So... same shit, different smell, less pay.
I'm still religiously attending my Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu classes - and even attended the SEA Grappling Games over in Bangkok where i snagged a gold medal in my weight division (ironically enough because i was the ONLY one in that category who showed up). I'd like to think that my game has improved but i'll be trying to diversify it a bit more and, lord only knows, i've still got quite some way to go.
Just signed up for the Crazy Monkey Defence program at KDT last month and its going well enough. I'm savouring the prospect at incorporating my BJJ game into it to perhaps do a little MMA style sparring later on in the year. Still, learning some striking techniques keeps things interesting for me at the gym (five days a week now!) and its always a good feeling learning something brand new...
Since the middle of last year i've gone into paintball in a big way, and we've actually managed to form our own team - The Diabolical Platypi. We've now grown to about 10 dedicated members and have managed to form a tight relationship with Isi Rimba (which is now our official home field and training ground) as well as develop a significant presence in the local paintball community here in Kuala Lumpur which is growing by leaps and bounds. We usually go for training at least once a month, and organise about two other games monthly so my weekends these days are usually packed... I'm also just starting to get into Speedball as well but we'll see how that one goes - its early days yet...
Haven't played tennis for quite some time now - squash is my new obsession.
Still attending those Saturday night dinners although the number of people attending have long since been whittled down to pretty much just me and Joa for the most part. If you're looking for food reviews on the places we have been to you can check them out at her site...
Have decided to take up sewing and fashion design as yet another side hobby. I'm aiming to make some clothes from scratch and to learn everything as i go along. Currently i'm taking some sewing lessons but with everything else that is going on i haven't been able to dedicate as much time as i would have liked to it, although that should hopefully change soon.
Still dancing, albeit not as much as before. I haven't touched salsa for almost two years now, although i am still doing a fair amount of ballroom and latin every week.
Still single. Yup, nothing's changed... (where would i find the time?)
I've been asked to be Albert and Serina's best man at their wedding in May. What were they thinking? ;)

So... yeah. Thats about it for now i guess.

Its good to be back. :)

(Need to do a bit of spring cleaning on the links in the sidebar, add labels to my old posts, etc. - this blog is seriously overdue for a little revamping!)

The Best Mirror...

2008-02-04T12:49:00.000+08:00

Mood: Optimistic
Reading: Texas Mayor resigns over Shih Tzu
Currently listening to: Glory Box - Portishead
Quote of the day: "The life of every man is a diary in which he means to write one story, and writes another; and his humblest hour is when he compares the volume as it is with what he vowed to make it." - James M. Barrie

...is an old friend.

Hello blog.

Dontaku and 101° East

2007-01-28T11:33:00.000+08:00

This week's dinner is being organised by Leonard (thanks buddy!) so if you're coming be sure to let him know over at his blog!

Anyhow, on to the details:

Hiya guys, I don't often organise a dinner anymore, but I've volunteered myself for dinner this Saturday's dinner and after-dinner drinks. We'll be going to Dontaku and 101° East.

Dontaku

First, we’d be going to Dontaku, a fairly non-descript looking Japanese restaurant opposite KL Plaza. Apparently, the food is good and if we’re coming here, Terence is definitely coming. His enthusiasm stems from his last visit here. Thoroughly enjoyed the food according to him.

Moving away from the typically minimalist approach, this restaurant is lively and cheery. One of few restaurant that specialised in Japanese skewers and serves pork. Must tries are the beef skewer, asparagus with bacon skewer, pork wrapped with eggs, dumpling and noodle. A selection of sakes and beers on the drinks menu. (Taken from www.dinemalaysia.com). I've managed to find another review from http://tummyboolart.blogspot.com/.

101° East
After dinner, we head a couple of doors down to 101° East which is a rather fancy looking bar. It's actually a flagship store for Dunhill. It looks flash with the glassy-steely interior. I believe it actually takes up a few floors. Oh, and you'd never run out of cigarettes, cause I do believe I saw a wall of Dunhill cigarettes downstairs.

So as usual, please reserve your (and your partner's) spot(s) with either Pat or myself by leaving a message here or calling me at 012-2077-653. Dinner is at 8:30 as usual.
We want to go, and we hope to see you there. Ciao~!

p.s. the link to 101° East seems a little dodgy. Sorry about that.

Bumming On YouTube

2007-01-26T04:20:00.000+08:00

Mood: Sleepy
Reading: Lights 'not of this world' mystery finally solved
Currently listening to: Nothing
Quote of the day: "It is always easier to believe than to deny. Our minds are naturally affirmative." - John Burrows

So, yeah, driven by my insomnia once again i've managed to spend the vast majority of the night watching YouTube videos. Behold my three current favourites!

Evolution of Dance

2007-01-26T04:10:00.003+08:00

God DAMN thats an amazing skit!!!

Learn to Speak Body: Tape 5

2007-01-26T04:10:00.001+08:00

Hilarious! My favourite one is the part where they're demonstrating the body language of various degrees of... er... head tilting... :P

You'll see what i mean - go watch! Now!

OK Go - Here It Goes Again

2007-01-26T04:09:00.001+08:00

One of the most awesome music videos i've ever seen! Can you believe that they did all of that by themselves with one single take? I recall the first time i watched this video at the local mamak - one by one everyone there fell silent and became engrossed in the video, and at the end EVERYONE in the mamak (the MAMAK) applauded! If that doesn't make it outstanding, i don't know what will... ;)

Sticky Fingers & Relish

2007-01-04T16:39:00.000+08:00

Just a quick post to put up this week's dinner details (yes, yes, i've gone back to blogging again :P) - although thats not to say we haven't still been going and organising them for the past few months of my hiatus, you can find those reviews in Joa, Soo Jin, or Jo Lyn's blogs amongst others...

Anyhow, back to our topic of interest - we'll be going to Sticky Fingers for this Saturday's dinner. Located right next to No Black Tie this restaurant specializes in ribs of the lamb and, wait for it, pork variety!

I managed to find a couple of reviews online (from which i got the pictures and the handy map down below) and, well, opinions seem to be mixed to say the least but thats where we come in to find out for ourselves... ;)

Babe In The City KL:

Hubby ordered the Full Slab Pork Ribs at RM28.00. He asked for Original Sticky BBQ Sauce which the waitress claimed is their signature sauce. This pic is really bad huh cos I didn't have the time to fiddle with my phone settings so I just hentam with the lights on. The ribs came with corn on the cob (which I wished they could have stick a skewer in to ease eating but then again we were supposed to eat with our fingers right???), some salad which resembles coleslaw and a baked potato with a wee bit of sour cream on top. Looked huge and its full of meat... kinda bad news cos the meat is not tender at all especially on the thicker part of the ribs. We were expecting meat that can be teared off easily from the bones. The sauce is so-so only...

PasanKia:

Dinner last week at Sticky Fingers, was there for their famous ribs. I ordered a full slab (Full Slab RM28, half RM21) of pork ribs with Original Stick BBQ Sauce. The ribs is tender and juicy and it really nice with the BBQ sauce. There isn't many western restaurant in Klang Valley that sell pork ribs, Sticky Fingers definitely a place that I would recommend, at least I think it's nice.

Sticky Fingers serve Lamb Ribs besides pork, which is quite rare in Klang Valley...

Be sure to read the rest of their reviews - if i recall one of them even took pictures of the entire menu to boot.

Anyhow, it looks like a meal here will set us back around Rm40-50. As for the directions and address:

Sticky Fingers Cafe & Restaurant
23 Jalan Mesui,
Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur

Relish

Well we came to Relish last weekend for some late night burgers and drinks and, for the sake of those who weren't there, we'll be going here again for our after-dinner drinks. Really nice environment and vibe to this restaurant/lounge and the gourmet burgers are great!

Around the same price as your usual Uncle Chilis fare but twice as tasty, in a swankier environment and without those god-awful waiting lines. They also have a nice private lounge upstairs which is precisely where we'll be chilling out after Sticky Fingers... ;)

Seems to have left the same impression on Jo Lyn (check out the pics!).

Address details can be found at their official site, but for simplicity's sake its right across the street from Frangipani (which might explain the paintings somewhat)...

Dinner is on Saturday, 8:30pm as usual and, as per procedure, if you're interested in coming kindly either leave a comment here, email me, or phone me for additional details and/or bookings with details on which event(s) you are coming for and how many friends/mistresses/animals/Hell's Angels/family/etc you will be bringing. During the night itself the tables will be booked under my name.

As always, anyone who reads this is welcome to come! :)

Happy New Year guys!!!

2007-01-01T04:26:00.000+08:00

Mood: Tired...
Reading: nothing
Currently listening to: Beautiful Day - U2
Quote of the day: "An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves." - Bill Vaughan

I love that quote. ;)

Here's to a good 2007 - for all of us.

Congrats Daddy-O!

2006-12-14T16:46:00.000+08:00

12/12/2006

Awww... isn't she adorable? Congrats to my good buddy Melven on becoming a father!

(geez i still can't wrap my head around 'Melven' and 'father' in the same sentence)

Welcome to the world Elisabeth Chok. :)

Putting Life To The Test

2006-12-14T11:52:00.000+08:00

Mood: Bored
Reading: Official: Saudis to back Sunnis if U.S. leaves Iraq
Currently listening to: Welcome to the Black Parade - My Chemical Romance
Quote of the day: " If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end in doubts; but if he will be content to begin with doubts he shall end in certainties." - Sir Francis Bacon

An update? Yeah, hell just froze over... ;)

Just a quick post really - mainly so that i can keep my latest full Tickle test results and ease myself back into the blogging game. :P

That and... yeah. Slow day.

The Destiny you match most closely is Provider

At your core, you're meant to be a Provider. You are 70% in line with the Provider role. This indicates that you have a genuine nurturing concern for the welfare of others and you're eager to serve them. You can recognize exactly what people need and your friendly, helpful, social nature makes them feel comforted. With your kind and generous heart, you are personable, talkative, and outward with your emotions, and your openness and sensitivity make you concerned about the way others view you. You have the capacity for profound care and sympathy for others. Just be careful not to blame yourself when things go wrong. You cannot prevent bad things from happening, even though your tendency to be orderly with a strong sense of right and wrong may lead you to believe you can. Your "work hard, play hard" philosophy should do well to keep you in balance.

As a Provider, you are in good company with Bill Clinton, Mary Tyler Moore, and Sally Field. Just as their destinies have a deep effect on their life paths, your destiny as a Provider undoubtedly has a profound impact on every aspect of yours.

Professional Life

In your professional life, you probably enjoy being in charge. You are skilled at delegating responsibility and have a strong work ethic. You take your job seriously and may have a hard time not taking your work home with you. When there is something that needs to be done, you are often the one who steps up to do it. Employers value this characteristic, but they may eventually take it for granted. At times, you may tend to take co-workers to task for small offenses while bending over backward to keep the peace with others. Regardless, your vigilance is appreciated and your values are admired.

Personal Life

In your personal life, you are likely considered faithful and trustworthy to those around you. Your loving loyalty is the foundation of your close personal relationships and will allow you to withstand extreme hardship when it comes. You value your friends and family greatly, and your social, entertaining nature causes people to be drawn to you. Your sincere, warm-hearted communication with your loved ones endears you to them. When one of them has a birthday or some other special occasion, you make them feel loved and accepted.

A Day in the Life of a Provider

Being a Provider will manifest itself in the many ways you view life and make decisions. For example, let's take a look at Jenny who is also a Provider. She is someone who all friends and family feel can be counted on for anything. She is up on what's happening in all their lives and has been known to be a good source for the latest scoop on anyone and everyone. She tirelessly arranges and coordinates for the good of those around her and is often the one who is the peacemaker between warring parties. She raised money for the United Way for the last seven years straight, made sure that everyone was invited to her Middle School reunion, and served as the Master of Ceremonies.

What you and Jenny most likely have in common is that your competence and your caring make you a candidate for getting what you want with a great amount of support. Bravo!

Get to know yourself even better

Based on your answers to the Destiny Test, Tickle has custom-built a Personal Destiny Chart to you show your relationship to both your Core and Supporting Destiny Roles. Read on to find out your whole Personal Destiny picture.

Adventurer

The extent to which you are an Adventurer is 58%. Adventurers have a keen artistic eye and are acutely aware of their sensory perception. They are kind, quiet, and independent, expressing themselves through action.

Your relatively high percentage in this supporting destiny role indicates that you tend to have a strong desire for creative freedom at work. You may feel constricted and constrained when you are not able to explore your impulses. You will do best in an occupation where you feel you are having a real impact on something you feel is important.

In your relationships, you probably tend to have strong roots planted in your home and family. You value loyalty and stability in your family members and although you value your freedom, deep down you appreciate knowing that you can count on those closest to you.

Advisor

The extent to which you are an Advisor is 50%. Advisors are people who love to help others achieve their potential through close interpersonal connections rather than through leading them. They are friendly, sensitive, soft-spoken, and have an extremely acute intuition. They prize integrity, value being a mentor to others, yet often repress their own emotions.

Your relatively low percentage in this supporting destiny role indicates that you tend to have a distinct ability to attain what you want with your negotiation skills. Your competitive drive and work ethic are your strengths. You probably have a keen eye for opportunities that benefit your strategic goals and are willing to do what is necessary to achieve your objective.

In your relationships, you tend to be outgoing and gregarious. Your excitement and zest for life is exciting for others to be around and people are naturally drawn to you. Some may find you a bit cold at times due to your resistance to being overly sentimental, but your wit is entertaining and the confidence you exude is often endearing to people.

Advocate

The extent to which you are an Advocate is 33%. Advocates believe that everything happens for a reason, and they are eager to translate the meanings of life for those around them. They are outspoken proponents of their point of view and are enthusiastic, vivacious speakers who influence others. They are very independent, constantly strive to be authentic, and are viewed as a source of wisdom, inspiration, and leadership.

Your relatively low percentage in this supporting destiny role indicates that you tend to be a detail-oriented, pragmatic person at work. You do your best work in a step-by-step approach and can be counted on to complete tasks. You may want to steer clear of situations that are constantly changing or unpredictable, as it can lead to frustration for you.

In your relationships, you probably also tend to be steadfast and faithful. You probably lean more toward traditional values than others, and people know that you can be relied upon to keep your commitments. You uphold the values of manners, hard work, and duty, and may feel most comfortable with people who do likewise.

Builder

The extent to which you are a Builder is 43%. Builders are gifted people with high dexterity, who learn how to use tools quickly. They use tools and instruments of all kinds with skill and careful technique.

Your relatively high percentage in this supporting destiny role indicates that you tend to enjoy the tasks that allow you to roll up your sleeves and achieve a goal that you personally believe in. You pick up skills quickly and are able to use tools well when necessary.

In your relationships, you tend to be a quiet and caring person. You probably value your personal space but enjoy spending time with close friends and family in unstructured get-togethers.

Director

The extent to which you are a Director is 46%. Directors are usually the upper-echelon leaders. They are adept at mobilizing people and resources in the direction of a goal. They have a strong urge for order and efficiency and endlessly coordinate the essential details to ensure maximum progress while eliminating non-essential ones. They are pragmatic, focused, and driven.

Your relatively low percentage in this supporting destiny role indicates that you tend to have a strong desire for creative freedom at work. You may feel constricted and constrained when you are not able to explore your impulses. You will do best in an occupation where you feel you are having a real impact on something important. You work well alone and are well liked by your co-workers.

You may tend to place greater value on home and family than other parts of your life. You are likely quite constant and steadfast through difficult times with loved ones. You tend to be a great friend and playmate to those you are close to, although you may have a tendency to put up a protective barrier to prevent people from getting too close, and this can hamper your relationships at times.

Explorer

The extent to which you are an Explorer is 43%. Explorers work on ways to make systems more efficient in achieving set goals. They are curious, open minded, and see a problem as an opportunity to create new tools and techniques to solve it. They are entrepreneurial, non-conformist, flexible, and outgoing. They are easygoing, but tend to engage others in verbal sparring for the purposes of mental stimulation and can therefore sometimes appear abrasive or contrary.

Your relatively high percentage in this supporting destiny role indicates that you tend inspire others with your curiosity and thirst for knowledge in your work. You are willing to do things in unconventional ways, which inevitably leads to the discovery of new and better ways to solve problems. You probably need that newness and excitement to keep you interested in your work, so you may want to avoid jobs that leave no opportunity for creativity.

In your relationships, you tend to be warm and affectionate. You tend to be a gregarious, outgoing, and entertaining person, and your zest for life is contagious. Your rather impulsive nature and quest for adventure may cause your family anxiety, but it's because of the risks you take. You may find that you like lively conversations that match your wits against another's. This has the potential to cause bad feelings unless you try to be aware.

Facilitator

The extent to which you are a Facilitator is 69%. Facilitators are dependable people who have a keen sense of right and wrong and scrutinize systems and procedures to ensure accurate and efficient results. They value consistency, truth, and tradition.

Your relatively high percentage in this supporting destiny role indicates that your devotion to duty makes you a strong asset to your co-workers. You follow the rules and uphold the law, making others feel comfortable putting their trust in you. Your punctuality is valued, attention to detail relied upon, and your measured approach is appreciated. You do your best work in a step-by-step approach and can be counted on to complete tasks.

In your relationships, you tend to be steadfast, reliable, and faithful. You are probably a source of strength for those you love, and they know that you can be relied upon to keep your commitments.

Influencer

The extent to which you are an Influencer is 45%. Influencers are persuasive, enterprising, and driven. They are charismatic, outgoing, and have a zest for life.

Your relatively high percentage in this supporting destiny role indicates that you tend to be a dynamic, influential leader at work. Your power of persuasion will allow you to set and achieve goals effectively.

In your relationships, you tend to be entertaining, positive, and confident. Your zeal for living is endearing, and people find you exciting to be around.

Inventor

The extent to which you are an Inventor is 30%. Inventors are preoccupied with system design and spatial relationships, both concrete and abstract. They design systematic structures and engineer structural models and long for knowledge about the structure of the world around them. They are driven and are able to concentrate well, blocking out irrelevant information.

Your relatively high percentage in this supporting destiny role indicates that in your career you tend to be a thoughtful, positive, and intelligent worker. Your logical abilities are strong, and your work ethic is unwavering. You tend to be precise and technical in the way you create and look at the world in terms of what can be used in your creations. You do your best work when you have freedom to explore new ideas rather than performing familiar tasks repeatedly.

In your relationships, you tend to be faithful, devoted, and at times withdrawn. You are probably not the most social person you know, and may not throw many parties in your home, but others appreciate your kind, quiet, honest approach. You often prefer an analytical approach to interpersonal relations and that may tend to hinder your emotional connections with those you love.

Leader

The extent to which you are a Leader is 44%. Leaders possess strong planning skills, are particularly adept at recognizing possible problems, and can deftly create contingency plans to manage the situation. They are reserved, decisive, have a strong will, and are uncomfortable when things are unsettled. They are creative problem solvers who value useful ideas that work efficiently toward well-defined goals.

Your relatively high percentage in this supporting destiny role indicates that you tend to be a careful tactician who is able to mastermind large projects at work. Your ability to see the "big picture" and the ways to handle potential problems makes you a valuable asset to any organization. You tend to be a quiet but effective leader. You are probably judicious in your scheduling and are fairly unemotional about what is needed to do a job right.

In your relationships, you tend to be caring and loving, if a bit removed. You tend to be willing to put forth great effort but may also tend to repress some of your emotions. This may make personal relationships tough for you to keep at times. Your tendency toward perfectionism can be a recipe for disappointment when dealing with matters of the heart, as questions of human nature rarely have black and white answers.

Manager

The extent to which you are a Manager is 45%. Managers are sticklers for order and procedure. They are moralistic people who enjoy structure and an adherence to established rules.

Your relatively high percentage in this supporting destiny role indicates that you tend to be a sturdy and dependable contributor to any organization. You are often one who will ensure that the rules and procedures are maintained for the greater good. You can be counted on to uphold standard and tradition and to ensure that people are focused on the job at hand. You would probably excel in a position that requires an unbiased judge to maintain order and efficiency.

In your relationships, you tend to be steadfast, loyal, and faithful. Your loved ones can usually count on you to send cards or gifts in a timely manner. You probably have great respect for your elders and make an effort to keep their traditions alive. With children, you may tend to be firm, stressing the importance of manners, hard work, and duty.

Peacemaker

The extent to which you are a Peacemaker is 60%. Peacemakers are compelled to make peace on an interpersonal level, as well as a global one. They sacrifice themselves for the cause they believe in, and although their outward appearance seems serene, they have an intense passion to achieve their ideals and that often causes inner turmoil and social isolation. They long for unity and "oneness," believe in morality, and compromise for the sake of peace, as long as it doesn't conflict with their ideals.

Your relatively high percentage in this supporting destiny role indicates that you tend to be introspective, thoughtful, and creative at work. You adapt well to new situations and can complete a high-quality project without a supervisor looking over your shoulder. You can handle complex tasks and enjoy having some diversity in your work to keep your mind stimulated. You tend to become emotionally involved in work you believe in.

In your relationships, you tend to be sensitive, dependable, and loving. You are probably willing to compromise and sacrifice for those you love and have the capacity for a great deal of empathy. You are sensitive to subtle changes in the mood and well-being of those close to you and try to lift people up when they are down.

Performer

The extent to which you are a Performer is 56%. Performers are outgoing and gregarious people who entertain others. They are charming, uninhibited, and often comical.

Your relatively low percentage in this supporting destiny role indicates that you tend to be a quiet planner at work. You are a strong-willed, logical thinker who is well organized.

In your relationships, you tend to be giving, loving, and thoughtful. You probably enjoy being with a small group of close friends and value the simple things in life.

Protector

The extent to which you are a Protector is 57%. Protectors have a great concern for the welfare of others and generally want to insulate them from peril and hardship. They are comforting and helpful. They have a strong work ethic, are frugal, thorough, and reserved.

Your relatively high percentage in this supporting destiny role indicates that you tend to feel most comfortable being in a position where your natural inclination to serve and protect others is utilized at work. You have an exceptional capacity to care for those in need, and you will feel the most fulfilled when you are making a difference in the lives of people.

In your relationships, you tend to be fiercely loyal and devoted. You often put your friends and family ahead of your work, which doesn't go unnoticed. You may tend to avoid conflict when possible and can even tend to hide your personal pain or hardship because you feel it will burden others. This can cause people to feel shut out from you. Those closest to you are comforted by your selfless and dependable nature.

Provider

The extent to which you are a Provider is 70%. Providers are giving people, eager to serve the needs of others. They are nurturing, sensitive, personable, talkative, outward with their emotions, and are concerned about how others view them. They are also orderly, moralistic, reactionary, obedient, and can tend to make value judgments about others.

Your relatively high percentage in this supporting destiny role indicates that you tend to enjoy being in charge at work. You are skilled at delegating responsibility and have a strong work ethic. You take your job seriously and may have a hard time not taking your work home with you.

In your relationships, you tend to be kind and selfless. Your loving loyalty is the foundation for your close personal relationships and will allow you to withstand any extreme hardships. You value your friends and family greatly, and your social, entertaining nature causes people to be drawn to you.

Teacher

The extent to which you are a Teacher is 57%. Teachers influence others, assess, and maximize the talent of those around them. They are outgoing, charismatic, reliable, and expect the best from people. This supportive nature typically inspires people to meet their goals. They are idealistic in the way they view their relationships to the point of being a bit unrealistic.

Your relatively high percentage in this supporting destiny role indicates that you tend to have a natural ability to lead. Your charisma and interpersonal skill are probably your greatest assets in your career. You would probably make a very successful entrepreneur due to your belief in your dreams and your ability to see the big picture. You are able to pass along information and enthusiasm to others, and often bring out the best efforts of those with whom you work.

In your relationships, you tend to be a caring and loyal person who also values cooperation. You tend to seek harmonious relationships and your empathy for others is exceptional. Your generous and giving nature creates strong relationships, as you are willing to give your time and energy to make sure your loved ones are happy. When it comes to your partner, be aware that your idealism may create conflict.

Eerily accurate - but then again i might just be biased towards a certain perception of myself... Contrasting opinions are welcome as always!

You can find this test here.

Anyhow, more posts to follow hopefully...

JQ's Birthday at La Suisse

2006-08-10T11:00:00.000+08:00

A special update just for Joa... ;)

From Lenny...

Hi,

I'm just posting up the notice for this weekend's dinner, courtesy of Joa. It's in honour of her belated birthday, and she's decided to hold it this coming Saturday. Apparently, this restaurant does have some good reviews from the NST and a regular following.

So she's taken upon herself to organise the dinner so do make an effort to come.

Here are details for the upcoming Sat night dinner:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Name of Restaurant : La Suisse Restaurant
Cuisine : Swiss
Time : 8.30 pm
Address : No. 8, Medan Setia 2, Bukit Damansara, 50490 KL (It's in the shophouse area near Picollo Mondo and Flamenco)
Parking : Free!
Note : My dear friends, it's my belated birthday celebration so come one, come all - gifts will be appreciated but definately not required.

(I tak boleh belanja - wallet will combust, haha - but a few bottles of wines will be (generously) provided, courtesy of Peter)

(Oh, I've already tentatively booked for 10ppl but need to know how many more to add/ subtract by Friday)

so do call Joa-Quim to book your spot at dinner.

Or leave a message at this post thanks!

Hrmmm... maybe i should update properly... ;)

D'Chieng Mai

2006-06-30T12:20:00.000+08:00

*This is a sticky post and will remain at the top of the blog. Please scroll down to view more recent entries*

(Finally) Going Thai this weekend to one of the most highly recommended places thanks to Shaolin Tiger!

Be sure to check out the review (pics and all) to find out why...

Heck he's even been nice enough to provide us with a map to follow (thanks again man!):

From the review:

If you want to go there, go to the end of the LDP just past Bandar Sri Damansara, at the end take a left, as if you were going towards Sungei Buloh/Damansara Damai or the NKVE junction, once on that road keep going straight all the way until you see The Store on your right, then make a U-turn. After the U-turn take an immediate left up a bridge just after the petrol station. After you pass a few nurseries take the left with a long sweeping corner, keep going straight on this road, you'll pass lots of small Tom Yam restaurants and houses, and De Chiengmai will be on your left.

Dinner is on Saturday, 8:30pm as usual (although bear in mind that we're all leaving together at 7pm - see above) and, as per procedure, if you're interested in coming kindly either leave a comment here, email me, or phone me for additional details and/or bookings with details on which event(s) you are coming for and how many friends/mistresses/animals/Hell's Angels/family/etc you will be bringing.

Alternatively you can follow me, convoy style, on the day itself by coming to Mont Kiara - convoy will depart at 7:30pm SHARP!

See you all there!

Happy Anniversary!

2006-06-23T00:23:00.000+08:00

Late post as usual - work, as always, is running along at a killer pace. :(

Kudos to Lenny for the writeup:

Hello.

On 30th April 2005, five friends met for dinner after a really long stint of having absolute nothing to do on Saturday nights. During that dinner, they thought, what better way to fill our Saturday evenings; exploring restaurants, wining and dining, as opposed to sitting around Bestari's (our regular mamak) 8 weekends in a row.

To commemorate our first anniversary, the "Makan Group" is going back to Sao Nam on Saturday the 24th of June. (Yes yes, we forgot when we started this).

We want you to come join us this weekend. So do confirm your attendance by calling me, 012-2077-653 leaving a message on my blog.

The address is No 25, Tengkat Tong Shin in Kuala Lumpur. That's the one off Bukit Bintang, not the one in Hartamas Shopping Centre. I hope to see you there at 8:30.

Ciao ciao~!

OMGBBQWTF!!!??? Has it really been one year?

(well, more actually - the anniversary was actually in April)

Surely, this is one that can't be missed! ;)

A Thought...

2006-06-09T17:32:00.000+08:00

A collection of data is not information.

A collection of information is not knowledge.

A collection of knowledge is not wisdom.

A collection of wisdom is not truth.

- Gene Bellinger

Actorlympics!

2006-06-01T18:02:00.000+08:00

Soo Jin's organising an outing this Sunday for this one - leave a comment on his blog if you're interested in joining us!

Title: Actorlympics!

Venue: Actors Studio Bangsar, The Level 3, New Wing, Bangsar Shopping Centre, 285, Jalan Maarof, Bukit Bandar Raya, 59000, Kuala Lumpur

Date & Time: Wed 31 May - Sun 4 Jun 2006 (8.30pm)

Tickets: RM47/ RM42 / RM22 (for seniors all nights & students on Sat and Sun only)

Synopsis: What does it take to be Malaysia's Next Top Actorlympian? See the raw talent, watch the competition, as boys and girls strut their stuff and battle it out to Be On Top every night of the show!

For Malaysia's best live improvised comedy show, don't miss Actorlympics!our answer to "Whose Line Is It Anyway?"

Starring Harith Iskander, Afdlin Shauki, Rashid Salleh, Edwin Sumun, Ida Nerina, Nell Ng, Douglas Lim, Reza Zainal Abidin, Fish, Sabrina Hassan and more!

Cast line-up varies each night.

Presented by Vision Works.

Event: The Fastest Clock In The Universe

2006-06-01T17:38:00.000+08:00

Thanks to Joa for this heads up! And... man, that is one COOL poster...

As always, please direct any comments, questions, or reservations to the Man About Town post.

Details...

Title: The Fastest Clock in the Universe

Venue: KLPac - Pentas 2 Jalan Strachan, off Jalan Ipoh, Sentul West, 51100, Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan

Date & Time: Fri 2 - Sun 11 Jun 2006 (Tue-Sat: 8.30pm; Sun 3pm, no show on Mon)

Tickets: RM50/ RM30 (students, disabled & sr. citizens) - special promo price of RM30 flat from Tues to Thurs.

Synopsis: The play tells of the often frightening and violent story of a 30-year-old who refuses to accept the fact that he ages on a yearly basis. This results in each birthday he celebrates being his 19th birthday. A modern day Dorian Gray, but much darker, violent and disturbing. For mature audiences only.

The Fastest Clock in the Universe is Philip Ridley's second play which opened at Hampstead Theatre, playing to both critical acclaim and box office success. He went on to win the 1992 Evening Standard Most Promising Newcomer Award, one of the 1992 Time Out Theatre Awards, the prestigious Meyer Whitworth Award for New Theatre Writing 1992 and the 1992 Critics' Circle Award for Most Promising Playwright.

Starring Gavin Yap, Ari Ratos, Joanna Bessey, Niki Cheong and Faridah Merican (as Cheetah Bee) and directed by Joe Hasham.

Heong Kee @ Selayang

2006-06-01T17:02:00.000+08:00

We're going for seafood!

Soo Jin has kindly offered to organise this week's dinner which is based on his recommendation - apparently the best teochew seafood in town! Or relatively close to town... kinda... Well, only one way to find out, eh?

Here's what he has to say (erm... he's a bit shy on the details, descriptions and directions but just consider the following and you won't go too far wrong):

Venue: Heong Kee Restaurant
Location: Selayang someplace
Time: Saturday, 7 pm meet at Hartamas Projet station
Type of food: Chinese Teochew style seafood. Specialty includes Curry FishHead, Steamed Stingray, 'Kum Heong lala'
Pros: Food arrives fast, cheap, reasonably delicious
Cons: seafood may not be everyone's cup of tea

Ah, a man of few words indeed. :p

An after-dinner hasn't been planned yet for this week (is there anything else to do in Selayang) but come along, have some great teochew seafood and we'll see what develops...

Dinner is on Saturday, 8:30pm as usual (although bear in mind that we're all leaving together at 7pm - see above) and, as per procedure, if you're interested in coming kindly either leave a comment here, email me, or phone me for additional details and/or bookings with details on which event(s) you are coming for and how many friends/mistresses/animals/Hell's Angels/family/etc you will be bringing.

Alternatively you can get in touch with Soo Jin through his blog, calling him (ask me for his number) or by leaving a message on this post.

During the night itself the tables will be booked under Soo Jin's name.

Mmm... i can taste those lalas now... :D

Event: French Arts Festival 2006

2006-05-31T16:05:00.000+08:00

Yep, its that time of the year again... ;)

I had a blast at last year's festival and i don't intend to let this year's one go amiss either! For those of you who don't know, every year the French Embassy, in conjunction with HELP and the Alliance Francaise along with a number of local organisations and musical institutions to showcase Malaysian-French collaborations in the realms of art, music, food, and theatre.

Things kicked off on the 19th of May, and i managed to catch their very cool 'two nights only' Babel dance performance as part of the (hip hop/capoeira/breakdancing/traditional dance performance - 'twas AWESOME!) at the festival opening down in the Istana Budaya. Also managed to catch the last day of their Animation Festival down at HELP... it was better than the one last year, mainly because the themes weren't as... overly 'artsy' (surreal in other words). I just wish they had a better projector! :(

And tonight? An invite to the opening of the French International Movie Festival! w00tsk1!!!

Anyhow, here's the breakdown of events (from the official 2006 site):

Movies

June 1st - 11th:

GSC Midvalley and GSC One Utama international screens (for movie synopses and times please go to their dedicated French International Movie Festival site).

Gastronomy

Cognac appreciation session

(tasty!)
June 8, 3.00 pm & 5.30 pm, Le Meridien Kuala Lumpur (i think its full though - damn popular with all those old chinese uncles... ;p)

Michel Bras

(a French culinary feast for the senses!)
June 9, 7.00 pm, Le Meridien Kuala Lumpur

Art

Terry Law

(actually a woman, using various materials with multimedia)
June 10 - 18, National Art Gallery, KL

Départ

(a look at Malaysia by eight French artists who are in residency here)
June 3 - 10, Starhill Gallery, ADORN Level, KL

Performing Arts

Men without shadows

(an existentialism thriller by Jean-Paul Sartre by Cape Poetics - its FREE!)
June 2, 3 - 8.30 pm, Panggung Bandaraya, KL

Music

Bojan Z

(cool jazz session with traditional balkan overtones - only Rm30 which is cheaper than most No Black Tie nights...)
June 16, 9.30 pm, No Black Tie, KL (Booking required)

La Fête de la Musique

(the main event!!! A massive music festival that lasts throughout the entire day - unforunately its moved away from its traditional jln. Bukit Bintang haunt - check out the local and international talent! More information here!!!)
June 17, 10 am - 4pm, Alliance Française, Lorong Gurney, KL (more...)
June 17 - 5.00 pm to midnight, Bangsar, KL

See you all there! :p

As always, please direct any comments, questions, or reservations to the Man About Town post.

Quit Smoking & Start Toking!

2006-05-25T15:28:00.000+08:00

Mood: Amused
Reading: Foreign Head To East Timor
Currently listening to: Nothing
Quote of the day: "The fact that man knows right from wrong proves his intellectual superiority to other creatures; but the fact that he can do wrong proves his moral inferiority to any creature that cannot." - Mark Twain

Study finds no marijuana-lung cancer link

LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters) -- Marijuana smoking does not increase a person's risk of developing lung cancer, according to the findings of a new study at the University of California Los Angeles that surprised even the researchers.

They had expected to find that a history of heavy marijuana use, like cigarette smoking, would increase the risk of cancer.

Instead, the study, which compared the lifestyles of 611 Los Angeles County lung cancer patients and 601 patients with head and neck cancers with those of 1,040 people without cancer, found no elevated cancer risk for even the heaviest pot smokers. It did find a 20-fold increased risk of lung cancer in people who smoked two or more packs of cigarettes a day.

The study results were presented in San Diego Tuesday at a meeting of the American Thoracic Society.

The study was confined to people under age 60 since baby boomers were the most likely age group to have long-term exposure to marijuana, said Dr. Donald Tashkin, senior researcher and professor at the UCLA School of Medicine.

[Read the entire article]

Woo!

Actually, before anyone goes off to toke, perhaps its worth mentioning that while marijuana doesn't cause lung cancer, it HAS been proven to cause other health complications such as cognitive impairment and chronic bronchitis, as well as higher levels of tar ingestion (up to four times - mainly because its not as tightly packed as cigarettes).

Bah. Sooo close... :(

Villa Danieli & Bar Blonde

2006-05-25T10:35:00.000+08:00

Hi all!

Thanks to Leonard's recommendation this week we'll be going Italian over at the Sheraton Hotel. Apparently he has it on good authority that this place is one of the best in all of KL - and, by the sound of it, so do the staff over at Fried Chillies. I mean, just LOOK at those pictures!!!

Standing five floors above the city streets, come here for the Wood Oven Baked Fillet of Cod and the Rack of Lamb with Mint Crust. Combined with the great ambience from the beautifully designed interior, what else could you ask for? Here's the low down...

You get to dine in a nice cozy little Villa in the middle of KL. The interiors looks like a creative cross of Italian and Roman design with its beautifully painted ceilings and the dimly lit settings. Just alluring to romantics and private conversations alike. Villa Danieli has a good range of appetizers, soups and pizza's but we just can't wait to tell you about the rack of lamb and the cod...

...The succulent and flavourful Roasted Rack of lamb with mint crust is one of the chef's specialty. It's one of our favourites as well. The hauntingly flavourful tender lamb has the rosemary sauce enticing us even more and also comes served with roasted potatoes. It's a superb cut. The lamb called us for seconds and we took the call in for that second experience....juicy, tender and succulent...

...Villa Danielli... great place.. high atop Sheraton Imperial, next to the swimming pool, under the moonlit terrace nice for a peaceful stroll after an evening italian dinner overlooking an Italian Villa.If the ex-Raffles trained restaurant manager is present, service is impeccable.

[Read Full Article]

Mmmm... sounds good no? ;)

Oh, and for those of you who care, according to the review its approximately Rm50++ for a decent meal there.

As for directions its located at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel which is (conveniently) right next to Heritage Row. More on THAT in a bit...

Villa Danieli
Sheraton Imperial Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Wilayah Persekutuan
Tel : 0327179900

Bar Blonde

Thats right, this week's after-dinner will be held at the nearby Bar Blonde on heritage row!

Offering a soft, relaxing atmosphere with an elegant and contemporary setting offering bar snacks ranging from exotic local cuisine and warm appetizers as well as a small but quality range of spirits, wines and soft drinks. Heck they even have WiFi... o_O

A great chillout bar, and just down the road from the Sheraton Hotel - be sure to check out their website for more details!

Dinner is on Saturday, 8:30pm as usual and, as per procedure, if you're interested in coming kindly either leave a comment here, email me, or phone me for additional details and/or bookings with details on which event(s) you are coming for and how many friends/mistresses/animals/Hell's Angels/family/etc you will be bringing. During the night itself the tables will be booked under my name.

As always, anyone who reads this is welcome to come! :)

Coconut House & Sevenate9

2006-05-19T03:48:00.000+08:00

*This is a sticky post and will remain at the top of the blog. Please scroll down to view more recent entries*

Quick update thingy on this week's dinner - can you tell i've been working my ass off?

*sigh*

Consider this a placeholder. I'll doll it up a bit more tomorrow night as i'm currently rushing my work assignment thats due in a few hours (and yes, it IS 3am):

Coconut House
28-30, Jalan Pudu Lama, 50200, Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan
Telephone: 603-20312830

Do you know where the main Maybank building is along Jln Pudu? The restaurant's literally right next to it...

They don't have their own website, however you can check out a blogger's review of the place here (replete with photos). I'm also trying to see if we can go to the new Club 789 in the Ascott for after dinner drinks but so far, no luck in finding any details of the place online (except here, but... aiyoh, not really heavy on the details lah).

Stay tuned for updates (or better yet, just call me).

- Stressed out Pat

Going To Sydney!

2006-05-08T00:17:00.000+08:00

Thats right!

Just to let you all know, i'll be down in Sydney from Mon-Fri to check out the CeBIT exhibition, pick up some stuff, and meet up with all you Sydneysiders! woo!

Oh, and if any of you happen to be down there at the time - drop me an email and we'll meet up!

PS: Apologies on the lack of updates - you'll have to suffer for one more week but updates will happen once i get back!

Klimtz Klimt's

2006-05-05T03:18:00.000+08:00

Updates!

From Lenny:

"Oh the irony, considering Pat asked me to put up the blog post since he was too busy. And then he puts if up first. I suddenly got overladen with work and I ended working till 9 yesterday rushing out as much as I can before I go off to Australia (At least I pretty sure I'm going).

Anyway, here's a little more details on the restaurant.

Klimt's Restaurant
6-5, Jalan Batai,
Damansara Heights,
50490 Kuala Lumpur

and a review from Fried Chillies as well.

Apparently, Diana's been here. She recommends the veal. My mom's been here with her Austrian client who knows the owner too. Great. I reckon it can't be too bad if an Austrian guy can eat here. Rapunzel reckons you can skip out on the dumplings cause they're just boiled potato flour balls (though she had that in Austria)

So, if you are indeed coming, please leave a message here, or call me at 012 2077 653, and we'll see you at 8:30 this Saturday. Hope to see you all this weekend."

Erm... ok in regards to dinner i figured that we would go to Klimtz at the foot of Damansara Heights (next to Hok Lee's) for some Austrian food but... i can't find ANYTHING on the net.

Methinks a visit is in order, so watch this space (preferably on Saturday morning :p) but, in the meantime, if you're interested in coming - leave a message ja?

Oh, and in the meanwhile Pattar is still seriously drowning in work.

Bah.

I Wouldn't Know

2006-04-28T11:34:00.000+08:00

Mood: In denial - have you seen my workload?
Reading: Infantry transformed by new tools, training
Currently listening to: Humming Love Shack
Quote of the day: "Fall not in love, therefore; it will stick to your face." - National Lampoon, "Deteriorata"

Was bored - and not from a lack of innumerable things to do - so i went blog surfing and did a quiz. Bah.

The Surprising Lover
54% partner focus, 28% aggressiveness, 70% adventurousness

Based on the results of this test, it is highly likely that:

You prefer your romance and love to wild and daring rather than typical or boring, you would rather be pursued than do the pursuing and, when it comes to physical love, your satisfaction comes more from providing a wonderful time to your partner than simply seeking your own.

This places you in the Lover Style of: The Surprising Lover.

The Surprising Lover is a wonderful Lover Style, and, like the name implies, is often filled with hidden delights and talents that might not be apparent from a surface knowledge of the person. The Surprising Lover is rather like a geode--sometimes rough on the exterior, but filled with beauty and wonder. The Surprising Lover is thus a gem to find, though it can sometimes be difficult to do so because they often tend to be humble and unwilling to reveal their inner greatness unless they're in a rewarding relationship.

In terms of physical love, the Surprising Lover really shines, often highly imaginative and utterly devoted to bringing the heights of pleasure to the one that they truly love. Given a rewarding, reciprocative relationship, and the right lover, the Surprising Lover can be a delight in bed.

Best Compatibility can probably be found with: The Carnal Lover (most of all) or the Exotic Lover, or the Suave Lover.

Congratulations!

If you enjoyed this test, I would love the feedback! Also, you might want to check out some of my other tests if you're interested in the following:

Nerds, Geeks & Dorks

Professional Wrestling

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

America/Politics

Thanks Again! -- THE LOVER STYLE PROFILE TEST

My test tracked 3 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:

You scored higher than 39% on partner focus
You scored higher than 7% on aggressiveness
You scored higher than 74% on adventurousness

Link: The Lover Style Profile Test written by donathos on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the 32-Type Dating Test

Seems Like A Nice Place

2006-04-28T09:37:00.000+08:00

Mood: Wtf?
Reading: Review of the Department of Energy's Genomics: GTL Program
Currently listening to: Nothing
Quote of the day: "When someone tells you something defies description, you can be pretty sure he's going to have a go at it anyway." - Clyde B. Aster

Interesting article - thanks to Lisa for pointing this one out:

Build your own Iraqi police squad for a little cash

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - It doesn't cost a lot to set up your own death squad in Iraq. Military uniforms, guns and even police vehicles are easily available to all comers in the markets of Baghdad.

In a city where gangs of men dressed as police have killed dozens of people and stolen tens of thousands of dollars, anyone with a modest amount of cash can set up their own fake squad.

At Baghdad's Bab al-Sharjee market, a haven for criminals, anyone can walk into one of about 15 shops selling police and military supplies and buy a police commando uniform for 35,000 Dinars (about $24) or an ordinary police uniform for $15.

No questions asked, no identity checks. Badges of rank from Captain to Major-General -- enough to ensure no one asks questions on the mean streets of the capital -- go for $2.

"One person came yesterday and took 12 full commando uniforms. Another took 15 army uniforms and ski masks with holes for the eyes," said Tariq, who runs one of the stores.

"I don't care who comes to buy them. As long as they give me the money, I give them the products," he said, adding the most popular items were police commando uniforms.

Although some uniforms such as a plain blue Iraqi police shirt are relatively simple for any tailor to produce, it was unclear where Tariq and others get the complicated camouflage uniforms from.

There are plenty of smaller items such as laser pointers for weapons, face-hiding ski masks, and handcuffs.

In a country awash with guns, almost every family has at least an AK-47, weapons are cheap and easily obtained.

[Read More]

Jap 'N Jazz

2006-04-27T10:21:00.000+08:00

From Leonard's blog:

Hey everyone,

Just a quick post about this weekend's dinner event.

We going to be doing Japanese at Jogoya. This is a Japanese buffet restaurant. According to thewebsite, this is Japanese buffet at its most extravagant, with the freshest of seafood, tempura, sashimi and even cooked-on-demand fare brought straight to your table.

I first heard about this place from Kenny. It's not often that he'll recommend something to me, but so far, he's not been far wrong about good food. In fact, here are a couple of reviews.

^julie the buscuit^
www.xes.cx
The Star

How to get there. It's in Starhill Gallery (Shopping Centre larrr) on the 3rd floor or the Relish Floor as they call it. So as usual, dinner will be at 8:30. Please confirm your places by calling me (012-2077-653) or leaving a message here for your spot.

After dinner, Pat's organising to have us go to Top Room
(That's the jazz bar above Top Hat) for drinks and jazz.

The address is No. 7 Jalan Kia Peng, KL. In case you have no idea how to get there. That's diagonally opposite the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. Coming from Jalan P Ramlee (where Poppy's at) you'll have to turn right, go pass the Ascott Hotel. Keep left all the way and go past two right turns and it's on the right...I hope.

I'm not sure what the arrangement is, so please call Pat for more information. See you all on Saturday. Ciao~!

(Note: I'm not too sure but i think its Rm50/person for the jazz... I will check this out though)

Dinner is on Saturday, 8:30pm as usual and, as per procedure, if you're interested in coming kindly either leave a comment here, email me, or phone me for additional details and/or bookings with details on which event(s) you are coming for and how many friends/mistresses/animals/Hell's Angels/family/etc you will be bringing. During the night itself the tables will be booked under my name.

As always, anyone who reads this is welcome to come! :)

Siiiiiiiigh

2006-04-26T03:10:00.000+08:00

Mood: *sob sob*
Reading: Nada
Currently listening to: Nothing
Quote of the day: "Kill me." - Patrick Pincon

So once again i find myself for the second week in a row typing away at the computer late into the night.

Its definitely crunch time at work once again, and i find myself doing both official office work and some urgent stuff that needs to be done 'on the side'. Heck, i'm up to my neck (all 6 feet of it) in deadlines and deliverables.

So... i lied. There won't be an update tonight at the rate things are going - in the meantime i can ASSURE you that there will be more than a few updates tomorrow (today?)...

How do i know that?

Because i have the day off! I've been given official leave to attend the Defence and Security expo down in Subang for the whole day! And if you know me - things could not get better than that (howitzers and MP5s - oh my!). And yes, i'll be sure to bring my camera... ;)

But. In the meantime... *siiiiiigh*

She Must Be Really Bored

2006-04-20T15:00:00.000+08:00

Mood: Wtf?
Reading: Japanese WW2 soldier returns home after 63 years
Currently listening to: Nothing
Quote of the day: "It's a weird year." - President George Bush

Checked my MySpace account yesterday after God knows how long and amidst the pile of unanswered messages and random friend requests dating from March last year, i managed to stumble across this one:

Subject:

Hey

Content:

ok look i know this may sound weird since you don't know me and all! well know this guy named patrick that i want to get back at so my plan was to add a lot of people named patrick and i was wondering if you would add me just to help me out!well thanks you very much if you do!

Love ~megan~

Wtf?

I still say MySpace is scary.

Boat House & Laundry Bar

2006-04-20T10:16:00.000+08:00

[EDIT]

Sneexe (thanks!) has kindly written up a review of The Boat House - here it is in full:

Anyway I promised Pat a review for the Boat House in TTDI. *grumble grumble* I can't believe I'm having to do this, I have 7 (read that; SEVEN) things simultaneously due currently, and 3 of them urgent for today.

So pardon this lousily-written review for not doing justice to the restaraunt. It just doesn't.

Here's how we stumbled upon this little treasure of a restaraunt.

...

It was a dark and stormy night.

It was a dark, stormy, Saturday night, and a howling torrential monsoon rain had just severely disincentivsed us from joining family dinner in the city centre. It was now too late to join the Sat night dinner in Bangsar too.

We ventured out into the late and still-damp night, hoping to find something conveniently close to home, edible, and not too pricey.

As it turned out we struck lucky beyond our expectations.

...

The Boat House in TTDI is nice. Pleasant and unpretentious. I would use Nice with a capital N, but that's too pretentious to describe the boat house. Come to think of it, they don't capitalise Boat House either. it's very bauhausly typefaced as boat house.

It's a gem of a place where provide papers and crayons at the table.

Now, lots of faddish restaraunts are PRETENDING to do this now, mostly to save on tablecloth washing, the cheapskates. But boathouse is one of the VERY few places that actually provides a proper, usable bunch of crayons (in more than one hue, which aren't too cheap and colourlessly waxy to leave an impression on the paper.)

I should have taken a photo of the picture I managed to draw with them. In between mouthfuls of food- I should mention- the reasonably short wait time hardly justified providing crayons in the first place.

The MENU is not only deliciously well-written, but offers an interesting and well-balanced variety of dishes to suit your moods and preferences for a great many visits to come... Neither a perfunctory, limited selection (as at Opus); nor a bewilderingly heavy tome (as at Trattoria... but we can forgive Trattoria, the food is that good. That review for another Saturday, yah?)

...

Now to the food.

Good food, with a touch of class. Healthy servings, tasty, authentic, unpretentious, satisfying to the last crumb.

It rates high on artistic presentation too. Serving sizes are Perfect- not too wastefully hulking (as at TGIF), nor too tiny (as at NINE)- leaving you satisfied, yet able to share the pleasure one of their yummy desserts, should you be so inclined.

And all prices which put other restaraunts in this food group, to Shame. Yes, with a capital S.

The food is good.

Good.

Authentic.

Z had a genuine UK style fish-n-chips; fresh, flaky white meat cocooned in a crisp puff of golden batter. Unlike UK FushNChups only in that it was not too greasy. And fat fries! I quite liked that they served a mix of crinkle-cut fries and the traditional fat UK chips. Perhaps that's an eccentricity, but I loved it.

And the accompanying bottles of sauces... ooh. All Heinz, no less. Heinz (traditionally distilled?) Black Malt Vinegar. Dark, fragrant, and intoxicating. No cheap-ass white acid here.

...

I had a grilled fish, in very light wasabi cream sauce. With nicely herbed and spiced pan-fried potato quarters, if I'm not mistaken.

A touch of extra effort was evident- my (properly-tossed) side salad serve even came on a separate plate- a good thing, as the aromatic herb dressing was an entirely different, delicious flavour which would have been drowned by the creamy wasabi sauce.

...

Do dessert.

I generally find Tiramisu disapointing in the restaraunts of KL; but this one was excellent. Served in a wine-glass, it was surprisingly satisfying- heavy cream cheese with perfect mouth-feel melt (NOT the over-aerated fluffy-cheap-trick lots of places prefer to serve up. The stewed peach plate-decoration didn't go, but that's my own fault for eating it together.) in perfect proportion to the chocolate sponge layers. Which, incidentally, were generously drenched with alcohol, especially that perfect last-mouthful, nestled in the hollow of the glass.

Z picked the Apple SomethingOrOther (I forget) but it was lovely too, again prettily arrayed, doused with real caramel sauce, and capped off with a ball of Butterscotch ice cream. Scored another effort point- most places would just slapdash some vanilla ice cream up. Again, a nice blend of flavour.

...

Did I also mention the service was excellent? The waiter brought our attention to the 30% Saturday special on Grills (available certain days; probably also available this Sat)

...

Consistency is hard to judge from one visit- but Z has been there 3 times all in, and he's still happy. And knowing how he can whinge about restaraunts, I'd guess it's a good sign.

...

Comparisons:
Very very favourable.
It may not reach quite the heavenly as CafeCafe (to my tastebuds) -- but then the prices are very down to earth for what they whip up. I'd say, you get more than what you pay for at the boatHouse.

CafeCafe registers on the astronomical scale after all.

boatHouse left me MUCH happier than the other pricey french joint (I forget) near KLCC.

Definately.

I look forward to many more visits, and a more thorough acquaintance with the menu.

Definately.

...

OH yeah. You'll need this:

Boathouse
16 Lorong Rahim Kajai 14,
TTDI 60000 KL

No map, but if you know how to get to TTDI Penang Village (pretentiousgrumblepretenders expensivegrumblegrouse notvalueformoneygruffgruff) or the Maybank you'll have no problems.

[/EDIT]

Don't mind the surreal title of this post people - they're just the names of the places that we'll be visiting this Saturday!

Boat House

Thanks to Sneexe's recommendation we'll be going to The Boathouse in TTDI (Taman Tun Dr. Ismail) for dinner. For details and a review please see the above section! Details are sketchy at the moment and... erm... i'm not too sure where it is, exactly, in TTDI or even what it serves (no online presence at all) but for those of you who missed it, here's what she told us about it:

I is founded good place in TTDI. Is yummy and satisfying and tasty fare with touch of class, yet price of midrange. Very nice. Is name Boat House; locale in TTDI.

Ah yes, informative. :p

Regardless she will be passing me additional details later on today so once i get it i'll post it up here ASAP. Still, she HAS made good recommendations in the past so i think a little faith is in order here... ;)

Laundry Bar

This place just opened this Monday and, judging from the reviews by the blogging community, it seems that they had a helluva time! I won't - or rather, can't - personally say much more about the place except that it looks damned nice inside, and if Shaolin Tiger's stories of the night are anything to go by we most definitely cannot miss out on scoping out this place at least once!

Anyhow, detailed reviews (with shitloads of pics - the ones below are courtesy of Shaolin Tiger) can be found here:

Shaolin Tiger
Midnite Lily
Kakicucuklangit
Kimberlycun

In terms of location, you can find it at The Curve in Mutiara Damansara, right next to Fitness First and Italianies.

Dinner is on Saturday, 8:30pm as usual and, as per procedure, if you're interested in coming kindly either leave a comment here, email me, or phone me for additional details and/or bookings with details on which event(s) you are coming for and how many friends/mistresses/animals/Hell's Angels/family/etc you will be bringing. During the night itself the tables will be booked under my name.

As always, anyone who reads this is welcome to come! :)

Event: Fire Of Anatolia

2006-04-14T16:27:00.000+08:00

Audra's been kind enough to point out that Fire Of Anatolia will be coming to town!

As always, please direct any comments, questions, or reservations to the Man About Town post.

Check it out (click image for more details):

THE RIVER THAT FLOWS TOWARDS ITS ESSENCE

While Isadora Duncan was creating her dance theory she was looking towards the Aegean while that Irish lady who lived in America, was going to and fro from east to west, there was only a little time to end the most magnificient period of classical ballet.The rebellion that she felt deep inside herself at the beginning of the previous century, found its historical description on the land where we live now.

It was oneiric blue journey. She pricked up her ears to Dionizos - the god of law, wine, passion, freedom, fertility – to see the dance of the civilization in Mediterranian, while she was saying ‘Dance is to reach Dionizos’ she was going round the Aegean islands, and was observing the historical figures, listenning the magical invitation of the dance. She was trying to be inspired with the remnants of ceremonies made for Dionizos. She had seen that the first codes, figures and rhythms of the physical freedom had been created in this region, and rich geography whose essence is Anatolia.

Hers was a flow of dreams for sure, but she was on the right way. Perhaps ,everyone after her was searching a piece of Isadora in his own dance steps.And now like a river flowing to its essence, may be going through Isadora’s footsteps with the view of the god emperor of Nemrut, Antiakos and the call of Mesopotamia, Anatolia and Mediterrenian – we want to create the dance of passion, ambition, enthusiasm and peace - in the land where the first flame was created, the first wheel turned.

Ours is the same road but the this time the river is flowing to its essence. We find the figures of satires and sirens in rituals of Dionizos, in folk dance steps. We are trying to see our land by feeling 3 thousand year old Eagean dance figures’ warmth. We are after a very strong emotion, a diffrent line.

We want the dance of Turkey.

Venue: Plenary Hall, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50088

Date & Time: Wed 26 - Fri 28 Apr 2006 (Wed: 9pm; Thu & Fri: 8.30pm)

Tickets: RM362/ RM312/ RM262

Ticket Contact: Axcess: 603-7711 5000 or any Axcess outlet

Synopsis: The Fire of Anatolia (previously called Sultans of the Dance) is a dance and rhythm performance, based on thousands of years of ancient Anatolian mythology and cultural history.

The performance comprises of hundreds of folkdance figures and music from almost every region of Turkey. It is an original Anatolian dance which brings together the traditional and the modern.

Event: Wanton Me!

2006-04-14T10:45:00.000+08:00

Thanks to Lisa for pointing this one out (click on the image for more details):

As always, please direct any comments, questions, or reservations to the Man About Town post.

New Diseases In Malaysia

2006-04-13T09:57:00.000+08:00

Mood: ROFL!
Reading: Playboy Indonesia thrown out of office after attack
Currently listening to: Nothing
Quote of the day: "Life is a foreign language; all men mispronounce it." - Christopher Morley

Got this in my gmail courtesy of Edwin and i just wanted to share it with all of you - hilarious! :p

As if we don't have enough to worry about with the outbreaks of the Birdflu, the Malaysian Ministry of Health is now asking the public to be on the lookout for symptoms of the following new contagious diseases.

ASSMA

Severe rashes around the mouth caused by kissing too much ass. The number-one disease in Malaysia amongst civil servants.

DIALARRHOEA

Uncontrollable urge to continually dial friends on mobile phone to share with them such important information as "I'm now on the monorail", or "I'm walking towards the car."

Victims can be recognized by large, twitching thumb.

MEESLES

Blotchy skin condition caused by eating too many packets of instant noodles.

MULTIPLE SPOUSOSIS

Affliction whereby victims make frequent trips to Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, and China to take on additional brides. Middle-aged men are at significant risk.

YELLOW FEVER

Compulsion to date Asian females. Very common affliction amongst foreign celebrities and caucasian expatriates working in Malaysia.

Also known as Pinkerton's Disease.

EKOR-TOTONUS

Flushed complexion, high blood pressure and sometimes depression at finding out one has not won any gaming numbers and lotteries.

HEAVYTITIS

Excessively large breasts. This disease comes in several variant strains........ Heavytitis A; Heavytitis B; Heavytitis C, and sometimes Heavytitis DD.

CYBERTENSION

Feelings of stress and panic caused by lack of internet access.

DYEBETES

A compulsive need to colour one's hair. Reddish brown tints are the most common symptom, but health authorities have reported a new strain of blond highlights.

CHICKEN TOX

Victims exhibit a great need to talk cock. Incurable and highly contagious. Spread by ordinary conversation, and may be exacerbated by good food and alcohol. Politicians and lawyers are especially susceptible.

Incurable.

Chutney Mary & La Bodega

2006-04-13T01:19:00.000+08:00

*This is a sticky post and will remain at the top of the blog. Please scroll down to view more recent entries*

EDIT: Ok, i still can't find that dratted business card but, just to clarify, we'll be going to the nearby La Bodega Lounge at about 10:30pm or 11pm for after-dinner drinks. Also, there'll be a bit of a special event occuring while we're there so try not to miss it 'k? ;)

Ok, dodgy names aside (Mary's chutney? Ewww...), i'd just like to say inform you all that, at long last, we're going Indian this week!

Despite the fact that i recall taking their business card and noticing that they had their own website (a very uncommon thing, unfortunately, for the vast majority of restaurants out here in KL) i can find next to nothing about the place online, except for one sole review by Plonk Wonk.

Having never tried the place myself, except to admire the decor, here's what he had to say (all pics are from his site btw):

...It was my third time in chutney mary's since they opened late 2005 and service had improved. the food was served faster now and the quality is consistent though the decor, which i can only describe as post-modern-retro-funk-gone-kablooey has its moments. its kitsch as only the subcontinent can and do make in its infinitesmal creativity.

Let's just say the food is better.

We started with spiced papads - the dried lentil chips mingled with spices that exists to melt in your mouth once fried or lightly grilled over a flame. the pepper-corn papad - rolled into cones went well with the mint chutney.

The menu had the usual complement of meats and seafood, vegetables, briyanis and rotis with a good sprinkling of paneer or cottage cheese being among the main ingredients. a trip to india last year revealed the power of the paneer and since then, it has been a favourite in many a meal.

We settled on a couple of paneer kulchas or bread stuffed with cottage cheese and the pretty good hyderabadi lamb briyani, which can almost hold its own against even the garden-variety hyderabadi briyani found in any restaurant in northern india.

Of course, the ones in india are just awesome and spicy with the lamb just coming off the bone after being cooked in exquisite basmati rice for hours on end. together with the yoghurt-based raita dip, this briyani is just mind-blowing or rather, gut-busting.

Our table also hosted the laal maas - a lamb curry cooked in kashimiri style that was spicy as it was piquant, together with the noor-e-chaman or the saag paneer as it is commonly known in malaysia, the basic cottage cheese with spinach that has been mashed beyond recognition.

Definitely better than it looked and it combined well with the raita, the cottage cheese's mild sharpness offset by the spinach and rounded off by the onion-chilli yoghurt raita.

A fish dish helped to round off the meal, namely the rasabari macchi or a rather fresh dory cooked with vegetables and pungent spices that added the zing to the briyani.

You can read the entire review here.

Hrmmm... still, not bad eh? ;)

Anyhow, i'll try and update this post once i find that pesky business card but in the meantime i'llattempt to provide some additional details...

In terms of location its on the opposite side of the street as La Bodega in Bangsar proper (NOT Bangsar Shopping Center) on Jalan Telawi 2. Facing out from La Bodega it would be to the left and near the corner of the street - and seriously, with a name like that you'd be hard pressed to miss it! :p

Dinner is on Saturday, 8:30pm as usual and, as per procedure, if you're interested in coming kindly either leave a comment here, email me, or phone me for additional details and/or bookings with details on which event(s) you are coming for and how many friends/mistresses/animals/Hell's Angels/family/etc you will be bringing. During the night itself the tables will be booked under my name.

As always, anyone who reads this is welcome to come! :)

Back From KK!

2006-04-11T23:53:00.000+08:00

Mood: Relaxed
Reading: Bausch & Lomb halts US shipments of lens solution
Currently listening to: Nothing
Quote of the day: "The holy passion of Friendship is of so sweet and steady and loyal and enduring a nature that it will last through a whole lifetime, if not asked to lend money." - Mark Twain

Just a quick post to let you all know that i'm back!

Had a great time down in KK (thanks everyone - especially Sel for being my driver and tour guide throughout!) and thanks to the experience i'm all rested, relaxed, and chirpy enough to head back into the office tomorrow morning. Rest assured though that a blog post (with pics!) will soon follow as well as this week's dinner arrangement (here's a hint: we're going Indian)...

In the meantime, if you're interested, it looks like Selina's already put up the pics she took during my visit - check em out here and here!

WARNING: There are quite a few, so depending on your connection they might take a while to load up!

As for me, i've gotta hit the sack - hey, its back to reality right? ;)

Off To Sabah!

2006-04-07T12:35:00.000+08:00

Mood: Elated
Reading: "Gospel of Judas" gives new view of Jesus' betrayer
Currently listening to: Girl All The Bad Guys Want - Bowling For Soup
Quote of the day: "No one travelling on a business trip would be missed if he failed to arrive." - Thorstein Veblen

I'm finally off to Kota Kinabalu for three days of (hopefully) blue skies, salty air, and a whole lot of fun (and maybe a little bit of work while i'm at it :p)!

Here's to catching up with you Sabahans and drinking myself silly!

Have a great long weekend and i'll see you all on Tuesday! :)

- Happy Pat

EDIT: On a somewhat related note - i've just broken out the bottle of tuak that Serina kindly passed to me with the rest of the guys here at the office (we have a half day today!) - Shaolin Tiger's taken some pics which he should be putting up soon so be sure to check them out! ;)

Thisch schtuff ish great! *urp*

(hah! The irony of toasting my Sabah trip with tuak when i'm about to go there!)

Event: Habeas Corpus

2006-04-05T15:38:00.000+08:00

Looks like there's another play that has grabbed someone's fancy - and hey, lets face it, who doesn't love going to the theatre? ;)

Big props to Joa for the heads-up!

As always, please direct any comments, questions, or reservations to the Man About Town post. Here are the details, courtesy of Kakiseni:

Title: Habeas Corpus

Venue: Actors Studio Bangsar, The

Level 3, New Wing, Bangsar Shopping Centre, 285, Jalan Maarof, Bukit Bandar Raya, 59000, Kuala Lumpur

Date & Time: Thu 20 – Fri 28 Apr 2006 (8.30pm; with additional 3pm show on Sun; No show on Mon)

Tickets: RM50/ RM40

Ticket Contact: TAS @ BSC Box Office: 603-2094 0400 / 1400

Synopsis: A comedy with a motley crew of characters - a jaded doctor who does anything but relieve problems. His deprived wife. Their son with "sometimes 3 months, sometimes 3 days" to live. A sister-in-law blessed with the contours of a billiard table. A dedicated salesman from a breast-enlargement company. A love-sick clergyman. A drama queen on a bitter-pill overdose and her nubile daughter with a talent for whetting the appetite of many a man. A vertically-challenged big shot of the Medical association. A patient with suicide on his mind 24-7. And a maid with too much time and too little to do.

Join in the chaos, blips and blunders, twists and turns, carnal chaos and moral mayhem as these dysfunctional characters play the game of life.

Starring Terence Swampillai, Sabera Shaik, Baki Zainal, Kay Chin, Kay Li, Derek Ong, Nor Hazlin Nor Salam, Lim Kien Lee, Lim Soon Heng, Wong Wai Hoong and Sarah Shahrom.

For more details please go to http://www.theactorsstudio.com.my

Event: Emerging Fires

2006-04-05T11:53:00.000+08:00

Kudos to Rina for the invite, details are as in the flyer below (if its too small please let me know or go to their website).

As always, please direct any comments, questions, or reservations to the Man About Town post:

Faith = Good, Prayer = Bad?

2006-04-04T09:31:00.000+08:00

Mood: Work, work, work *sigh*
Reading: China Surpasses U.S. In Internet Use
Currently listening to: Nothing
Quote of the day: "Formerly, when religion was strong and science weak, men mistook magic for medicine; now, when science is strong and religion weak, men mistake medicine for magic." - Thomas Szasz

As a follow on to yesterday's article on the healing power of prayer (or lack thereof) i managed to stumble upon this article in today's news:

Churchgoers Live Longer

There are many things you can do to increase your life expectancy: exercise, eat well, take your medication and ... go to church.

A new study finds people who attend religious services weekly live longer. Specifically, the research looked at how many years are added to life expectancy based on:

* Regular physical exercise: 3.0-to-5.1 years
* Proven therapeutic regimens: 2.1-to-3.7 years
* Regular religious attendance: 1.8-to-3.1 years

The role of religion

The study, which is actually a review of existing research from the three categories, does not reveal what the link between faith and health might be.

"Religious attendance is not a mode of medical therapy," said study leader Daniel Hall, a resident in general surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. "While this study was not intended for use in clinical decision making, these findings tell us that there is something to examine further."

Hall is also an Episcopal priest.

"The significance of this finding may prove to be controversial," he said. "But at the very least, it shows that further research into the associations between religion and health might have implications for medical practice."

In a telephone interview, Hall speculated that the social aspect of religion could play a role in the results: "There is something about being knit into the type of community that religious communities embody that has a way of mediating a positive health effect," he told LiveScience. Perhaps, he said, being involved in a religion "can then decrease your level of stress in life or increase your ability to cope with stress."

Another possibility: "Being in a religious community helps you make meaning out of your life," Hall suggested.

The findings are detailed in the March-April issue of the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine.

Cost-effective

Hall also looked at the cost of these three approaches, examining typical gym membership fees, therapy costs from health insurance companies and census data on average household contributions to religious institutions. The estimated cost of each year of additional life apparently gained by each method:

* Regular physical exercise: $4,000
* Proven therapeutic regimens: $10,000
* Regular religious attendance: $7,000

Hall cautions that few conclusions can be drawn from his study, and that further research is needed. "There is no evidence that changing religious attendance causes a change in health outcomes," he said.

But he said doctors and researchers might want to think of religiousness as a demographic factor.

"For example," he writes in the journal, "the incidence of gastric cancer is higher among Japanese men, and knowledge of this fact might guide a physician to initiate early and frequent screening for gastric cancer among male Japanese patients." Likewise, the thinking goes, knowing a person's religious practices might prove useful in evaluating their condition and suggesting potential treatments.

[Article Here]

Ok, potential for bias aside (the researcher IS a priest after all) the health benefits of faith have been debated for some time and it does generally seem that there is some substance to these claims. Heck, on the bright side, it doesn't even seem to matter what your religion is to benefit from these effects...

However, on the flip side, there is - and rightly so - a fair amount of debate and controversy in regards to the research process that quantifies these results. I mean, how does one isolate the effects of prayer on patients anyway?

In other news, optimists apparently live longer - which means that i've not only lost out on an additional 2-4 years of life, but i've somehow gained a 55% higher chance of dying from all causes.

Hmph.

*goes off to sulk and smoke*

Having A Little Faith

2006-04-03T09:32:00.000+08:00

Mood: Monday. Argh.
Reading: Alcatel, Lucent to merge in $13.4B deal
Currently listening to: Nothing
Quote of the day: "If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him." - Voltaire

Spotted this article in Reuters the other day:

Study Fails to show Healing Power of Prayer

A study of more than 1,800 patients who underwent heart bypass surgery has failed to show that prayers specially organized for their recovery had any impact, researchers said on Thursday.

In fact, the study found some of the patients who knew they were being prayed for did worse than others who were only told they might be prayed for -- though those who did the study said they could not explain why.

The patients in the study at six U.S. hospitals included 604 who were actually prayed for after being told they might or might not be; another 597 patients who were not prayed for after being told they might or might not be; and a group of 601 who were prayed for and told they would be the subject of such prayer.

The praying was done by members of three Christian groups in monasteries and elsewhere -- two Catholic and one Protestant -- who were given written prayers and the first name and initial of the last name of the prayer subjects. The prayers started on the eve of or day of surgery and lasted for two weeks.

Among the first group -- who were prayed for but only told they might be -- 52 percent had post-surgical complications compared to 51 percent in the second group, the ones who were not prayed for though told they might be. In the third group, who knew they were being prayed for, 59 percent had complications.

After 30 days, however, the death rates and incidence of major complications was about the same across all three groups, said the study published in the American Heart Journal.

COMPLICATIONS AFTER SURGERY

"Intercessory prayer itself had no effect on whether complications occurred (and) patients who were certain that intercessors would pray for them had a higher rate of complications than patients who were uncertain but did receive intercessory prayer," the study said.

There is "no clear explanation" for the latter finding, it added.

The study -- called the largest of its kind -- was designed only to try to measure the impact of intercessory prayer on heart surgery patients, an intervention that some earlier reports had showed seemed to be beneficial.

"Our study was never intended to address the existence of God or the presence or absence of intelligent design in the universe" or to compare the efficacy of one prayer form over another, said the Rev. Dean Marek, director of chaplain services at the Mayo Clinic, one of the authors.

The patients in the study had similar religious profiles with most believing in spiritual healing and almost all also thinking that friends or relatives would be praying for them as well, he said.

"One caveat is that with so many individuals receiving prayer from friends and family, as well as personal prayer, it may be impossible to disentangle the effects of study prayer from background prayer," Manoj Jain of Baptist Memorial Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, another author of the report.

The authors said one possible limitation to their study was that those doing the special praying had no connection or acquaintance with the subjects of their prayer, which would not usually be the norm.

"Private or family prayer is widely believed to influence recovery from illness, and the results of this study do not challenge this belief," the report concluded.

Well, someone's certainly slacking off... *evil atheistic laugh*

Although it certainly is interesting to note that those who knew they were being prayed for did worse than those who were told that they 'might' be prayed for - perhaps the former felt twinges of guilt at the prospect of a group of strangers praying for hours at a time on their behalf (or maybe their recitals were just that bad)?

On the flip side, perhaps the latter group did better due to their being incensed at the thought of being left out of guaranteed prayer and wanting to prove otherwise (or to deck the impetuous bastard who said that he miiiiight just pray for you - if time permits - while you're on the operating table...). ;)

Still, bear in mind the limitations of this survey (especially the last paragraph) - i for one still tend to believe that mental placebos, religious or otherwise, do hold significant benefits for us.

Wa-Hey! A POST!!!

2006-03-31T02:24:00.000+08:00

Mood: Ah... misiere... *koff koff*
Reading: Jet May Be 10X Faster Than Other Planes
Currently listening to: I Alone - Live
Quote of the day: "If the facts don't fit the theory, change the facts." - Einstein, Albert

Or, rather, just a quick word from yours truly...

Sorry for the lack of updates and replies since i returned from Oz - fact is that i've been incredibly busy both in and out of work, and i even have the flu now. *sigh*

That and i felt like i needed a break from the daily update thing... Who says its easy being a blogger?

First off, i'd just like to draw your attention to the fact that i've switched the comments system from Haloscan to the standard Blogger one (its been a long time coming lemme tell you) due to the simple fact that your comments will now be saved for all posterity as opposed to being deleted after a few months. I swear, i was just going through the archives and it was just heart-rending to notice that all those beautiful comments were gone... GONE! *sniffle*

That, and this SHOULD filter spam... Sorry in advance for ditching your previous comments but, hey, it had to be done.

Anyhow, just wanted to let you all know that i'm still alive (hah!) and that updates will be forthcoming, including photos and some commentary on my recent trip to Adelaide and Melbourne, Andrew's wedding, my cousin's wedding back in Oz and here in KL (which i em-ceed last Saturday), the Gamarjobat review ('twas awesome! Go watch!) and any other going ons that i need to catch up on. Thankfully, the last two weeks were pretty tame really - oh, you know, the usual wine parties and hangouts that this poor excuse for a social butterfly puts himself through on a regular basis... ;)

As for plans for this weekend... Well, apparently midnitelily's brother is playing at Little Havana tomorrow night and, hey, would anyone else be up for this? ;)

Then again, if my flu gets the better of me tomorrow i might just stay at home and FINALLY watch Requiem For A Dream... :(

Saturday night consists of dinner, drinks and musique over at Bangkok Jazz (see the related post) while Sunday looks to be potentially busy with a matinee viewing of M! The Opera followed by, just maybe, that Scoop! On Books event. Hrmmm, will have to see how that works out...

Oh, and next Friday i'll be flying off (finally!) to KK to terrorize Sel, her fellow Sabahians and hornbills(?) alike! Anybody else wanna tag along? ;)

Oof. Looks like a busy one.

Nite!

Bangkok Jazz

2006-03-31T01:13:00.000+08:00

Hi all, apologies for the late post but... aw shucks, just be thankful that i'm posting again ja? ;)

Anyhow, this weekend's dining will be taking place at Bangkok Jazz (duh) - most of you have been there a fair bit for the music but i'm betting that almost none of you have actually eaten there before eh? I mean, think about it, a proper meal followed by some wine and jazz all in one very convenient location should make for a decent venue. From the website:

Bangkok Jazz Thai Bistro, a conceptual bar and Thai fusion appetizer bar that accords diners an experience that is captivating both to the palate and the eye, as well as To Dine For Fine Thai Cuisine, the perfect opportunity to experience some truly outstanding fare in a fine dining setting.

When we say "authentic" Thai fare - we really mean it. Each of our chefs hails from Thailand, and that's not all. The culinary team and even the waiters/waitresses and maitre'ds are all native Thais who take great pleasure in introducing the flavors of their homeland to eager clientele.Apart from the well informed and accommodating staff and glorious food, our restaurants are also unique in that each offers a distinctive environment, different from the other.

Well. Only one way to determine THAT... ;)

Anyhow, Leonard (as always) has kindly written up the details:

We're going to Bangkok Jazz this weekend. No no no, it's not a sleazy place (I've gotten the suspicious look before). In fact, it's rather nice there, and I do believe some of us have been to the bar side,and some of us have been back more than once, so it's not half bad. But I think most of us have never been to the restaurant side of Bangkok Jazz and we reckon it's a worth a try out. Check this review out.

Heading to the bar will be our after dinner event. It has little nooks for us to lounge around, snacking on Thai "Tapas" as we listen to the live music being played.

So as usual, the dinner will be held at Saturday 8:30, and if you want to come, please confirm your reservations with either Pat or myself (012-2077-653) by leaving a message on our blogs and we'll see you there. =)

Alas i can't seem to find a map to show you guys how to get there, plus i'm too lazy to draw and scan one (hah!), but the address details are as follows (leave a message, email me, or call me and i'll try to guide you to it):

Bangkok Jazz
Lot B1, Chulan Square,
92 Jalan Raja Chulan,
50200 Kuala Lumpur

Tel : 603 2145 8708
Fax : 603 2145 8710
Email : manager@seacuisine.com.my

As always, anyone who reads this is welcome to come! :)

PS: Be sure to check out their promotions page - can you say 10% discount? ;)

The Olive

2006-03-09T12:38:00.000+08:00

*This is a sticky post and will remain at the top of the blog. Please scroll down to view more recent entries*

Well, since i won't be around, it looks like Leonard is planning this one folks (dammit! I wanna go too!!!):

The Olive @ 11032006

Right guys, just a quick post about this weekend's dinner since Pat will not be around and hence is unable to host.

We're headed to The Olive at Plaza Damas, that's the shops next to Hartamas Shopping Centre. So, as usual, dinner will be at 8:30 on Saturday. This restaurant comes recommended from Jo-Lyn who got this recommendation from someone else (I forget who).

So do call me (012-2077-653) or leave a message to tell me that you'll be present for dinner...preferably by Friday so that I can keep your seat warm for Saturday.

See you at dinner! Ciao~!

So yeah, if you're interest please leave a comment here.

And finally, here's a review of the place:

FROM the start, The Olive Italian Cuisine aims to please. Step into the Italian restaurant in Plaza Damas and you will be pleased to find that the tables and chairs are arranged so that the aisles are wide, making it easier to move around.

It sits 30 people comfortably, and although the number of patrons is limited, co-owner Christina Chew refuses to forsake her customers’ comfort for her own gain.

"I don’t want to squeeze people in just to make more money. I want the restaurant to be a little bit exclusive and I want everyone to be comfortable."

The chairs are high-back, making sitting down very relaxing. The tables are topped with freshly starched table linen and napkins.

Into its sixth month of operation, The Olive has been receiving steady response, especially from those who work in the area and expatriates who live in the condominiums nearby. The bar upstairs, The Grapevine has become a place to party and hang out with friends.

The menu is extensive, with 50 items (excluding drinks), including 19 pasta dishes and four risotto. My colleague and I were enamoured from the start...

[Read More]

Travel Plans

2006-03-09T10:46:00.000+08:00

Mood: Bleargh
Reading: Liquid crystals show promise in controlling embryonic stem cells
Currently listening to: Nothing
Quote of the day: "Australia, n. A country lying in the South Sea, whose industrial and commercial development has been unspeakably retarded by an unfortunate dispute among geographers as to whether it is a continent or an island." - Ambrose Bierce

I don't know about you guys, but my motivation to blog for the last two days has been at an all time low.

I blame Resident Evil 4 and Black (mmm... gun porn). ;)

Anyhow, for those of you who don't know it yet i'll be flying off to Adelaide and Melbourne tomorrow evening for my cousin's wedding and a week of fun in a place that holds many memories and dear friends.

So... no dinners for the two weekends that i'll be away but you guys are more than welcome to organise your own (Joa? Lenny?) and i'll gladly post up the details here. Anyhow, i'll be arriving back in KL on the morning of Monday the 20th - just in time to get to work... *groaaan*

But, yeah, back to Melbourne...

How fun is it gonna be? Check out the email Louisa sent me - seems like she's organised an itinerary for yours truly:

Some changes in plans due to booked out venues and so on...

Wednesday 15 March 2006
Lebanese House Restaurant 264 RUSSELL ST, CARLTON/MELBOURNE 6PM
Attending: Patrick & cousin, Melvin, Christine, Anne, Iris, myself (anybody else? I have no idea as to how to get hold of Ryan)

Followed by
DOUBLE HAPPINESS (cocktails), COOKIES (beers, cocktails, coffees and shoestring fries) or YOUNG AND JACKSON (some cocktails, big cheap beers)

Thursday 16 March 2006
WARUNG AGUS (balinese food) 305 VICTORIA ST, WEST MELBOURNE 6:30PM
Attending: all as above?

Followed by
KOKO BLACK or BRUNETTI LYGON ST

Friday 17 March 2006
TBC (hey I gotta work out who's NOT booked out - will confirm at later stage)

Either Japanese buffet at 8pm (we have to have time to get to Box Hill Station so that our nice nice drivers, Anne and Sharon, can pick us up to go there) OR

El Cheapo Chinese Food in Chinatown (Shanghai Dumplings? Chom Chom?)

followed by
BAR/PUB CRAWL or STOKERS in Heidelberg (the pancake/hot chocolate place)?
Attending: who's in for this day besides myself, Fei Ling, Anne, Sharon and definitely Pat :)?

Saturday 18 March 2006
MOVIDA (spanish tapas) 1 HOSIER LANE, off Flinders St 1230pm - booked for Pat+cousin, Mel, Chris, Fei Ling, Anne, Sharon, Iris and myself

Mushroom around in the arvo
Followed by
Dinner and Drinks TBC - hey Pat, what u wanna eat u reckon?

Sunday 19 March 2006

YUM CHA VENUE: SHARK FIN INN OR HOUSE??? 1230PM?
Attending: who's in for this?

o_O

Yowza! Louisa - you're the best! ;)

As for other travel plans... lets see... i'm planning to go to Kota Kinabalu on the 7th-10th of April with Boon and Lenny (?), mainly to visit Selina and the rest of you Sabahians! At the end of the same month i should be off to Singapore for the EUSEA conference while, in August, i've got a trip to Mauritius on the books - but that one is really dependent on the outcome of the current Chikungunya fever epidemic. Still, it IS for a wedding AND i finally get to meet my ol' buddy Bernard again!

Anyhow, i'll leave it at that - if you guys want me to get anything for you while i'm down in Adelaide/Melbourne just leave a comment or send me an email. Try not to have too much of a good time without me now y'hear? :p

Nohari Window Results

2006-03-07T09:27:00.000+08:00

Mood: Bleh
Reading: Asymmetric Warfare: A Primer
Currently listening to: Nothing
Quote of the day: "Never explain--your friends do not need it and your enemies will not believe you anyway." - Elbert Hubbard

Whoops! Forgot to put my ego crushing Nohari Window results up, so here they are! Looks like most people agreed with how i saw myself - with cynical and chaotic (as well as aloof? Am i really?) being the most popular choices... That, and it looks like i can't hide any of my failings from all of you.

Hrmmm... still, it looks about right to me. Except for that 'embarassed' entry - whats up with that? And exactly does 'embarasses' actually infer anyway? *ponder*

Still, thanks again to all of you who took the time to point out my failings - much appreciated! *wink*

Arena

(known to self and others)

insecure, cynical, blasé, chaotic, unethical, callous

Blind Spot

(known only to others)

aloof, glum, irresponsible, lethargic, withdrawn, unhappy, distant, embarrassed, insensitive, passive, smug, unreliable

Façade

(known only to self)

Unknown

(known to nobody)

incompetent, intolerant, inflexible, timid, cowardly, violent, stupid, simple, vulgar, hostile, selfish, unhelpful, needy, unimaginative, inane, brash, cruel, ignorant, irrational, childish, boastful, imperceptive, impatient, weak, loud, vacuous, panicky, self-satisfied, rash, dispassionate, overdramatic, dull, predictable, inattentive, cold, foolish, humourless

Dominant Traits

83% of people agree that pattar is cynical
66% of people agree that pattar is chaotic

All Percentages

incompetent (0%) intolerant (0%) inflexible (0%) timid (0%) cowardly (0%) violent (0%) aloof (50%) glum (16%) stupid (0%) simple (0%) insecure (33%) irresponsible (16%) vulgar (0%) lethargic (16%) withdrawn (33%) hostile (0%) selfish (0%) unhappy (16%) unhelpful (0%) cynical (83%) needy (0%) unimaginative (0%) inane (0%) brash (0%) cruel (0%) ignorant (0%) irrational (0%) distant (16%) childish (0%) boastful (0%) blasé (50%) imperceptive (0%) chaotic (66%) impatient (0%) weak (0%) embarrassed (16%) loud (0%) vacuous (0%) panicky (0%) unethical (16%) insensitive (16%) self-satisfied (0%) passive (16%) smug (16%) rash (0%) dispassionate (0%) overdramatic (0%) dull (0%) predictable (0%) callous (16%) inattentive (0%) unreliable (16%) cold (0%) foolish (0%) humourless (0%)

Created by the Nohari Window on 7.3.2006, using data from 6 respondents.
You can make your own Nohari Window, or view pattar's full data.

Its not too late yet to have your say - just click here!

Oh, and for those who are interested, you can check out the original Johari window here.

VW Im Der Haus, Ja!

2006-03-06T01:21:00.000+08:00

Mood: Bliss
Reading: Military denies withdrawal plan
Currently listening to: Cassavetes - Fugazi
Quote of the day: "A car is not the only thing that can be recalled by its maker." - Anon.

As promised (to those of you who were there tonight) here are the three new Volkswagon ads in their hilarious 'Un-Pimp My Ride' campaign... I mean, how awesome is it to speak in German?

To wit:

Das ist COOL ja? ;)

(First saw them at Paul Tan's blog - but big props to Shaolin Tiger for pointing them out to me)

Vee Dub One

Vee Dub Two

Vee Dub Three

ROFL!

Oh, as an added bonus, here's the classic VW 'Terrorist Bomber' ad as well - too funny!

Had a great weekend by the way - which is just the thing i needed to kick start my Monday! :)

More on that later though...

Just For Laughs

2006-03-03T15:53:00.000+08:00

Mood: LOL!
Reading: Suicide Bomber Kills A US Diplomat
Currently listening to: Nothing
Quote of the day: "I think it would be a good idea." - Mahatma Gandhi

I hope you've got a decent connection! Mwahaha! ;)

Check out these Star Wars convention pics (and the associated insults) - classic! :p

[kudos to Shaolin Tiger for the heads up]

"It's not a tumor"...

General Douchehelmet poses with Corky for his promotion to Gold Leader of Special Squadron...

TOMORROW'S TAMPON, TODAY!!!...

R. Kelly goes undercover to find some "intergalactic" 15 year old to piss on...

LL Fool J...

Han Solo-Testicle hooks up with Princess Camel-toe...

ROFL!!! Be sure to check out the rest over here! ;)

Oh, and on another note these have to be the absolute mind-blowing pics i've seen in a while (and no, i don't think they've been faked):

o_O

And how about this one?

Anyhow, for more awesome pics, including the above ones, be sure to check out this site and have a browse through their sidebar (thanks Chatts!).

And yes, its a slow Friday. :)

Retro American Diner (...Thingy)

2006-03-03T09:46:00.000+08:00

Ok ok, so its a little late in coming (my bad!) but this week's dinner is going to be a relatively relaxed affair 'k? ;)

So... as for the location it kinda happened like this...

On one of our typical weeknight dinner forays Boon and i had the luck of discovering that the Sri Hartamas Shopping Centre had just opened a whole new strip of restuarants and bars/lounges along its entrance! For example, Modestos has expanded to include a verandah, a live performance open air lounge, and a chinese restaurant among others - all owned by the same people apparently. As such, i'm of the general opinion that we should go down there this weekend and have a look around this new area!

We'll be going to... to... well, i can't remember the exact name but its the Retro American Diner in front of the mall! It seems decent enough and serves good ol' American favourites like cheeseburgers, steak (Lenny?), and the like with the average price of, say, a cheeseburger with fries being about RM17. As an added bonus, if you pop over to the mall's information desk you can pick up one of their promotional brochures (can't remember which one exactly - but there are only three or so) and entitle yourself to a free milkshake (valued at RM12, hehe) if you purchase a main meal - excluding the pastas for some reason... (wtf?)

Anyhow, i figure that for after-dinner drinks we'll hit one of the new bars along the strip and maybe even listen to the live band in action - which, on the day we went there, was pretty good actually (although why they kicked it off with Tracy Chapman's Sorry i'll never know *cue wrist slitting*)

Anyhow, address details (and handy map) are as follows:

Couldn't find a map specifically of the Hartamas Shopping Centre but below you'll find directions to Plaza Damas, which is pretty much part of the Shopping Centre. As for the venue - you can't miss it! Its right along the front of the shopping mall and should actually be one of the first things you see (its the white one with "Retro American Diner" or somesuch on the front), as it is the first restaurant you'd see when driving towards the centre.

Dinner is at 8:30pm as usual and, as per procedure, if you're interested in coming kindly either leave a comment here, email me, or phone me for additional details and/or bookings with details on which event(s) you are coming for and how many friends/mistresses/animals/Hell's Angels/family/etc you will be bringing. During the night itself the tables will be booked under my name.

As always, anyone who reads this is welcome to come! :)

Flip Side: Nohari Window Experiment

2006-03-02T10:21:00.000+08:00

Mood: Becoming a little stressed
Reading: North and South Korean generals hold talks
Currently listening to: Nothing
Quote of the day: "Today's scientists have substituted mathematics for experiments, and they wander off through equation after equation, and eventually build a structure which has no relation to reality." - Nikola Tesla

I've just discovered that there is, in fact, a NOhari window available that is the dark, evil and ego-crushing opposite of the JOhari window that i put up yesterday.

Basically, its kinda like this:

The Nohari Window is a challenging inversion of the Johari Window, using antonyms of the original words. By describing your failings from a fixed list of adjectives, then asking your friends and colleagues to describe you from the same list, a grid of perceived and unrecognised weaknesses can be explored.

See? Now all of you people who were complaining that there were no choices such as... *ahem*... "crazy, whacko, ebil etc." should be able to find something here...

C'mon guys, give it a whirl - no offence will be taken in any way. All i ask is that you be honest in your critique upon my failings... Or, as the Sicilians would put it, "Only your real friends will tell you when your face is dirty." ;)

I can take the criticism!

So, that said, once again you can fill it out here - and i'll put up the results tomorrow.

Oh, and kudos to all of you who took the time to fill out my Johari Window the other day - the results, as you can see, are interesting to say the least (if you haven't done so yet you can still do it here - remember, now that you can see the whole table it is all the more important to be honest when filling it out!):

Arena

(known to self and others)

adaptable, complex, knowledgeable, searching

Blind Spot

(known only to others)

accepting, cheerful, clever, energetic, extroverted, friendly, intelligent, reflective, relaxed, silly, spontaneous, witty

Façade

(known only to self)

patient, self-conscious

Unknown

(known to nobody)

able, bold, brave, calm, caring, confident, dependable, dignified, giving, happy, helpful, idealistic, independent, ingenious, introverted, kind, logical, loving, mature, modest, nervous, observant, organised, powerful, proud, quiet, religious, responsive, self-assertive, sensible, sentimental, shy, sympathetic, tense, trustworthy, warm, wise

Dominant Traits

80% of people agree that ppincon is complex
80% of people agree that ppincon is knowledgeable
60% of people think that ppincon is witty

All Percentages

able (0%) accepting (20%) adaptable (20%) bold (0%) brave (0%) calm (0%) caring (0%) cheerful (20%) clever (40%) complex (80%) confident (0%) dependable (0%) dignified (0%) energetic (20%) extroverted (20%) friendly (40%) giving (0%) happy (0%) helpful (0%) idealistic (0%) independent (0%) ingenious (0%) intelligent (40%) introverted (0%) kind (0%) knowledgeable (80%) logical (0%) loving (0%) mature (0%) modest (0%) nervous (0%) observant (0%) organised (0%) patient (0%) powerful (0%) proud (0%) quiet (0%) reflective (20%) relaxed (20%) religious (0%) responsive (0%) searching (40%) self-assertive (0%) self-conscious (0%) sensible (0%) sentimental (0%) shy (0%) silly (20%) spontaneous (20%) sympathetic (0%) tense (0%) trustworthy (0%) warm (0%) wise (0%) witty (60%)

Created by the Interactive Johari Window on 2.3.2006, using data from 5 respondents.
You can make your own Johari Window, or view ppincon's full data.

No, i wouldn't really consider myself as being 'witty' (or friendly) lah... but complex? Yeah... i don't even understand myself 90% of the time! ;)

Meme Of 5s

2006-03-01T03:03:00.000+08:00

Tagged by Midnite Lily.

5 Things You Can’t Do
* Ride a bike - Its true. :(
* Sleep at a reasonable hour - 4-6am is the norm, and i get to the office by 9am.
* Get in a relationship - Its been... what? 4? 5 years now?
* Determine my purpose in life - And the path gets more confusing every day.
* Lie. *wink*

5 Things You Can Do
* Spend countless hours per day subsuming the internet into my very being. I'm at 1%.
* Eat ANYTHING. C'mon, i'm half FRENCH and half CHINESE!
* Take an avid interest in dance and still be too self-conscious to do it in public.
* The splits. Seriously.
* Write an information/research report of 36 pages within 6 hours. *sigh*

5 Things That Scare You
* Dying without having found a satisfying purpose for myself.
* Hrm...The fact that we, as a species, should be old enough to know better.
* Dreams.
* Deadlines.
* Failing others when it truly counts.

5 Things You Love
* Friends - For making life palatable. That and they're all crazy mofos. ;)
* Good food & drinks - Because its all good.
* Music - Because once you combine it with all of the above, it makes for one helluva night. :)
* Travelling - I wanna see it all!
* Computer/War/Board games - I. Love. Games. :)

5 Things You Hate
* Motorcyclists.
* Idiots in general who somehow escaped Darwin's axe...
* Boredom.
* People who mangle my last name (don't even try).
* Myself. Its personal. ;)

5 Random Facts About You
* I'm bi. Bipolar that is (as in the disorder).
* I still regret not joining the armed forces.
* My hair is thinning at an atrocious rate.
* I've broken my left arm 5 times and dislocated/fractured my jaw at least once.
* I'm incredibly morbid. Not to mention sadistic.

5 Things You Want To Do Before You Die
* Find the purpose i seek.
* Travel. To see, experience and interact as much as i can.
* Be truly happy.
* To be financially independent with enough to begin helping others do the same.
* Take over the world - for the better. Of course. ;)

5 people to tag
Selina
Yolanda
Joa
Huey Yee
Lisa

Pat's Johari Window Experiment

2006-03-01T02:16:00.000+08:00

Mood: Curious
Reading: Man registers .345 blood-alcohol level
Currently listening to: Song To The Siren - This Mortal Coil
Quote of the day: "He who wonders discovers that this in itself is wonder." - M. C. Escher

So... i was bored and didn't feel like writing and i stumbled across this (kudos to Audra for the tip):

The Johari Window was invented by Joseph Luft and Harrington Ingham in the 1950s as a model for mapping personality awareness. By describing yourself from a fixed list of adjectives, then asking your friends and colleagues to describe you from the same list, a grid of overlap and difference can be built up.

Interesting eh?

Now... this is where you lot come in:

You are reading this page because ppincon wants to know how you'd describe him or her - pick the five or six words from the list below that you think describe ppincon the best. (You can set up your own Johari Window afterwards, if you like.)

Easy!

See if your choices map with mine - you might be surprised...

Event: M! The Opera

2006-03-01T00:42:00.000+08:00

Kudos to Audra for pointing this one out - its been in all the papers and looks pretty promising! Anyone wanna go? If so, please leave a comment in the 'Man About Town' section please.

Be sure to check out their website!

M! The Opera is a new music composition that has been produced by some of Malaysia's finest creative talents.

Composed by Saidah Rastam, text written by Jit Murad and with a cast of over 35 wonderfully talented young stars this is a production that could only have evolved in Malaysia today, reflecting all the different communities and elements that have made Malaysia what it is in this day and age.

M grows up in Kampung Baru, where he watches and learns as his seamstress mother makes women beautiful.

Following rigorous training in industrial Japan M becomes a legendary fashion designer. Sepi, a beautiful childhood friend, is his Muse.

Then Kerabat, an outrageous designer, emerges…

M! The Opera explores the dramatic struggle between those who have found fame and love, and those who are about to achieve them, all set in the sumptuous world of couture.

Laziest Weekend Post EVAR!

2006-02-23T01:04:00.000+08:00

Mood: Lazy
Reading: The Pentagon's Media Contracts: The Wages Of Spin
Currently listening to: Nothing
Quote of the day: "Efficiency is intelligent laziness." - Anon.

So, as per my usual habit - and because of the fact that my weekdays tend to be pretty dull (aside from the occasional coffee/food/sports outing) - i once again present to you our regular series of, "What did Pat do this (last) weekend."

Of course, my cunning and nefarious plan of waiting for others to do the write up of such things has paid off yet again! Now all i need to do is fill in the missing details...

From Boon's post:

Friday: Bar Savanh with some of the guys from corporate finance, Pat, Vick, Davin (sp?), Floyd and his “femme du jour”(ok so I forgot her name…shoot me), Jo-lyn and her girlfriends from KPMG. The night started out slow…..peaked (cue tequila-always such a good idea at the time. “at the time” being the key phrase)….ended sloooooow (if you know what I mean)….twas a great way to blow out the week. And it was much needed. About that 2 month wager? You better believe its going to happen! *boon builds up hype*

Long story short, Boon ended up being QUITE wasted (to the extent that he was quite literally finding it nearly impossible to keep himself conscious at the mamak) while i was left in a relatively sour mood thanks to the fact that i was 1) Tired, and 2) Not allowed to drink (much) thanks to my being the designated driver and built-in wariness concerning road blocks. Argh.

Still, retro music, Boon's corporate finance buddies, and the fact that the girls outnumbered the guys in attendance (for once) made it a relatively interesting night out. Thanks Jo!

Oh, and as for the wager thing - ask Boon. ;)

Sat: Well, i did the usual dance and French class routine. MINUS the French class. All because of a last minute call from our US mission which ended with me frantically banging away nonstop at a computer in a nearby cybercafe for the better part of four hours (i didn't have the office keys for once).

Such is the corporate life. :(

Anyhow, back to Boon:

...had dinner at some Thai place with the guys (Al, Chen Hoe, Lenny, Pat, Ken, Kwong Heng). ate like KINGS….put it this way, a few of us were sweating profusely, jostling, and digging in to the spread laid before us and it didn’t seem to break any code of proper table manners….guess it didn’t matter. You know its reliably authentic when the you can’t pronounce the name of the place ; ) tad bit pricey (hey, with an indoor waterfall….)……but well worth it. *chuckle*…..”phark” (Thai for vegetables)…..

I ate REALLY well that night. :)

Oh, be sure to read Leonard's full dinner review - it should be right beneath this post (see Joa?)!

Anyhow, continuing on...

Off to La Bodega in Bangsar. Had some sangria, had some cake.Yum. Ran in to Reza and David, some guys from hmmm, 8 years ago during our time in Hamilton. Speaking of Reza though….spent some time catching up with his cousin Lyanna (also from those Hamilton days) last week. As an aside….she is one helluva dynamo….doesn’t stop moving….so much energy. Very unlike yours truly. Twas great to meet up though. Whoa, what’s with these people coming out of the cracks lately? At any rate….a little older, a little heavier…..all good ; )

Alvin’s for coffee. Usual suspects.

Sun: Morning tennis with Vic and Pat….at the zenith of our Malaysian sun may I add. One word describes my current skin tone: Lobster….which is pretty accentuated by the fact that I’m wearing a pink shirt today (why do I do such things?).

I had it just as bad - all morning everyone in the office thought i was blushing over something. Methinks i need to get out of the gym and into the sun more... :p

Tennis in the morning before lunch results in an awesome feeling - somewhere between knowing that you've sweated it out big time for the better part of two hours, and that strange feeling of being one well-baked lump of meat.

This was followed by a riveting game of Axis and Allies with Al and Pat. Nothing spells afternoon fun quite like a WWII tactical board game. So detailed….so many variables….so addictive. My favourite thing are the period and country-specific units. Case in point, Russian tanks units are mini replicas of T34s. W00t! As Al put it yesterday, “I’m getting that feeling I got in secondary school. The feeling you get when you know you have work to hand in on Monday but you’re still fixated on the game. I have work to hand in tomorrow.”

'Tis a beautiful game - so simple yet oh so very complex once you actually put your brain into it. Its even more interesting because we're playing the Revised Edition of the game and the new areas on the board now require a fair amount of new strategic thinking. Of course, in typical style, we didn't finish it there and then, but rather have left it on the board for another day (we're only on the 2nd turn!)...

For those of you who are REALLY curious, i'm playing as the Axis powers (mwahaha!) while Al is England + Russia and Boon is the US. After a rather horrendous first turn, i believe that i've recovered well and am in a good position to snatch Moscow, while the Japs have managed to break through into their rear...

*evil Hitler-like cackle*

Still... things get interesting from this point on.

Anyhow, thats all i've got. Sleep beckons, and another weekend approaches... I'm thinking Poppy on Friday night, and Andrew's wedding on the Saturday night.

Gonna be a good one - i can feel it!

Review: Sri Ayutthaya

2006-02-23T00:07:00.000+08:00

Courtesy of Leonard (and because i'm a lazy git):

Last Saturday was the busiest I'd ever seen that row of restaurants. So busy that I had to valet my car, cause I wasn't able to find a spot. In fact, I had to wait a while before the valet came to my car because they were all running helter skelter parking cars that evening.

The restaurant was really packed that night. I've never seen it that packed. When I arrived, I was ushered upstairs by the nice girl in the uniform to our very cramped looking table. That's also because I've got pretty large friends, and we were wedged in between two dinner parties.

The atmosphere around that evening was pretty frantic because of the dinner parties, but having the two dinner parties around us was pretty useful considering there were waiters all around our tables. Service was extremely prompt.

I've dined at the restaurant during the day, and it couldn't have been more different. In the day, it was actually rather serene, with the shaded sunlight and the sound of the fountain splashing in the background. And the waiters, a lot less hectic seemed a bit more attentive (that, and our waiter for saturday evening was a trainee).

We decided to each order one dish (with the help of the dinner party at the next table) so we had red curry prawns, green curry chicken, deep fried traditional thai style fish, kailan with belacan, kuali squid, black pepper beef, and some thai spring chicken, and some of us had individual servings of tom yam. My mother reckons we should have gone for the Thai Steamed Fish instead. Would've been a better choice according to her. But who's complaining. :)

The food came before and rice did, and so we waited, as patiently as possible for the rice to come before we started our pig out. In the mean time, the red curry prawns and the green curry chicken steamed, and our mouths watered. The aromas of both those dishes (since they did arrive first) were lingering in our nostrils, enticing us to reach for it...

When the rice did come, we all graciously waited till everyone had a massive serving of rice...Then just as we dug in...our hands got shooed away by Chen Hoe so that he could take a picture of the meal, and then we continued. Then the other dishes arrived almost simultaneously, filling our table to it's limit.

The red curry prawns is a definite must try. It's flavour was rich with tastes of coconut milk and curry, although it was not spicey at all. In fact, this dish is probably the favourite around the table. This curry is not at all similar to Indian curry, although because it is not spicey, you could probably drink gallons of this sauce.

The serving of the green curry chicken was a lot smaller than that of the prawns, also rich in tastes of coconut milk, it's curry taste was slightly contrasting with the tastes of the red curry, but I do believe the green curry taste was slightly over powered by that of the red curry. Just be wary of those small green balls in the sauce, I once thought they were peas. They were peppers.

The Tom Yam Kungs ingredients come from a huge variety of seafood that's basically been throw into the pot. So the tastes are rich with spice and sour. I order it everytime I'm there.

I was a slightly disappointed with the kuali squid because the kuali beef was so good. The kuali squid could've had more flavour, but I guess the beef has a stronger flavour than the squids which explains the end result. Also, I'm not surprised that the cooking was rushed because of the dinner crowd. Still, it was walloped...really quickly.

The dinner did not last very long, with the 7 of us very quickly devouring up the food...and fighting over the fish carcass at the end.

The dinner was so good, we drank up nearly all the sauce in the pots. I believe Chen Hoe has some pictorial evidence of that. (I'll post up the pictures soon as Chen Hoe sends them over)

We called for the bill when everyone was satisfied and almost patting their bellies. The bill came up to approximately 50 odd bucks per person, but considering we were all so full, it was definitely well worth the meal.

SHAMELESS PLUG ALERT!

For those of you who still don't know - Joa does the vast majority of reviews over at her blog, so check it out ja?

And yes, hopefully we'll be able to get cracking on a dedicated blog/site for these dinners and reviews once she gets back.

That, and could you guys PLEASE send me some of the photos we took at Sri Ayutthaya???

Yellow Fever

2006-02-22T02:40:00.000+08:00

Mood: Wtf?
Reading: Mystery blob eating downtown
Currently listening to: Mr Brightside - The Killers
Quote of the day: "Pepsi brings your ancestors back from the grave." - ad slogan 'Pepsi Comes Alive' as initially translated into Chinese

So, i FINALLY managed to watch 'Yellow Fever' thanks to my brother Paul... Basically, its a short amateur film made by some guys (kinda like us eh?) with a hilarious take on dating for Asians in the US - and elsewhere i suppose...

Personally, i thought that it was really well done and scripted given their limited resources (we should learn from this!) and more than a few scenes had me laughing out loud or just plain banging my head on the table... Anyhow, check it out below!

Random thought (once you've watched it): So where does that place Eurasians in the pecking order? ;)

Event: German Soccer Feature Films

2006-02-22T02:09:00.000+08:00

Looks like the HELP institute is doing its part to bring the World Cup fever to KL (and best of all - its FREE! w00tsk1! Oh, kudos to Midnite Lily for pointing this one out) - here are the details from the Kakiseni site:

Title: German Soccer Feature Films & Short Films about Soccer

Venue: HELP University College Theatrette
BZ-2 Pusat Bandar Damansara, 50490, Kuala Lumpur

Date & Time: Mon 6 - Sun 12 Mar 2006 (Times to be announced)

Tickets: Free Admission

Ticket Contact: Wong Tuck Cheong; wongtc@help.edu.my; T: 012-225 5136 or Patsy Ng; admin@kualalumpur.goethe.org; 603-2142 2011

Synopsis:

It's been four long years, but yes, Soccer-mania is upon us yet again, as kick-off for the World Cup 2006 draws temptingly close!

So as we brace ourselves for two weeks of late nights (or very early mornings), getting caught snoozing at work, blow-outs over.. well everything to do with football, Goethe Institue KL together with Kelab Seni Filem Malaysia have decided kick start the festivities with screenings of, yes you guessed it, football themed films.

Catch screenings of:

- The Eleven Devils: (Silent film) Zoltan Corda - D 1927 (98 Min.)

- Football As Never Before: Hellmuth Costard - D 1970 (100 Min.)

- Liberated Zone: Norbert Baumgarten - D 2002 (93 Min.)

- The Miracle Of Berne: Sönke Wortmann - D 2003 (118 Min.)

- One Day in Europe: Hannes Stöhr - D/Spanien 2004 (93 Min.)

- Depth of the Field: Gil Mehnert - D 2004 (88 Min.)

- The Champions: Christoph Hübner, Gabriele Voss - D 2003 (129 Min.)

- Adelante Muchachas: Erika Harzer, Kalle Stayman - D/Honduras 2004 (60 Min.)

There will also be a presentation of the "Berlinale" 'Talente Show' Short Film Competition (2004):

- Shoot Goals - Shoot Movies (44 Shorts from 28 countries (84 Min.) from Berlinale Talente Show 2004.

In addition international soccer photos will be shown. The exhibition selected from "Planet Football – Weltsprache Fussball" covers themes directly associated with football, such as urbanity, society at play, and social issues.

Links: http://www.goethe.de/kug/prj/tor/film/fpw/deindex.htm
http://www.help.edu.my

Event: Jose Padilla Live @ Zeta Bar

2006-02-22T00:58:00.000+08:00

This one just in courtesy of Audra (click the thumbnail, courtesy of SmoovePinch, for more details) - anyone wanna go?

[This Friday] Jose Padilla, the chill out music spiritual father will be at Zeta Bar for one night only in conjunction with the release of his album Man Ray 4. The inspiration for the Man Ray album series is Mandala Ray, the celebrity nightspot in Paris. Jose Padilla, 2002 Latin Grammy nominee will showcase an impeccable and intimate mix, exclusively from Man Ray 4 live for one night only at Zeta Bar...

Quick edit: Thanks to Midnite Lily for pointing out that the price of the event (according to the poster - d'oh!) is a whopping RM120/person!!!!!!!

o_O

Erm... reconsider?

Sri Ayutthaya

2006-02-18T23:15:00.000+08:00

Hey all, our Saturday night dining series recommences again this week after a two week long Chinese New Year hiatus! Amazingly more than a few people have approached me recently with ideas on where we should go and, even better (for me at any rate), they have been more than willing to organise the event on my behalf!

Ahhh... bliss. 'Tis a rare week when i can just sit back and become nothing more than a normal diner... :)

Anyhow, to kick things off this week we're going Thai courtesy of Leonard:

Hi All,

Just a quick note about this weekend's dinner.

We're going Thai this weekend. This is definitely one of my favourite restaurants. In particular, I love the Kuali Beef (but don't wear a white shirt when you order this) and the Tom Yam is made from all sorts of seafood resulting in a really rich taste.

Prices are fairly reasonable, considering I'd order about 80 bucks worth of food for two people...And that's when I really go nuts and can barely walk straight after dinner.

I reckon this is a must try (again), so do try and make it this weekend.
Venue : Sri Ayutthaya
Address : 3 Jalan Setiapuspa, Medan Damansara, Damansara (That's the same row as Victoria Station in Damansara Heights)

To reserve your spot, please call me at 012 2077 653 or leave a message on this blog...If you get lost getting there, you can also call this number.

Khawp khun Lenny! ;)

Additional information on the place is painfully non-existent on the web (really guys, its not that hard to set up a website) - the only one i DID find was the Google cache of Chris's short Makan Makan column which lists down some recommendations for us to try:

...Sri Ayutthaya Thai Restaurant served original Thai cuisine. Recommended main courses are Fak Thong, Crispy Scallop Chiang Rai Style and Fried Prawn with Coconut Flesh.

...oh, and The Star's Kuali:

Dishes that will entice you are like chicken pandan, boojaa, otak-otak and Thai pineapple rice...

Hrmm... definitely virgin review territory here.

Anyhow, as was stated above address details (and handy map) are as follows:

Venue : Sri Ayutthaya
Address : 3 Jalan Setiapuspa, Medan Damansara, Damansara (That's the same row as Victoria Station in Damansara Heights)
Tel: 03-20942333

Dinner is at 8:30pm as usual and, as per procedure, if you're interested in coming kindly either leave a comment here or at Leonard's blog post, email me, or phone me for additional details and/or bookings (by Thursday afternoon please) with details on which event(s) you are coming for and how many friends/mistresses/family you will be bringing. During the night itself the tables will be booked under Leonard's name.

As always, anyone who reads this is welcome to come! :)

Event: The Scoop On Books!

2006-02-17T01:14:00.000+08:00

Looks like Audra's actually organizing a charity event for International Children's Book Day - and they need YOUR support!

Check it out:

(ok a tad long as i've copied the post in full, but i don't think i'm allowed to link to her blog *grumble*)

What’s the Scoop On Books?

Since most of the difficult bits pertaining to Project Director have been sorted out during CNY week and out of the way now (now the fun part of delegation! Whoopee.), I finally have the time to blog about my class event – The Scoop on Books! Reading Campaign.

It started off as a brief proposal for a one day event to cultivate healthy reading habits among Malaysia’s young and fund-raising for the development of Braille reading materials. I certainly did not expect my project to be selected amidst other campaigns proposed by other groups ie. SPCA charity drive, Batik Gala dinner, Petronas F1 campus tour..and so on.

How this idea came into being you may ask? I swear I had no idea what I wanted to do, so I browsed through NST’s lifestyle section and lo and behold – came across this feature article on Rebecca Duckett-Wilkinson, a local children’s book author, promoting her book Natu the Chichak. Bam! There was my event.. I wanted to promote her book!

So here I was, thinking ah heck, they’ll prolly not choose my event anyways but whaddya know, here I am a month later in full Project Director glory (what do I know about leadership?!).
After our thrice weekly meetings, the humble one-day event has now become a full-fledged campaign. Basically, this campaign is targeted at preschoolers from the age of 4-6 years, and consists of three parts –

i) Press Conference (24th February 2006)
ii) Kindergarten Celebrity Reading (10th March 2006)
iii) Sundae Party@galleriiizu (2nd April 2006)

There will we four celebrity readings held simultaneously on the 10th at four separate kindergartens. So far, the celebs who have been contacted are:

i) Ashraf Sinclair (Confirmed)
ii) Adibah Noor (Confirmed)
iii) Sharifah Amani & Aleya
iv) Cheryl Samad
v) Sazzy Falak (Emcee for Sundae Party..she looks so angry in the photo!)

We also have a patron – Datin Radziah Mohd. Daud, the President for the National Association for Early Childhood Care and Education Malaysia (NAECCEM) who has agreed to sponsor books as prizes. She has also agreed to brief our celebs as to the proper way of reading books to preschoolers (it’s an art you see), that will not only be fun, but able to develop their fine motor skills at the same time.

There will be a drawing competition themed “My Favourite Book Character” during the Kindergarten Celebrity Reading whereby two winners will be selected from each kindy, and their drawings will be printed onto cards and later sold at RM10.00 per booklet (consisting of eight cards). We will be targeting personal sales as well as bulk-sales to corporations.

The Scoop on Books! A Sundae Party

This event finale will be held at galleriiizu, a very nice contemporary art gallery in the heart of KL (opposite the KLCC Convention Centre). Why an art gallery? We’re branding our event as discovering the art of reading. I’m sure we’re all aware that anyone can read a book aloud, but not everyone can do it well. Same goes to teaching, anyone can teach, but not everyone can teach effectively. This event is targeted to middle-upper class parents who encourage and cultivate the finer art of reading – definitely an event every child should have the privilege of participating! (Oh I forgot to mention, each child should come in costume as favourite book character..joy!)

Rebecca Duckett-Wilkinson (my muse bwaha) has also agreed to conduct the final book-reading session at galleriiizu and also very graciously agreed to give 30% of all book-sales proceeds to our fundraising cause.

We will also be inviting a few blind + disabled children to join in on the fun, and there will be a brief Braille appreciation session, as well as a Braille recital by one of the students from MAB. There’s also a Creative Writing Recital by the other preschoolers. The day closes with a Sundae party whereby all preschoolers get rewarded with ice-cream..yum!

Anyway, so far things have been going pretty smooth flowing. We’re looking for monetary contributions though so if anyone is interested in helping out this event with a good cause (children + the blind..c’mon!) do let me know. We can arrange to have your logo/advertisement in our program book for the Sundae Party. Rest assured that our event will receive publicity (doh, it’s a PR counseling project!), we will be sending out press releases and invitations to the media, and with our line-up of celebs I’m sure there’ll be a good photo opportunity for it to get good coverage in papers. So yeah, contributions of ANY sort would be good :D

I’m so stoked that things are going well..yay!! I have to thank my team of 26 individuals..you guys are doing a great job, this project wouldn’t be as big as it is without each and everyone of you, and thanks for believing in me <3

If you're interested in attending and doing your bit, please let me know by commenting in the 'Man About Town' section, thanks! ;)

So, Yeah, About That Valentine's...

2006-02-16T00:39:00.000+08:00

Mood: Sigh
Reading: Britain has new weapon against loitering youths -- Sonic Teenager Deterrent
Currently listening to: Autumn Leaves - Diana Krall
Quote of the day: "Love sought is good, but given unsought, is better." - Shakespeare, William

Well, here's hoping that your Valentine's was good - in the end we (and by that i mean Albert, Boon, Jo Lyn, JJ, and myself) went to Clear for drinks, for company, and for the opportunity to just be ourselves (that is, as debauched as our conversation). That, and i finally got to actively watch a WWF match on the TV, for lack of having anything better to do...

It was relatively depressing, what with the multitude of couples that kept passing by in front of us.

Yet uplifting, in a group therapy kinda way.

Still, at least i had some good company - and thats always welcome in my book. Thanks guys! ;)

On a more pleasing note however, in the only memorable Valentine's Day planning that i was privy to, Vikram took to heart my recounting of my last Valentine's Day tale: Three/four/five (ouch) years ago i bribed my little brother into playing the part of a butler and chef (he's a great cook) while i entertained my date with that classis combination of wine, candles, a 3-course dinner... uh... my 'wit', and a 36th floor penthouse view of KL city by night (God bless my home. And the convenience - fantastic!). Just the right kind of personal touches to make it both private and memorable. ;)

Anyhow, seems like Vik cooked up a storm last night and even managed to decorate his house with at least 30-odd candles - heck, he even added a nice touch by sending her a formal invitation complete with a menu (which i had reviewed prior to its sending). The theme was based around gold or/and purity with all the dishes he made being of that hue - complete with titles for each course like... erm... 'Golden sunset' for the dessert of vanilla ice cream and mango slices (somewhat corny really - but this may be the bitter and lonely cynicist in me speaking). I can't recall the details but i'm pretty sure there was an asparagus/mushroom soup and butter/cream prawns in there somewhere... you get the idea. I'm guessing that this theme was made to match the gift which was a lovely gold necklace he had bought the week before.

Anyhow, written at the very bottom of the menu (and i have to say this) was written the following post-dinner degustation - "Price: One Kiss"

Awww... ;)

I still have no idea as to whether she paid the asking price. I'm pretty sure she did, although something about his behaviour today tells me she might have given him a generous tip in the bargain... *winkity wink*

So... how was your Valentine's? :)

Oh, was bored so i did some quizzes (thanks Midnite Lily!) too:

Your Seduction Style: Au Natural

You rank up there with your seduction skills, though you might not know it.
That's because you're a natural at seduction. You don't realize your power!
The root of your natural seduction power: your innocence and optimism.

You're the type of person who happily plays around and creates a unique little world.
Little do you know that your personal paradise is so appealing that it sucks people in.
You find joy in everything - so is it any surprise that people find joy in you?

You bring back the inner child in everyone you meet with your sincere and spontaneous ways.
Your childlike (but not childish) behavior also inspires others to care for you.
As a result, those who you befriend and date tend to be incredibly loyal to you.

What Kind of Seducer Are You?

You Have a Phlegmatic Temperament

Mild mannered and laid back, you take life at a slow pace.
You are very consistent - both in emotions and actions.
You tend to absorb set backs easily. You are cool and collected.

It is difficult to offend you. You can remain composed and unemotional.
You are a great friend and lover. You don't demand much of others.
While you are quiet, you have a subtle wit that your friends know well.

At your worst, you are lazy and unwilling to work at anything.
You often get stuck in a rut, without aspirations or dreams.
You can get too dependent on others, setting yourself up for abandonment.

What Temperment Are You?

Hrmmm... true?

Valentine's Day Plans

2006-02-13T16:39:00.000+08:00

Mood: Pensive
Reading: Super 3G Could Arrive Within 3 Years
Currently listening to: Nothing
Quote of the day: "Misery no longer loves company. Nowadays it insists on it." - Russell Baker

Plans? What plans? Surely you jest!

But seriously, i was just wondering, and this may be a bit late, but do any of you single people out there want to do anything on Valentine's Day tomorrow night?

I'm not sure if there are any events of the 'drink and mingle' or speed dating variety (and if you do, please let me know) but a quick perusal of Kakiseni brings up the following:

Valentine's Day with Shanon @ Alexis

Be romanced by the mesmerising Shanon Shah, as he returns to Alexis Bar & Bistro to serenade you this coming Valentine's Day.

Shanon will be accompanying himself on the piano, singing songs about love and longing... blah blah blah...

Hrm. I think not.

Valentine Day's Art Exhibition

An exhibition featuring works by Syed Thajudeen, Yap Hong Ngee, Kow Leong Kiang and T.S. Lai.

Yawn.

A Cynic's Valentine Day - featuring TwoPax @ Bangkok Jazz Thai Bistro

Forget the chocolates, the flowers, the sappy songs and all that other malarkey. This Valentines Day, don't have visions of many things while walking those lands of broken dreams - instead, go indulge in some minor love bashing at Bangkok Jazz.

Join the duo TwoPax, made up of Weina and Darre, who will be backed by The Bangkok Jazz band, as they sing songs of broken hearts, of love unrequited, distant or doomed and of course, those less than perfect relationships...

Now THIS sounds more like it! ;)

Ok, so tomorrow night - while the couples go out and the idiot with the testicles (though there ARE exceptions to this statement in more ways than one mind you) is forced to sit through the mind-numbing KL Valentine's Day traffic and pay for a thoroughly overrated dinner and gift at some crowded eatery somewhere - i say the rest of us either go to Bangkok Jazz to watch TwoPax or go to Clear at Plaza Mont Kiara and have a few pints!

Who's with me? ;)

Don't Mind Me...

2006-02-13T09:31:00.000+08:00

Mood: Monday. Bleah.
Reading: US Conducts First Full-Scale Cyber Security Exercise
Currently listening to: Nothing
Quote of the day: "Sanity is not statistical." - Orwell, George

So, yeah, its another Monday at work and i've just realised that i actually have NOTHING to do! Amazing, no? :)

Anyhow, just wanted to point out that i've updated the template somewhat (including that erroneous personal details part that stated i was still 24) and added/updated a two links to the sidebar... Lisa's blog is now there and, for those of you who know him, i've updated the correct url for Melven's new blog - check 'em both out!

On another note, i had a pretty good weekend all in all... Went for that War On Terror documentary on Friday night with Boon at the KLPac but the traffic that night was utterly horrendous! What would normally take about 45 minutes travel time on a normal Friday night exploded into a plodding 2 hour traffic nightmare - so much so that Vik, JJ and Davine (who were supposed to meet us there) gave up and headed for home. The worst part by far, i suppose, had to have been the fact that my bladder was about to explode for much of the journey. I mean, can you imagine the torment of holding 'the urge' for the better part of an hour, whilst listening to some bad jokes (damn you Boon!), and slowly inching your way to a turnoff (and a secluded enough spot) at the rate of 0.5 metres a minute?

Gah.

Anyhow, the documentary was good. I didn't learn anything new that i already hadn't managed to establish for myself (thank you daily security newswire services) but its a major topic for me and managed to hold my interest throughout. The more interesting event was, by far, the post movie discussion where a Malaysian human rights lawyer of some apparent notoriety was invited to initiate a discussion on Malaysian human rights issues. Interesting stuff what with, for example, the various detailed insights into the legalities and interpretations of the ISA (Internal Security Act) and interpretation of the freedom of worship section of our Malaysian constitution.

And yes, it was hosted by Amnesty International Malaysia. :)

(note: getting stopped by the Malaysian police for whatever reason when driving in a car with various Amnesty pamphlets scattered around the back seat might lead on to painful results, physical or otherwise...)

Other than that i spent the better part of the weekend celebrating Alvin's birthday at his place (we 'surprised' him with a coffee machine of some sort - i think of it as an investment) and at the Al-Rawsha arabic restaurant on Saturday night. Also managed to swing by Alexis with some of the guys that same night for some jazz and, more importantly, to meet up with my old friends Zamil, Skye, Huey and - surprise, surprise - Nigel Wong!

Played tennis/squash, followed by some ginger tea, chicken, and conversation on Sunday with Vik. Went for my brother's crab and seafood dinner ~~holocaust~~ fiesta at Green View and then hung out at Jo Lyn's house with the guys (some CNY occasion i'm sure).

Hrmmm... what else, what else...

Oh yeah, Saturday dinners are back on again this week so keep an eye out for tomorrow's post!

Event: Puteri Gunung Ledang The Musical

2006-02-10T02:16:00.000+08:00

Kudos once again to Audra for another heads up - anyone interested in checking out this much hyped musical? Heck, is it in English? o_O

Regardless, if you are interested in attending do leave a message on the Man About Town section and i'll see if i can't arrange something...

Dates

February 7 & 8 – Previews @ 8.30pm RM30 (Student, veteran, disabled)

February 9 to 26 – Show Dates @ 8.30pm (normal price)

February 12, 19 & 26 – Matinees @ 3.00pm (normal price)

Tickets

RM150, RM100, RM70, RM50 & RM30

Venue

Istana Budaya, Kuala Lumpur

Box Office

03-4026 5558

Booking Website

www.ticket2u.biz

Tickets available at Istana Budaya, Kuala Lumpur.

For more information, please call/fax ticket2u.biz at 03-4026 5558
Email: production@enfiniti.com.my or visit www.pglthemusical.com.my

looks pretty impressive, also my friend gave it good reviews so must go watch before it becomes a west end staple lol plus stephen rahman hughes is hot so yes, i NEED to go!! *sheepish grin*

Erm...yes... thats nice to know Audra. o_O

Anyhow, more details of the play via Kakiseni:

Majestic kings, dazzling damsels, heroic warriors - billed as a feast for the senses, Puteri Gunung Ledang the musical follow the tragic love affair between Gusti Putri Retno Dumillah (Puteri Gunung Ledang) and Hang Tuah.

The ailing kingdom of Majapahit is under threat from its neighbour Demak and seeks protection from the Sultan of Melaka. The Sultan in turn asks for an expensive prize in return for his help - the hand of the princess of Majapahit. Unbeknownst to all, the princess and Melaka warrior Hang Tuah have fallen in love...

Immerse yourself in the tale of the two yearning lovers, torn between wanting to follow their hearts, and wanting to be loyal to king and country.

This musical is indeed a collaboration of great minds and talents, with Dick Lee as the composer, Zahim Albakri as the director, Adlin Aman Ramlie as the scriptwriter and co-director, and Roslan Aziz as musical director. Starring Tiara Jacquelina, Stephen Rahman-Hughes, Adlin Aman Ramlie, AC Mizal and Sukania Venugopal.

Event: Coffee And Toast

2006-02-10T02:03:00.000+08:00

Kudos to Audra for this one - if you're interested in attending please leave a comment in the Man About Town section and we'll see if we can't organise something... (in other words, Audra's arranging but i don't think i have permission to put up her url - RM5 to the bored bugger who can find it! :p)

Hi guys,

Below are the details of this play that I am
managing. Please have a read and come to the
play. It is a double bill and well worth the RM10 its
charging:

Aroma is proud to present : Wake Up and Smell
the Coffee & Toast!

Details are as below:

Shows:
a) Play - "Toast!" - Original Script by local new
playright, Shahredza Minhat (from Aroma).
b) Monolog - Excerpts of "Wake up and Smell the
Coffee" - excerpts from the script written by Eric
Bogosian.

Dates:
Press Preview
- 23rd Feb 2006
Performances
- Fri - Sun Evenings: 24 - 26 Feb 2006 (8:30 p.m.)
- Sunday Matinee : 26 Feb 2006 (2:30 p.m.)

Venue:
Taman Budaya, Jabatan Kebudayaan,Kesenian &
Warisan, Jalan Tun H.S Lee, Kuala Lumpur
(Accessible by Central Market/Pasar Seni Putra
LRT)

Tickets :
RM 10
(contact Mukeh - 012-2552071 or
mukeh@yahoo.com)

For further details(synopsis, cast & crew, map),
Please visit http://coffeeandtoast.s0lidmind.com

REMINDER : CONTENT MIGHT NOT BE
SUITABLE FOR AUDIENCES UNDER 18

* Feel free to contact me if you need more details!
and please pass this around! Thanks!!! *

Event: Gamarjobat

2006-02-10T01:43:00.000+08:00

Looks like Soo Jin is organising a trip down to the Actor's Studio in the coming days to check out this Japanese comedy duo - please leave a message either on the Man About Town comments or get in touch with Soo Jin if you're interested:

GAMARJOBAT

Date:

Mar 3 – 19, 2006

Venue:

The Actors Studio, Bangsar Shopping Centre

Show Times:

Tues ~ Thurs 8PM

Fri
9PM

Sat
3PM & 9PM

Sun
3PM & 8PM

Price RM52 ~ RM92
(inclusive of
ticketing charge)

TAP WATER AWARD WINNER

Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2005

BEST DUBBLE ACT

Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2005

This hilarious “shut up comedy” from Japan stars a highly-acclaimed physical comedy duo who will perform a silent comedy that absolutely transcends anything you think you know about clowning, magic and mime!

On Ass Hair...

2006-02-09T10:41:00.000+08:00

Mood: Busy as hell
Reading: Vulnerability to Systempunkts
Currently listening to: Break On Through - The Doors
Quote of the day: "Everything is funny as long as it is happening to Somebody Else." - Will Rogers

Yes, yes, i'm busy as heck with my office work (and twilight calls to the US *sigh*) so apologies for the lack of posting...

Anyhow, Lisa passed me this story today and... and... OMG its hilarious (and scary).

Its originally from Kevin Ling's blog but i've reprinted it in its full glory here:

Hairy Butt?

Don't Shave That Hair!!!

I have recently made a mistake in my life, and I offer my story to you, that you may learn from my error. It all started, as many things do, with me having trouble shitting.

No, I was not constipated; this was not a regularity problem but a matter of technique. It seems my ass-hair had grown to such a length that tiny grogans were constantly getting tied up in the matted jungle between my asscheeks. It led to much frustration, with me KNOWING that I still had something to drop, but unable to shake the tenacious turd loose from its butthair dwelling. Eventually I would have to do two things: either reach down with some paper and try to pinch off the lingering loaf (which required careful precision to avoid smearing the creature all over my rear, especially since I had no way of seeing what I was doing) or just go for broke, start wiping, and hope that I could remove all the leftover fecal matter before the toilet paper reached its Can't-Be-Flushed threshold.

I was contemplating this problem, when I had what seemed at the time to be a bright idea. "Hey! This is my butt and my butt-hair, right? So why don't I just eliminate all the hair, and then my grogans will flow out like beer from a keg!" I said to myself. It is a statement that will go down in history with a lot of other regretted statements. "How many Indians could there be?" said by General Custer. "Looks like a good day for a drive!" by JFK. "There! America On-Line now has complete Usenet access!" by some idiot system tech. Such was my anal shaving idea.

I performed the operation that night, with a cheap disposable razor and a towel to sit on. Starting from the bottom, and shaving from the crack to the cheeks, I began the arduous process of ridding my ass of hair. Occassionally, I would have to clean the razor of accumulated hair and miscellaneous slime, which I did by wiping it on the towel. Slowly, my twin mounds and the between-ravine began to resemble the hairless cheeks of a newborn baby. Finally, I wiped the razor one last time, and surveyed my work. The towel was covered with a pile of hair. My ass was smooth as ivory. I smiled, satisfied, thinking my troubles were over.

Little did I know.

I now have a great respect for anal-hair. Like everything in this world God created, it has its mighty purpose in existence. It was only after I had removed it that I started to learn how much I had been taking it for granted. For one, it provides friction. I learned this the next day, when I walked out into the sun heading for class. After climbing two flights of stairs and starting to sweat, I started to notice something unpleasant. The sweat was accumulating in my crack, and was causing the unpleasant sensation of my two asscheeks sliding past each other with every step. I thought about going to the bathroom and wiping it off, but had to get to class. Eventually, I thought, it would dry.

Unfortunately, it did dry, but only after mingling with the microscopic shit- molecules lingering around my brown starfish. When I stood up after class, my cheeks were stuck together with a slimy sticky shit/sweat combination. As I made my way back to my dorm, it started to itch. God-DAMN, did it itch! Felt like a swarm of ants was making its way up and down my crack. Fighting to keep from jamming my hand down there and scratching away, I rushed back to the dorm.

Unfortunately again, this exertion caused me to sweat, and when I finally reached my room, my cheeks were sliding back and forth against each other like a pair of horny cane-toads. I quickly dropped my pants, and attempted to dry my ass off by sticking it in front of a fan and spreading my cheeks. As I pulled the two mounds of flesh apart, a horrible stench burst free and filled the room. Every dog within a 4 block radius started to howl. I had it worst of all, as the ripe aroma of festering shit/sweat went into the fan and blew back into my face. I fought to keep from heaving. And as I sat there, fighting vomit, my ass cheeks spread and dripping, with the concentrated aroma of my body odor mixed with the tangy smell of my own shit blowing right into my face, I had only one thought: "It will be like this until the hair grows back. Weeks."

Later on, trying to deal as best I could, wiping my ass at every opportunity, I discovered another wonderful use for ass-hair - ventilation. I attempted to launch a fart, only to have it get stuck between my asscheeks. Apparently, with no hair, the two pink twins can get vacuum sealed together, and the result was a frustrating fart that slid up and down between my cheeks like a lost gerbil.

As if that wasn't enough, I am now enduring further torture. As anyone who has ever shaved anything knows, when hair is first growing in, it comes in as stubble. Imagine your ass having the texture of a brillo pad. Well, that is what I am dealing with now. It is a hellish torture, and there are many times when I just look out the window and contemplate why I shouldn't just jump out and get it all over with in one fleshy splat, rather than endure this constant agony.

Friends, DON'T SHAVE YOUR ASS-HAIR!

I Hate Mondays

2006-02-07T00:31:00.000+08:00

Mood: Grumpy
Reading: Exclusive: Can the President Order a Killing on U.S. Soil?
Currently listening to: Nothing
Quote of the day: "When a man tells you that he got rich through hard work, ask him: 'Whose?'" - Don Marquis

(This could quite possibly be my shortest post ever)

Still stuck in the office.

Waiting for a call to go through in the US.

Trying to wade through the mass of papers on my desk.

Found out that i screwed up on something which i overlooked during the CNY week.

(oh no, i hope this doesn't effect my probational raise in some way...)

Working through a last minute report.

And wishing i was still in Singapore living it up.

Because today really friggin' sucks.

Yeah, more posts tomorrow.

*sigh*

I'm Baaaaaaack!

2006-02-06T01:36:00.000+08:00

Mood: Tired
Reading: China's Military Strategy Towards The US: A View From Open Sources (2001)
Currently listening to: Starcrossed - Ash
Quote of the day: "He who would travel happily must travel light." - Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Home.

:)

Just arrived back in KL from my 5 day trip to Singapore and... man! What a blast!

Despite having been down to Singapore on many previous occasions this most recent trip has somehow been the most explorative and fun by far - by virtue of it being a long stay and the fact that i now have a disposable income to merrily fritter away of course - with EVERY day and night packed with events, fine dining, booze and old friends...

Shit lah, its almost enough to make a fella considering moving down there... ;p

I'm a tad tired right now so i think i'll save the detailed recaps for later but here's a massive thank you to everyone who made the trip such a fun and memorable one for me!

Big ups to those who made it happen:

- those compadres who made the trip down with me from KL (Chen Hoe, Al, Lenny and Boon)

- Julian for being such a great host throughout our trip (and for fragging my ass in BF2)

- to my old NLC mates Zuyi, Chai, Garota, Huey, and Melvin for chilling out with us (some of whom i haven't seen in years!)

- to Boon's family for being such great hosts in JB and letting us join in their family dinner!

- and to Lenny (and his family) for letting us stay at his place and being another great host around town

Thank you one and all!

But... as they say, all good things come to an end, and its back to the office tomorrow...

*wistful sigh*

Why'd it have to end? :(

World Cup Fever

2006-01-31T06:26:00.000+08:00

Mood: Still tired...
Reading: UN unveils plan to release untapped wealth of...$7 trillion (and solve the world's problems at a stroke)
Currently listening to: Nothing
Quote of the day: "Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I don't like that attitude. I can assure them it is much more serious than that." - Bill Shankley

Was at Alvin's place for our usual late night coffee/alcohol/chit-chat/board games gathering when the conversation turned to the upcoming World Cup. Which was also about the time that i realised that most of us can't even remember who's in which qualifying group (or even if certain countries had even qualified at all!)...

So, i went to the very excellent official World Cup website (check it out!) and dug this up:

So... yeah, looks like France, Italy, and Germany should have an easy time of it this year - whereas Groups C and F are likely to be the 'groups of death'... Good luck Serbia! o_O

The expectations of the qualifying rounds are summed up well by the very aptly titled 'Heidi Klum has sent us to hell' article on the site so be sure to check it out for the various coaches and media reflections on how the above will play out! Shit, i'm betting there might be even more surprises this year than before... ;)

With that said...

ALLEZ LES BLEUS!!!

Gong Xi Fa Cai!

2006-01-31T05:49:00.000+08:00

Mood: Tired
Reading: Exxon profit tops $10 billion, capping record year
Currently listening to: Nothing
Quote of the day: "Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right." - Oprah Winfrey

Apologies for the lack of blogging but, Chinese New Year being what it is, i've been seriously busy for the last few days visiting family, snacking on Chinese pastries, watching the illegal fireworks, chilling out and hanging around with friends (and not to mention spending the occasional day in the office *sigh*). Doncha love multiculturialism? Its the holidays i tell ya...

Oh, and the ang pows! Can't forget the ang pows! RM200 and counting so far...

So, yeah its a bit late but what the heck right? ;)

Gong Xi Fa Cai everyone - here's to a prosperous new year to all! :)

Oh, please note - there won't be any this weekend because Chen Hoe, Albert and myself are heading down to Singapore (for pure decadent pleasure i assure you) from Wednesday till Sunday!!! w00t!

Erm... apologies in advance for the lack of posts. :p

*kowtows*

PS: Anyone want anything from S'pore?

A Rare Bout Of Narcissism

2006-01-27T18:21:00.000+08:00

Mood: Meh
Reading: Alleged Mexican Military Incursion Creates Tension on US-Mexico Border
Currently listening to: Dragula - Rob Zombie (Hot Rod Herman remix)
Quote of the day: "Those who live on vanity must, not unreasonably, expect to die of mortification." - Alice Thomas Ellis

So... while i was at it (going through Joa's album that is), i figured that i'd address the general complaint that there aren't enough pictures of yours truly on this blog. Selectively of course (nyah!):

Ah... memories...

ROFL!

2006-01-27T17:09:00.000+08:00

Mood: Dum de dum...
Reading: Foreign Leaders Shocked at Hamas Win
Currently listening to: Sick Cycle Carousel - Lifehouse
Quote of the day: "The ornament of a house is the friends who frequent it." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Was having coffee with Huey Yee and Albert a while ago and we were trawling through her laptop and going through the various pics which Joa sent to all of us a while back...

Lets just say that some of them were a little more hilariously memorable than others. ;)

First off there's some weird shit with JJ:

Then there's Kwong Heng's infamous nightmare inducing 'Ah Beng' haircut:

Julian's solo dance performance at the Cotton Club (quick! Someone make an animated gif outta this!):

And, finally, Malaysian IC card pic (aka, Vlad the surprised vampire):

Och. What a year.

(hrmm... weren't there more pics? Oi, if you have pics of us during the course 2005 can email me or not ah? Danke!)

Dog vs Monkey

2006-01-27T16:49:00.000+08:00

Mood: Yawn...
Reading: Colombia Busts Ring Linked to al-Qaida
Currently listening to: Eriatarka - The Mars Volta
Quote of the day: "There are many methods for predicting the future. For example, you can read horoscopes, tea leaves, tarot cards, or crystal balls. Collectively, these methods are known as "nutty methods." Or you can put well-researched facts into sophisticated computer models, more commonly referred to as "a complete waste of time."" - Scott Adams

Woo! I finally found a Chinese horoscope for 2006 to go along with my zodiac ones!

From The New Straits Times (22nd Jan 2006):

MONKEY

1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992

This is a good year for romance, career advancement and academic pursuits. The Monkey will also enjoy wealth and luck. Travelling is the key for improvements in career and wealth.

Monkeys in the creative industry will do very well. Business people face the possibility of being cheated and losing important documents. There could be health problems among elderly family members.

Hrmm... well that was pretty short. And not as detailed as the zodiac one... Anyhow, it looks like everything is pointing to this being a prosperous year ahead!

(Ach, better not misplace any of those sensitive docs that cross my desk with alarming frequency these days tho...)

Good doggy!

Event: 'War On Terror' Film Screening

2006-01-26T17:26:00.000+08:00

Boon has informed me of the following event - if you want to come please leave a message either on the 'Man About Town' post or get in touch with me or Boon.

From the email:

In our efforts to raise awareness on the human rights abuses committed during the 'War on Terror' both locally and internationally, the Subang Jaya Local Group will be screening two films. Details of the event are as below:

Date : Friday, 10th February 2006 - The Oil Factor
Saturday, 11th February 2006 - The President vs David Hicks

Time : 7.30pm

Venue : KL Performing Art Centre (KLPac), Jalan Strachan, KL

Admission : By Invitation Only (Min donation of RM10 per person)

Please do come and bring your family & friends along. Do confirm your attendance to receive your tickets.

Please contact the AI Office at 03-79552680 for further information.

Location map:

Brandy (You're A Fine Girl)

2006-01-26T10:38:00.000+08:00

Mood: Wistful
Reading: What will we do with our thumbs?
Currently listening to: Nothing
Quote of the day: "In literature as in love, we are astonished at what is chosen by others." - Andre Maurois

10:40am and i've suddenly got this song stuck in my head...

Come on Lenny - you know the words! ;)

(Don't know the song? Listen to a sample here)

Brandy (You're A Fine Girl)
by Looking Glass

There's a port on a western bay
And it serves a hundred ships a day
Lonely sailors pass the time away
And talk about their homes

And there's a girl in this harbor town
And she works layin' whiskey down
They say "Brandy, fetch another round"
She serves them whiskey and wine

The sailors say "Brandy, you're a fine girl" (you're a fine girl)
"What a good wife you would be" (such a fine girl)
"Yeah your eyes could steal a sailor from the sea"
(dooda-dit-dooda), (dit-dooda-dit-dooda-dit)

Brandy wears a braided chain
Made of finest silver from the North of Spain
A locket that bears the name
Of the man that Brandy loves

He came on a summer's day
Bringin' gifts from far away
But he made it clear he couldn't stay
No harbor was his home

The sailor said " Brandy, you're a fine girl" (you're a fine girl)
"What a good wife you would be" (such a fine girl)
"But my life, my lover, my lady is the sea"
(dooda-dit-dooda), (dit-dooda-dit-dooda-dit)

Yeah, Brandy used to watch his eyes
When he told his sailor stories
She could feel the ocean foam rise
She saw its ragin' glory

But he had always told the truth, lord, he was an honest man
And Brandy does her best to understand
(dooda-dit-dooda), (dit-dooda-dit-dooda-dit)

At night when the bars close down
Brandy walks through a silent town
And loves a man who's not around
She still can hear him say

She hears him say " Brandy, you're a fine girl" (you're a fine girl)
"What a good wife you would be" (such a fine girl)
"But my life, my lover, my lady is the sea"
(dooda-dit-dooda), (dit-dooda-dit-dooda-dit)

"Brandy, you're a fine girl" (you're a fine girl)

*FADE*

"What a good wife you would be" (such a fine girl)
"But my life, my lover, my lady is the sea"

*sigh*

Ah, Malayisan TV

2006-01-25T18:11:00.000+08:00

Mood: Relieved (the day is almost over - one more to go!)
Reading: Google Agrees to Censor Results in China
Currently listening to: Nothing
Quote of the day: "Television is for appearing on - not for looking at." - Noel Coward

Got this amusing tidbit of local reflection in the mail today from Lyanna:

Did you know there are quite a lot of things you can't see on Malaysian TV?

1. Malaysians, especially Malays showing of their armpits. Boleh tunjuk aurat tapi ketiak tak boleh. Why? Nobody knows...

2. Visuals of cigarettes and tobacco products. Cannot show lighted cigarette.

3. An uncovered dead body. Cannot show the decomposing person's face. Dismembered hand and leg okay but not the blodied end.

4. Cannot show pig, or any pork dishes. For instance, chinese sausage, bah kut teh and pork chop.

5. Malaysians cannot show excessive cleavage. Forget wearing a push-up bra on air with a low cut dress. If your cleavage can form a dark shadow, then cannot show.

6. Can show the inside of a human vagina but cannot demonstrate anything going inside (including IUD's). If want to teach sex education, can only show from cervix and above. However, you can say the word vagina on air.

7. Cannot show diagram or drawings of an erect penis. If it's a cross section of a flacid penis for sex education is okay.

8. Muslims cannot wear earrings and have tattoos.

9. If demonstrating sanitary napkins or diapers, can only use blue liquid and not yellow or red. Actually can use clear coloured liquid but doesn't look as good as blue. Cannot demonstrate how to use a sanitary napkin, as in someone holding an open one in their hand and bending it.

Hrmmm... from my personal experience, which since the advent of Cable TV here is admittedly not a lot, all of these are quite true (well, no doubt so since Lyanna works in Media).

Interesting eh?

I personally find No.8 to be rather interesting and... actually, now that i think about it... does No.5 apply to men as well? O_o

El Cerdo

2006-01-25T14:43:00.000+08:00

[Note: This week's dinner is on FRIDAY]

Hola! Saludos y saludos cada uno y recepcion detras para otra sesion de la noche de sabado viernes que cena! :)

(Greetings and salutations everyone and welcome back for another session of Saturday Friday night dining!)

Thats right - we're going Spanish this week! Right, this week's locale of choice is the very highly recommended (from Joa) El Cerdo down at Jln Bukit Bintang.

Erm... and, just so you know, 'El Cerdo' translates from Spanish into - quite literally - 'The Pig' so... uh... despite the fact that they offer a significant number of seafood dishes on the menu - no, i don't think its halal.

Hang on a sec - is a place still halal if it serves pork at all even if you just eat seafood??? *ponder*

Heck, frankly i'm just surprised that there's a restaurant with such a name here in KL! Someone at the registry for food outlets was definitely napping on this one... *snicker* :p

Anyhow, on to the reviews!

Here's what The Star had to say:

El Cerdo, which means “the pig” in Spanish, specialises in porcine delights.

That explains the 100-over photographs, illustrations and drawings of pigs and piglets at almost every nook and corner of the outlet.

Obviously, this is the place to pig out! (*groan* - Pat)

However, since not every customer who walks through its doors would want pork for dinner, there are selected few seafood items on its menu. For appetisers, there's Seafood Cocktail on Waldorf Salad with Apple and Celery and Seafood Soup El Cerdo. Main course offers Baked Fillet of Sea Perch in Beer Batter with Seafood Tomato Sauce and BBQ Butterfly Tiger Prawns. For the BBQ Butterfly Tiger Prawns, the liberal use of Caribbean spices gives added zest.

Kuhn said the world had lovely pork dishes to offer but many dishes were not available in Malaysia.

“I wanted to offer something totally different on my menu and the fact that we have a wide variety of pork items makes our outlet unique,” he said adding that various pork dishes from around the world were on the menu.

Among its specialities are Braised Pork Knuckle in Beer Sauce, Smoked Ham in Wine Aspic and Marinated and Seasoned Pork Shoulder Steak. The Stewed Pig Tail with Vegetable, Garlic and Onion in Caribbean Spices and Chillies is another item where Caribbean chillies are used to accentuate its taste. This dish is said to be Mexican in nature while the Pepper Steak with Green Madagascar Peppercorn with Mushrooms is heavy with French accents. The Portuguese Pork Ragout with Sweet Pepper served with Linguini Pasta is, of course, Portuguese and the Parmigiana Schnitzel topped with Smoked Ham, Tomatoes and Baked Cheese has Italian origins.

[Read More]

And another from Expatriate Lifestyle magazine (click to enlarge):

Right! And now for the details:

EL CERDO
52 Jalan Tengkat Tong Shin
Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2145 0511
Business Hours: Tues-Sun, 6pm-11pm

No after-dinner events have been planned for this week, however there are a couple of interesting bars around the Chiangkat Bukit Bintang area so we're gonna make it a little on the spontaneous side this week, 'k?

That is, unless you have some suggestions... ;)

I would just like to reiterate that this week's session will be held on Friday the 27th of February instead of the usual Saturday due to the fact that a large number of people would otherwise not be able to attend thanks to Chinese New Year family commitments (including yours truly).

Dinner is at 8:30pm as usual and, as per procedure, if you're interested in coming kindly either leave a comment here (preferred!!!), email me, or phone me for additional details and/or bookings (by Thursday afternoon please) with details on which event(s) you are coming for and how many friends/mistresses/family you will be bringing. During the night itself the tables are always booked under my name (which would be "Patrick" lah).

As always, anyone who reads this is welcome to come! :)

Da Bomb

2006-01-25T12:27:00.000+08:00

Mood: Stressed
Reading: Swiss MP releases report on secret CIA prisons
Currently listening to: Nothing
Quote of the day: "I call upon the scientific community in our country, those who gave us nuclear weapons, to turn their great talents now to the cause of mankind and world peace: to give us the means of rendering these nuclear weapons impotent and obsolete." - Ronald Reagan

Ahhh... another busy day at the office. :)

Anyhow, just wanted to point out that, for those who are interested, the very excellent Arms Control Wonk has recently posted an interesting and detailed (as well as entertaining) three part article on the current Iranian nuclear weapons issue - check it out!

Iran & the Bomb 1: How Close Is Iran?

"Overall, Iran is probably a little less than a decade away from developing a nuclear weapon. The key question here is how long it will take Iran to enrich a few tens of kilograms of uranium to more than 90 percent U-235..."

Iran & the Bomb 2: Iran's Missiles

"Iran might, might, be able to deliver a nuclear weapon against an Israeli city, but that would be at the extreme edge of their capabilities. Much more worrisome, I would think, would be the weapon delivered by terrorists, perhaps on a ship..."

Iran & The Bomb 3: Strike options

"The result will likely be an Iranian nuclear program outside of IAEA safeguards. An Iranian bomb is not, yet, a foregone conclusion. The degree to which Iran’s nuclear program has become an element of the country’s domestic politics suggests that fissures exist within Iranian elites that create space for negotiations. Those fissures might be quite severe, as suggested by a curious incident recently when Iranian delegates didn’t show up for a meeting with IAEA DG ElBaradei. If I had to guess, the Iranians missed the meeting because they were probably riven internally and couldn’t..."

Aerial IEDs?

2006-01-24T17:04:00.000+08:00

Mood: Knowledge gained! Woo!
Reading: Dutch open 'Big Brother' prison
Currently listening to: Nothing
Quote of the day: "You can't say that civilization don't advance, however, for in every war they kill you in a new way." - Will Rogers

Reading extensively on military issues and technology both new and old constitutes one of my most cherished hobbies and i'd like to think that i'm relatively knowledgeable about matters in this regard. However, once in a while you read about something that just makes you go: "WTF???"

Case in point, as Defense Tech has pointed out, in recent days there have been a number of US helicopters that have been downed in Iraq (an AH-64 being the latest) - which, all things considered is a pretty worrying trend. I mean, they represented just about the safest means of getting around the country for the US.

And THEN you get a Brigadier General (of the Army Aviation Centre no less) stating that insurgents had used aeriel IEDs/Anti-Helicopter Mines (AHMs) against several Army helicopters to date! Followed, of course, by a rather confused statement by the Army Secretary stating otherwise... kinda.

But never mind all that - my thoughts (as well as those of my colleagues here at work , ex-mil all of them, even a combat engineer among them) on this is the same as that stated by Noah Shachtman over at Defense Tech:

"I don't know about you, but I had no one idea there were anti-helicopter mines until this whole flap started."

Heck, apparently these things have been around ever since the Cold War and have been developed by all sides. Isn't it a wonder that next to no one has ever realised that such a weapon exists?

Check out the following links for a literal who's what of the AHM world:

Russian BG Series Mine (and available on the open/black markets of course)
Bulgarian AHM-200-1 & AHM-200-2
American AHM with more details here (USD$4000 per mine? Ouchie!)

Hrmm... driving in Iraq doesn't look quite so bad anymore... ;)

Chicken Powered Nukes

Oh hey, while we're on the topic of mines, i'm reminded of another hilarious article i read over at Defense Tech (but of course) a while back:

Conceived during the Cold War, the seven tonne device was the size of small truck and was designed to be buried or submerged by a British Army retreating from Soviet forces. The landmine had a plutonium core surrounded by high explosive and would have been detonated by remote control or timer, causing mass destruction and contamination over a wide area to prevent subsequent enemy occupation.

Scientists working on the project realised that the bomb could fail in winter if vital components become too cold, so they explored ways of keeping the inner workings warm. One proposal put forward consisted of filling the casing of the nuke with live chickens, who would give off sufficient heat, prior to suffocating or starving to death, to keep the delicate explosive mechanism from freezing. Despite the potential importance of chickens to the project, the mine was codenamed 'Blue Peacock'.

[Read More]

Where's PETA when you need them? :p

Gah.

2006-01-24T03:03:00.000+08:00

Mood: Tired
Reading: As Polar Ice Turns to Water, Dreams of Treasure Abound
Currently listening to: Nothing
Quote of the day: "One of the lessons of history is that nothing is often a good thing to do and always a clever thing to say." - Will Durant

3am.

Still in the office.

Gah.

Anyhow, i've decided to put up a larger number of shorter quickie posts (read: probably articles) throughout the day with the occasional long one when the mood strikes so watch out for that.

In the meanwhile - anyone got any events coming up around KL that we could attend?

Was going to post up the dinner plans for this week but i'll get around to that tomorrow. We'll be going to El Cerdo (which apparently means "The Pig" in Spanish - erm, not halal methinks) and...

we'll be going on FRIDAY instead of Saturday this time around

...since most people have to attend family Chinese New Year dinners on Saturday night.

Anyhow, check out this review of the place in the meantime.

Hrm. Thats about it.

Back to work then. :(

In Retrospect...

2006-01-20T01:00:00.000+08:00

Mood: Reflective
Reading:
Iranian President Cements Syrian Alliance
Currently listening to: Some Chinese New Year Song
Quote of the day: "The ability to delude yourself may be an important survival tool." - Jane Wagner

Its about time i listed down my resolutions for this new year and reflected back on the old one...

(...and even the insane, morbid, godless, and cynical bastard that makes up my being knows enough to be thankful for more than a few things that life has brought his way)

2005 was pretty good by most standards - mainly due to all you good folks and new friends out there who allowed me to have a good time throughout the year's entirety! Heck without you, there wouldn't have been a weekly dinner, short movie project, gaming nights at Alvin's, shows at the philharmonic, dance lessons, mamak sessions, sports...

Thanks guys - you really made my year... :)

On another note - WAH! Have i REALLY only gotten to know most of you in the last year!!?? It feels like its been forever... (especially with some people *humph!*)

Kidding, kidding! :p

To all my new friends and acquaintences, i'm glad my various eccentricities ~~haven't sent you running away screaming for the most part~~ have endeared 'themselves' (monkeys, remember?) to you. Here's to newer and wackier experiences with yours truly in 2006! :)

And, of course, to my family and all my old and trusted kamaraden from my days in the OSS and the NLC, from ye ole wilds of Canada, to the land of the Platypus, to the jungles of Borneo (and even India!), and even further beyond into my past... thanks for the continued companionship, through good and bad, for all the fun times, the shared experiences(!), and the pleasure of your continued company. 2005 has been an amazing year for keeping in touch and even, if chance permitted it, meeting up with you in person, and that to me is what made this year amazingly special. Thank you all...

*blows nose*

Wah, makes me wonder what my resolutions were at the time... lets take a gander:

1. Quit smoking.

Yes, snickering aside from the lot of you i DO plan to break the habit during the course of this year... i have to! Its getting too expensive! Have managed to cut myself down from one pack a day to 6 odd cigs a day... That, and each time my brother catches me smoking i give him RM1... Wish me luck, this is the SIXTH year running that i've resolved to quit smoking. ;p

2. Graduate.

Fucking obvious. Think about it, i've been in uni since i was 16 and its all been downhill since then... c'mon, stuck at TWO ELECTIVES for the last one and a half years is... is... AAARGGGHHH!!! I truly believe that much of my current problems will disappear once i get that blasted piece of paper that has ruined oh so much of my life thus far!!! One more to go, and the world will follow... *repeats to himself mantra-like*

3. Leave the country.

An ongoing frustration (ie: purpose, or the lack thereof) aside, i still plan on leaving Malaysia for good, or at least a significant period of time, by the end of this year... by hook or by crook...

The plan? Armenia is the most promising as well as being the best option at the moment, followed by Vietnam and the Phillippines. Should these options not work out, more desperate measures should be considered such as the Peace Corps, French (or EU if it happens by then) army, UN, or even... yes... the French Foreign Legion. :(

Aiks.

Ah well... one outta two ain't too bad right?

Ok, so the ciggies one died REAL fast (good thing i got rid of that RM1/ciggie deal with my bro, he'd be a millionaire by now!) and the Armenia plan didn't work out (*sob sob*) but at least i graduated. Finally.

AND i even managed to find some decent employment with a great bunch of people immediately after thanks to my internship with them at the beginning of the year.

Heck, i somehow even made a good showing at uni in that final semester, what with finally getting to know some people (*friendly wave to Soo Jin, Sherly, and Ivana*) and even some of the tutors/lecturers there, and managing a D and HD in my subjects while working part-time at NSS...

...and then starting out with them, full contract and all as soon as i had gotten my confirmation of graduation.

Wow.

It couldn't have been more perfect. :)

Truly, i am more thankful for it all than i think i could ever have the courage to honestly show.

*ahem*

Well, can't end the post without this year's resolutions right? ;)

Here we go...

1. Quit Smoking

Aie aie aie, i REALLY have to make a better effort of it this time around. :(

2. Financial Independence

With financial independence comes self-sufficiency and with THAT comes what really matters. Options. I may have a job, but i have yet to create the streams of revenue or acquire the amount of capital to attain such a status which will allow me the freedom and ability to strive towards my own goals or to help others move towards theirs.

And this is the year to do it (or at least make a concerted effort at starting to do so). A myriad number of opporunities have presented themselves, and who knows what more lie in wait to be discovered? One does not find what they seek without first looking or attempting to do so... Regardless i have to work harder at what i am currently doing as well as actively go out and try out new opportunities.

3. A Change Would Do Me Good

This year worked out great with some new ideas that i ran with - such as the weekly dinners and short movie project - and i really want to run with these and try and make something out of it... On top of that, who knows other new activities might crop up this year? Truly these are the most interesting activities which i partake in at present. :)

Oh, and i'd like to try my hand at another job towards the end of this year. NSS has been kind to me but... how about new experiences? I'm currently toying with the idea of looking for work overseas with a major MNC, working for the UN in some sort of capacity, or even joining a tech startup! And who knows - Armenia might yet happen... ;)

New experiences - small or large, or for better or for worse - thats where its at!

4. Exercise

Well i only started doing a serious amount of regular exercise last year and its had its ups and downs... this time i resolve to keep at it to the absolute best of my ability. Must. Not. Slack. Off. Again. (as happened 3 times last year)

5. Erm... Others?

Did i miss anything?

Still, there are the smaller resolutions such as wearing a tie to work everyday (makes me feel more productive and... well, lets just say that i've JUST learnt how to tie one :p), getting to know my family better, travel more, get more sleep, getting my SCUBA cert, joining the gun club, learning Russian, taking over the world... yada yada...

In terms of blogging i've really gotta be more regular. Think i'll try doing shorter posts of interest and have more articles as well since some people do find such things interesting. More short posts with the occasional personal long-winded one. Yeah.

Ah, well, at least the horoscope is good... (can anyone recommend a decent Chinese one?)

Anyhow, here's to a great year ahead!

Current Events

2006-01-19T23:28:00.000+08:00

Mood: Intrigued
Reading: U.S.: Secretary Of State Outlines Overhaul Of Diplomatic Corps
Currently listening to: Elysium - Portishead
Quote of the day: "I have come to the conclusion that politics are too serious a matter to be left to the politicians." - Charles De Gaulle

Wow! Its been a pretty interesting night on the newswires... check out these three stories:

Bin Laden offers Americans truce

Article here.

Al-Jazeera on Thursday aired an audiotape purportedly from Osama bin Laden, who says al-Qaida is making preparations for attacks in the United States but offering a truce "with fair conditions."

The tape's release came days after a U.S. airstrike in Pakistan that was targeting bin Laden's deputy, Ayman al-Zawahri, and reportedly killed four leading al-Qaida figures, including possibly al-Zawahri's son-in-law. There was no mention of the attack on the segments that were broadcast.

It was the first purported tape from the al-Qaida leader in more than a year _ the longest period without a message since the Sept. 11 2001 suicide hijackings in the United States.

The tape appeared to have been made since late November. The speaker refers to an alleged comment by President Bush about bombing the Qatar headquarters of Al-Jazeera, which was first reported in the British press on Nov. 22.

He also refers indirectly to the July 7 bombings in London that killed 56 people and to poll numbers that showed a fall in Bush's popularity, as occurred in late 2005.

The voice on the tape said he was directing his message to the American people after polls showed that "an overwhelming majority of you want the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq but (Bush) opposed that desire."

He said insurgents were winning the conflict in Iraq and warned that security measures in the West and the United States could not prevent attacks there.

"The proof of that is the explosions you have seen in the capitals of European nations," he said "The delay in similar operations happening in America has not been because of failure to break through your security measures. The operations are under preparation and you will see them in your homes the minute they are through (with preparations), with God's permission."

The speaker did not give conditions for a truce in the excerpts aired by Al-Jazeera.

"We do not mind offering you a long-term truce with fair conditions that we adhere to," he said. "We are a nation that God has forbidden to lie and cheat. So both sides can enjoy security and stability under this truce so we can build Iraq and Afghanistan, which have been destroyed in this war.

"There is no shame in this solution, which prevents the wasting of billions of dollars that have gone to those with influence and merchants of war in America," he said.

[Read More]

Also, be sure to check out the actual Al-Jazeera article with most of the transcript written verbatim...

France defends right to nuclear reply to terrorism

Article here.

France said on Thursday it would be ready to use nuclear weapons against any state that carried out a terrorist attack against it, reaffirming the need for its nuclear deterrent.

Deflecting criticism of France's costly nuclear arms program,
President Jacques Chirac said security came at a price and France must be able to hit back hard at a hostile state's centers of power and its "capacity to act."

He said there was no change in France's overall policy, which rules out the use of nuclear weapons in a military conflict. But his speech pointed to a change of emphasis to underline the growing threat France perceives from terrorism.

"The leaders of states who would use terrorist means against us, as well as those who would consider using in one way or another weapons of mass destruction, must understand that they would lay themselves open to a firm and adapted response on our part," Chirac said during a visit to a nuclear submarine base in northwestern France.

"This response could be a conventional one. It could also be of a different kind."

Chirac, who is commander-in-chief of the armed forces, said all of France's nuclear forces had been configured with the new strategy in mind and the number of nuclear warheads on French nuclear submarines had been reduced to allow targeted strikes.

It was the first time he had so clearly linked the threat of a nuclear response to a terrorist attack.

Chirac, 73, did not say whether France would be prepared to use pre-emptive strikes against a country it saw as a threat.

[Read more]

Interesting statement to make eh? I'd love to see what their exact definition of terrorism of process of accountability is... Still, quite a strong statement for Chirac - most people tend to forget that France has 300+ nukes...

Iranian President Cements Syrian Alliance

Article here.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad began a visit to Syria Thursday to consolidate an old alliance made increasingly crucial as both countries face mounting U.S. pressure and the threat of international sanctions.

Ahmadinejad and Syrian President Bashar Assad were expected to talk about Iran's standoff with the West over its nuclear program and the threat to refer it to the U.N. Security Council, as well as Syria's own troubles over a U.N. investigation that implicated it in the assassination of Lebanon's former prime minister.

Bilateral economic, industrial and cultural agreements also were expected to be discussed during the two-day visit.

Syria is Iran's closest Arab ally. The two countries have had close relations since 1980 when Syria sided with Iran against Iraq at the start of the Iran-Iraq war.

On the eve of the visit, Ahmadinejad described bilateral relations as "strong and good."

Both countries share to a certain extent similar foreign policy objectives: opposition to what they describe as U.S. attempts to dominate the Middle East, hostility toward Israel and support for Palestinian and Lebanese militant groups fighting the Jewish state.

Ahmadinejad's visit comes at a very delicate time for both nations.

[Read More]

Dangerous times indeed... it'll be interesting to see how this plays out, and the historian in me is excited by the prospect of having seen history made each step of the way, yet chilled at the consequences of modern conventional warfare.

Hooked

2006-01-19T02:19:00.000+08:00

Heya d00dz, apologies for the late posting but there were some last minute changes in venue... anyhow, this week's dinner will be held at Hooked!

Now i realise that most of you were under the impression that it would have been Spanish at El Cerdo courtesy of Joa, however i discovered that a gaggle of old acquaintences back from my Melbourne days are coming up to KL for the weekend and had already made plans to go to Hooked (which is under ownership or some such by one of them), so i figured why not join the two parties together? Heck, we might even get a discount out of it somehow... *shifty eyes*

Right, explanation aside as far as i can tell its a western seafood kinda place with some reasonable (as compared to, say, Cafe Cafe) prices with most main dishes ranging from RM9.90 to RM21.90.

And... aw heck, who am i kidding - i've never even seen the place yet and the lazy bastard in me just wants to sleep and get this long overdue post over with.

Ergo, its article quotin' time... Go on, at least it'll give you some ideas about what to order lah! :p

FACES: Tastebuds

...As you flip through the menu and come across the names of the food, notice that these names are derived from the names of famous seas, rivers, lakes and waterfalls around the world. Saw says that most of his customers tend to wonder where these bodies of water are located and more often than not they go home and look it up on the atlas or ‘Google’ it.

The dishes served at Hooked are suitable for just about every occasion and is suited to every taste bud. To start of your meal, why not try Mezen Mango Madness (RM6.90) which is prawns served with mango yoghurt salad.

This appetizer, which has a slight ‘kerabu-ish’ taste to it, has slices of cucumber, young mango, tomatoes, oyster mushrooms and of course fresh prawns. If you prefer mussels, try Madeira Mussels which is baked mussels served with Hooked’s special cheese and Napoli sauce. A plate of four Madeira Mussels costs RM5.90 and is worth every cent and comes highly recommended.

Out of the many main courses offered at Hooked, some of them like the Hudson Healthy, Berring Beauty, Hooked Highlights and Mediterranean Magic stand out...

[Read more]

The Star: Kuali

... The calamari rings were crispy on the outside but soft and delicate on the inside.

The most famous item on the menu is the Hooked Highlights, better known as fish and chips.

Saw explains that hake fish from the Indian Ocean is preferred for this dish as its freshness is obvious when indulging in the dish.

The flesh is also soft and goes well with the tempura batter that coats it.

The Bering Beauty is decidedly pretty with prawns grilled to perfection and served with mango cream sauce, rice and vegetables.

For this dish, halves of tiger prawns surround a mount of rice on a bed of mango cream sauce.

The colour of chopped red chilli and parsley add a delightful difference to the paleness of the sauce that is rich in cream and slightly sour on the palate.

Chef Nazri's background in Italian and Western cuisine encouraged him to come up with fusion styled flavours for Hooked.

Take the Mediterranean Magic dish, a dish of Western and Asian flavours.

For this dish, dory is preferred.

The fish is marinated with coriander leaves, curry powder, oregano and seasoning and then pan-fried.

Once cooked, the fish is coated with Thai Cream sauce, which looks harmless, but there's tom yam paste in the mixture hence the spiciness...

[Read More]

Gott bless Google. :)

Oh, as an aside, i actually managed to stumble across a valid 2006 online voucher from ING that allows you to have 50% off your second main course - print it out if you want it ya cheap bastich!

Right, location and address details are as follows (i'm assuming you all know where The Curve is... if not, click here):

Hooked
Lot 152A, First Floor, Western Court
The Curve
6 Jalan PJU 7/3
Mutiara Damansara
Petaling Jaya
Selangor
Tel: 03-77291090
Business Hours: Daily, noon-10pm

Couldn't come up with an after dinner plan for this week (there ain't too much around the area) but what with it being at The Curve i figure that one of the many cafes or bars in the area should suffice...

Ya lah, i'll try to be better organised next week 'k? ;)

Right, here's the usual breakdown/disclaimer thingamabob:

Dinner is at 8:30pm as usual and, as per procedure, if you're interested in coming kindly either leave a comment here (preferred!!!), email me, or phone me for additional details and/or bookings (by Thursday afternoon please) with details on which event(s) you are coming for and how many friends/mistresses/family you will be bringing. During the night itself the tables are always booked under my name (which would be "Patrick" lah).

As always, anyone who reads this is welcome to come! :)

Ah Got Nothink

2006-01-19T01:52:00.000+08:00

Mood: Bleh
Reading: Cow escapes slaughter
Currently listening to: Sugar We're Going Down - Fallout Boy
Quote of the day: "Laziness is nothing more than the habit of resting before you get tired." - Jules Renard

Well.

I WAS going to write something meaningful (*cue collective groaning of my pathetic readership*) like the remainder of my experience in France including descriptions of the occasional village i went through, my time back here in KL and the various social festivities of the previous two weeks, my travel plans, maybe even my long overdue new year's resolutions, the fact that so many people are born in godamned January buuuuut...

Me lazy.

Again.

Which you know just means that i'm going to post some ~~filler~~ half-assed articles up.

So there.

Nyah.

Free booze makes homeless healthier?

Article here.

Giving homeless alcoholics a regular supply of booze may improve their health and their behavior, the Canadian Medical Association Journal said in a study published on Tuesday.

Seventeen homeless adults, all with long and chronic histories of alcohol abuse, were allowed up to 15 glasses of wine or sherry a day -- a glass an hour from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. -- in the Ottawa-based program, which started in 2002 and is continuing.

After an average of 16 months, the number of times participants got in trouble with the law had fallen 51 percent from the three years before they joined the program, and hospital emergency room visits were down 36 percent.

"Once we give a 'small amount' of alcohol and stabilize the addiction, we are able to provide health services that lead to a reduction in the unnecessary health services they were getting before," said Dr. Jeff Turnbull, one of the authors of the report.

"The alcohol gets them in, builds the trust and then we have the opportunity to treat other medical diseases... It's about improving the quality of life."

Three of the 17 participants died during the program, succumbing to alcohol-related illnesses that might have killed them anyway, the study said.

The report showed that participants in the program drank less than they did before signing up, and their sleep, hygiene, nutrition and health levels all improved.

The per capita cost of around C$771 ($660) a month was partially offset by monthly savings of C$96 a month in emergency services, C$150 in hospital care and C$201 in police services per person.

Turnbull said some of the people enrolled in the program had stopped drinking altogether, although that was not an option for many of the participants.

"We agree 100 percent that abstinence is the most appropriate route," he said. "But in this subset of people where abstinence has failed, there is still a need to provide care."

And the life of a hobo just gets easier and easier...

Thats all i got. Hopefully a better update at some point in time.

You can go now.

Pat's Sanitarium

Twisted

Appleseed 2

Boom Boom Satellites

Starlight (Live at MTV Awards) - Muse

How To Make Better Decisions

Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Missing In Action

The Best Mirror...

Dontaku and 101° East

Bumming On YouTube

Evolution of Dance

Learn to Speak Body: Tape 5

OK Go - Here It Goes Again

Sticky Fingers & Relish

Happy New Year guys!!!

Congrats Daddy-O!

Putting Life To The Test

JQ's Birthday at La Suisse

D'Chieng Mai

Happy Anniversary!

A Thought...

Actorlympics!

Event: The Fastest Clock In The Universe

Heong Kee @ Selayang

Event: French Arts Festival 2006

Quit Smoking & Start Toking!

Villa Danieli & Bar Blonde

Coconut House & Sevenate9

Going To Sydney!

Klimtz Klimt's

I Wouldn't Know

Seems Like A Nice Place

Jap 'N Jazz

*Siiiiiiiigh*

She Must Be Really Bored

Boat House & Laundry Bar

Event: Fire Of Anatolia

Event: Wanton Me!

New Diseases In Malaysia

Chutney Mary & La Bodega

Back From KK!

Off To Sabah!

Event: Habeas Corpus

Event: Emerging Fires

Faith = Good, Prayer = Bad?

Having A Little Faith

Wa-Hey! A POST!!!

Bangkok Jazz

The Olive

Travel Plans

Nohari Window Results

Arena

Blind Spot

Façade

Unknown

Dominant Traits

All Percentages

VW Im Der Haus, Ja!

Just For Laughs

Retro American Diner (...Thingy)

Flip Side: Nohari Window Experiment

Arena

Blind Spot

Façade

Unknown

Dominant Traits

All Percentages

Meme Of 5s

Pat's Johari Window Experiment

Event: M! The Opera

Laziest Weekend Post EVAR!

Review: Sri Ayutthaya

Yellow Fever

Event: German Soccer Feature Films

Event: Jose Padilla Live @ Zeta Bar

Sri Ayutthaya

Event: The Scoop On Books!

So, Yeah, About That Valentine's...

Valentine's Day Plans

Siiiiiiiigh