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May 31, 2005
Ron Ng
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Not sure if anybody knows of this but imagine if the worst happened...
I read the papers today where Ron or maybe someone on behalf of Ron revealed that more than a decade ago Ron and a few of his friends were travelling in a car driven I think by his relative, can't remember the relationship. There was an accident and 3 of his friends died whilst one more was seriously injured. Ron however escaped serious injuries and lived to tell the tale.
And this proves it; if you didn't die in a horrific accident, the future can only hold the best of everything for you. Look at Ron now; famous, healthy and very much alive.
Amazing isn't it?
Life of Pi by Yann Martel
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Anyone here ever read Life Of Pi written by Yann Martel? The story about a 16 year old Indian male castaway in a boat with an adult Bengal tiger?
Do reply under this post. The ending merits a discussion. By the way, I was so dumb. I actually thought the book was true, all because of the preface! But I do love the tiger Richard Parker.
Eagerly awaiting your response. Do tell me though, which ending you think is true? Did you enjoyed the book? And do tell me is there such a thing as a floating carnivorous bonatical ecosystem with meerkats??
May 29, 2005
Updates-Media file
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I have just added this very interesting Mona Lisa advertisement, or rather TMO the Mona Lisa Advertisement, where Charmaine Sheh and Chilam Cheung are the spokespersons. It's like a slideshow/montage of sort that fans probably ripped from the Mona Lisa website. I find it very stylishly made, and what I am most interested is is the background song. I must say though every frame is worthy of being made into a wallpaper, though personally I don't like the wedding gowns, the hair and the make up. For one the bride looks messy and the groom looks exhausted. But this clip will prove my point that perhaps Charmaine and Chilam should just get married and have loads of dimpled cute babies.
By the way Charmaine is 30 already! If you ask me, I'd say she looks her age, ever since her Terimee thing. She really must gain some weight.
Anyway, a preview...
The download link is
http://media.point2e.com/charm.ad_monalisa.wmv
and the size is 11.8mb. Bigggg file but worth the download.
IE users pls right click your mouse and choose Save Target As whilst Firefox user pls left click your mouse and choose Save To Disk. DO NOT WATCH IT ONLINE! WHATEVER YOU DO PLS PLS PLS SAVE IT INTO YOUR COMPUTER AND WATCH IT ALL YOU WANT, OFFLINE.
And then you may want to check out the boutique.
You can also find the relevant links in Downloads > Media > Individual/Groups under Sheh Sze Man, Charmaine.
By the way if there is anything wrong with the clip, like cut off in the middle or something, pls email me and I'll re-upload the clip again. I am afraid there might be sometthing wrong with my FTP software. Thanks!
May 26, 2005
What is going on?!
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The new American Idol is...
Carrie Underwood?
Carrie Underwood?!
Carrie Underwood??!?!?
The one who butchered Guy Sebastian's song? The one who can sing only country song excellently and the rest, she screams?
What happened? What is going on?! Bo Bice is like the most interesting potential AI ever and what?! WHAT?!
Why aren't Bo's fans voting? What happened? What is going on?!
Did Stallone just called Orlando Bloom a wimp? That he would bring back real action heroes? Well, if brute force is more eloquent than cunning, deceptive, gentlemanly polite action heroes, oh please Mr Stallone, by all means, squeeze some more bullets out of your thigh! Oh please....what is going on?! Orlando Bloom a wimp? Bad actor maybe, but a wimp?
What then is Christian Bale?
But then Mr Stallone won an Academy Award wayyyyyyyyyyyy back right? So maybe what he says has substance...maybe flower vase substance but still substance...
Carrie Underwood the new AI?? The one some newspaper said delivered consistent performances throughout? Have they heard how she butchered Donna Summer's song?
Still in shock!
May 25, 2005
To Love with No Regrets & Riches And Stitches
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So far I really enjoy watching TVB's To Love With No Regrets, my favourite character being the ever poetic but depressingly poetic Cheng Sin. Wonderful performance by I think his name is Chan Kwok Pong.
Someone once told me most fans wanted Amy Kwok to be with Bosco Wong. I beg to differ. She probably washed him when he was little! Doesn't seem right to me. I really like Amy with Evergreen Mak, who looks very handsome in here and lost quite a lot of weight.
The character I least liked used to be the Grandmother but the episode I was watching she changed. So now my dislike is towards Annie Man, her character is disgusting and her performance supposed to be full of malice but all sweet girly looking Annie can muster is just a mean stare. Quite an inadequate performance. But still too early to tell.
Thus far I really enjoyed Amy Kwok's performance. And this series even mentioned Kuala Lumpur several times! Yeah!
I want a happy ending, and I know it will be a happy ending. The way the series is heading, it looks like
1. the young girl will be with Bosco
2. Bosco may marry the young girl as second wife or maybe divorce Amy so that she can be free to pursue her own love, that is Evergreen who is obviously smitten with her.
I really liked the premise where Evergreen and Wayne Lai (another disgusting character BUT a winning performance) who like Amy and kept calling her "Big Missus" but really hate the young husband! What a conflict.
As for Riches & Stitches which will soon become Bitches and Snitches, it's like a fashion show but I am not complaining. One hot kissing scene between Kong Wah and Melissa Ng but could have been better, HK actors especially TVB ones aren't very good at passionate kisses. But the scene was there and quite surprised me you know. The one person in there I love watching, other than Kong Wah is Anne Heung who may have given her best performance todate, which is still not great but considering this is Anne Heung...
My question with this series is how everybody ended up swapping their boyfriends and girlfriends with one another?
Oh don't tell me. Just take this as my brain doing the wondering and talking.
Nest two new series coming soon is Lady Fan (musch criticised and I do think I know why-Joe Ma, Jess-sorry to say, even befoe it began I am already bored to semi-unconcious state) and Hard Fate (looks interesting but the way the trailer went, so many people dead).
I wonder when War & Beauty will be shown?
May 24, 2005
Fann Wong
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I came across this website when I was Google-ing Michelle Chia (dismay, because not one fansite found by google) and I was very surprised how negative Singaporeans are about their own famous child. I mean Fann Wong is probably Singapore's most famous export, everybody outside of Singapore knows who she is and one of the very few Asians able to break into Hollywood (although one movie only, but still a very substantive type of one movie with almost every frame with her face in it and that is RARE for an Asian actress, who is not working full time in Hollywood). I was very surprised by their comments, how much hate they have for her, to the point of disbelief.
Fann Wong CAN act, no doubt about that and she can act VERY WELL. In fact she is my favourite Chinese actress. I thought I was critical of our local stars who had yet to do anything to deserve a mention but wow! Fann Wong indeed has as much of supporters as haters, so to speak. What basis is it that she can't act I wonder?
Non-fans compared her to Huang Biren whom they declared a far better actress. I saw Huang Biren, but diversity is really not her claim yet. I mean I find most actresses in Singapore can act. But there is a reason why Huang Biren is an actress and Fann Wong a superstar. I won't deny looks play a big part. But how many can boasts of Fann's beauty in the sense that the older she gets, the younger she looks? She has this face one can't tear their eyes away from the screen. Ok, so she played demure, sweet with her demure sweet kind of looks but I believe she has proven herself, over a decade in acting that she is a capable and talented actress. Sometimes actresses have bad times, so maybe a few bad performances may be inevitable but that does not define her entire career. I can name a dozen worse than her and yet are superstars (you all know who I am referring to).
Some said she is famous because she has good managers. Is she the only singaporean star who has a good manager? I think having a good PR will get you into Top 50 Most beautiful person in the world or something like that but to rest her entire success on good PR is pure ignorance. Some said she is ugly, can't understand why she is famous. Well, when Fann Wong sits next to you, you can see who is the star and who is the wannabe. Some people, some lucky few has that star look, that look that will propell them to fame and fortune. She has this quality. What I do not like about her is her GQ type of pictures in underwears, endorsing anything and everything. Sometimes perhaps her limited acting is due to limited roles being offered. Someone once wrote that MediaCorp is always coming out with family melodramas. I didn't believe it at first but after 10 straight viewings of such shows, I believe so. So you feel ah so darn boring actress. She takes what she is offered and maybe she may have a lot of offers, but very few variety. She is one actress that I will gladly sit and watch, whatever crap she is in. Or maybe I should rephrase that. Whatever crap that I could withstand.
My God, give support to your home grown talent. Not blind support but look at her again, she deserves it.
Which begs the question; why so much hate for her? Because she shoots her mouth before she thinks? Because she is famous, wealthy and fabulous looking?
Maybe. I do think so.
Unbelievable hatred. Unbelievable.
May 23, 2005
Updates-Media
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Added one new media file in Series/Movies under Downloads > Media.
Look under Power of Love, Episode 14 clip 2. A very long clip actually hence the very big file size. Hope you enjoy it.
Coming soon : new layout for Shaunsation and the relaunching of The Storytellers.
May 22, 2005
The shocker
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Old news I know but I was uploading my new Words Of Wisdom when Kylie Minogue was singing (thanks to my radio of course) and I just remembered; 36 and she has breast cancer. When the news reported cancer, immediately I thought breast cancer. I hope she wins the battle. Luckily it is not ovarion cancer, that kills fast and for sure.
May 21, 2005
Simplest pleasures in life
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I was reading Pearl's post on the importance of listening to others and suddenly this poem flashed in my mind...
The Daffodils
by Williams Wordsworth
I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never - ending line
Along the margin of a bay;
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
The waves beside them danced; but they
Out - did the sparkling waves in glee.
A poet could not be but gay.
In such a jocund company;
I gazed - and gazed - but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought;
For often when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.
There is a connection. As Pearl talked about the importance of listening to others, I realise the receiver may have received the simplest pleasure in life. I first read this poem when I was travelling in the LRT, there was a notice board and there was this poem. I envisioned myself as the poet, walking past the beautiful daffodils giving no thought to it, and yet when I am all alone, sitting in quiet contemplation of what I did for the day, all my troubles went away as I remembered the beautiful dancing daffodils. I actually didn't know what the author was trying to convey, but that was what I thought he tried to convey. I asked my sister, an English literature graduate and she was amazed I understood what the author meant. I hope she was right. And I realise, maybe the author was trying to tell us to appreciate the simplest pleasures in life..for some it is being able to voice their opinion, to others, maybe being listened to, some may feel a hug will suffice, others maybe a good meal or a good TV show. There are many who may think about money being the greatest pleasure in life, I admit that too but money alone is not the pleasure in itself. It is the ability to buy your favourite chair, go to your favourite vacation, buy that apartment, these are the pleasures in life. Sadly, most of these can only be achieved by having money.
But yet, please do listen, isn't life's simplest pleasure is going home and knowing you're not alone? That you have someone waiting for you, who worries about you, who fuss about you, who gives you his or her attention and you know, when at home you can relax and talk to that person and listen to this person talk? Maybe your husband or wife? Your mother or siblings? I have never admitted this to my family, we are not an affectionate type of Asian family, we don't go around hugging and saying I Love Yous. I still can't do that. But I realise, at this age of mine, all these years, my simplest pleasure in life is my mother and my two sisters. Whenever we sit at the dinner table, my mother would curse that "you talk too much, eat and stop talking!" and yet we talk, about gossips, politics, everything. Maybe not about really personal stuff but rather chit chatting. But to me that is more than enough. And in that sense my 3 best friends also must count as my simplest pleasure in life. I have very few friends as I make not effort in maintaining friendships or making news ones. Those I have I had known for at least a decade. I have been rather bitchy to them lately and I realise I may be losing my simplest pleasure in life you know but they know me long enough to know it was a passing phase. And in the Internet, my simplest pleasure is meeting net friends and exchanging lively discussions.
I guess Pearl is right. At the end of the day, it is about listening and being listened to and I venture to complete her sentence, it is also about sharing, any part of you, however little. Maybe then there will be less sorrow.
I love this poem. And if my sister got it wrong, she really should burn her degree!
I will be posting some of my favourite poems these few days since I have been talking about TV shows, books, series, etc, now it is time to talk about poems. I generally dislike poems except for those few, The Daffodils being one of my favourite after having to stare at it for 20 minutes during my LRT travelling. I love the poetic prose of it and I could almost see daffodils dancing!
Do you have any favourite poems? Do share with me and share with me your interpretation of the above poem.
May 20, 2005
New section opened!
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Finally, be done with it! I just updated the media files section. As you can see in the Menu panel, under DOWNLOADS > MEDIA, there's a page for Series/Movies' media files where some I did it myself, some I found it myself and some I am hosting for others and a page for Individuals/Groups, so far one file only but will add some more later.
I am sure you can find most of these files elsewhere but I thought I wanna share with some very unique files I downloaded like piano rendition of your fave themesongs, fan made montage, some clips I cut and enhanced for you myself like some series nobody knows! I am sure you will find something worth downloading.
Series/Movies are for media files that are made for series or movies, including promo clips. Individuals/Groups for for songs of singers which is not a soundtrack or fan made files meant for a particular actor, not connected to any series/movies, advertisements, etc.
Do have a look. I doubt my bandwidth will "runneth" over. Anyone wants to contribute some very interesting files pls email me at my gmail account. I am also all for hosting files for you, BUT subject to whether I want to host that file of yours or not. Any missing or dead links please tag it to Shout Box and I will fix it asap!
Pls do NOT watch these files or listen to them online. Since my explanation is longer than the downloading items, you must realise how important this fact is. I can't help but explain and try to give credit where credit is due and I can't remember who sent me certain files. If you are that person, drop me a note and I will credit you for sure!
May 19, 2005
No more! No more! Why?!!?!?!
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I want to cry...I really want to cry...
http://www.spcnet.tv/forums/showthread.php?t=1578 (Holland V)
http://www.spcnet.tv/forums/showthread.php?t=9096 (Changing Lanes)
http://www.spcnet.tv/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=8211 (Power of Love)
All considered inactive links since some months ago, all REMOVED from SPCNET forums' database. ALL of them and so many more titles such as To Mum With Love and many more, mostly in Singapore series forum. I was so shocked that I immediately wrote a letter to teh administrator, asking why why why?
I feel so heart sick. In Power of Love, Changing Lanes, these two got like many screencaptures arranged episode by episode, in depth discussions of the plots and gossips as well. If you do not know anything about the series and may want to know more, I will say go to these two particular forums. Unlike other forums that swoon over certain issues, in there we do swoon over a particular person but we also discuss the plot, answering questions and post in depth summaries. My best online discussion forum experience was in the Changing Lanes forum, a nightly meeting. You can read all our views and get even more info you thought you could ever find...
All these...gone! GONE!!!! A treasure of information, NO MORE!
I dread to think Shaun Chen's thread will be deleted soon. Not that there's much info in it but imagine having to recreate a thread again and start from A again when before that if you want to know the profile, just flip to page this and this. Luckily I saved all the pictures but I did not save all the info on Changing Lanes, because I never thought valuable information like these could be discarded simply because they are inactive.
You know what threads are the most active? Prettiest stars, worst actress, those useless discussions. I mean interesting and fun to discuss but you get nothing much unlike a thread on a particular star or a particular production.
Allow me some time to heal this painful wound of mine...I feel so heart sick. If you think I am reacting this way because these all are Shaun's thread, believe me, if War & Beauty thread got deleted or so called unactivated or whatever, I will voice out my displeasure nevertheless. Of all the forums, perhaps Singapore series has the least visits, maybe I do not know, so the chances of inactivity is much much higher which means there goes all the discussion.
In restrospect I wonder why bother with all the info if they're not going to be stored or archived as part of SPCNET's info page? I feel like suggesting why not make these special threads like an info page on that particular series, movie or star.
I need time to recover from my shock and pain. Oh myyyyyyy...I really really want to cry....
Star Wars 3
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Cheng Cheng chechechechenggggg chengggg
Ok, no good! Anyway watching this movie on Saturday BUT NOOOO don't tell me the ending...don't tell me at all!!
Like as if no one knows right? But really no one knows how Vader became like a heavy breather, how his wife died, why his twins got separated...
But what I really want to know, experts of Stars Wars 4,5,6 did Vader know Luke and Leia were his children back then? If he did how could he have done what he did??
May 18, 2005
Wide Screen Plasma TV Commercial
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A really really funny commercial that I can't help but keep laughing as I am writing this post. Any fan of Hindi movies will definitely find this commercial a gem.
To download, right click the link below and choose Save Target As or Save As. Worth a download, though size is about 963kb.
DOWNLOAD THE COMMERCIAL
URL :
http://www.point2e.com/downloads/ad_widescreenplasma.wmv
May 16, 2005
Download TVB themesongs
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I am not sure if anyone knows this website called Asian-Palace :: Asian Entertainment. I stumbled into it and I was so very happy that there are like a million themesongs from TVB, ATV and even Taiwanese series to download, all MP3 quality. Happiest of all is I finally found some good copies of songs from JTTW II and I am awaiting eagerly for the instrumental music as well. I will be posting some of my most favourite in my downloads > media page, such as from JTTW II. Go and have a look and be sure to thank the owner.
By the way I seriously doubt TVB gave him permission. Do you think it's true?
I did discover one mistake though. Kwong Wah was credited as the singer in of the songs under JTTW II and I listened to that song and I remember watching the MV. It wasn't Kwong Wah, moreover he can't sing that well!! The singer sounds like Benny Chan. And one more song was credited to Amanda Lee when ALL ALONG I thought it was the Kuan Yin herself, whose name escapes me right now. Can someone confirm??
Go and have a look!
By the way, very happy to inform my Media page will open soon and I bet you will find something in there to download!
May 14, 2005
Updates - Reviews
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I feel so heartsick. I wrote a really good review on Summer Heat (TVB) and my data was all lost! I don't know why! Now I will have to rewrite it but my "zing" is all gone!
Anyway, I really enjoy watching Riches & Stitches as well as To Love With No Regrets. Hopefully the stories get better.
New reviews by the way.
- War And Beauty (TVB) by Bridget Au
Note : A very detailed and spoilers filled review. In fact kinda tells you A to Z about this series.
- Net Deception (TVB) by Funn Lim
- Not Just A Pretty Face (TVB) by Funn Lim ( I wrote this a long time ago by the way!)
Any new reviews? Book reviews? Series reviews? Anything??
May 12, 2005
Announcement
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I have been missing so much of Riches & Stitches that it is frustrating me. Not as dedicated as I was watching PITNOL, SL or even TITS though I want to watch it every episode, I have decided to stop the Episodic Thoughts and just watch the darn series and write a review later. Really sorry and I have removed the link and deleted the files.
Very frustrating. Thanks for the comments though.
May 10, 2005
Air Crash Investigation : Air Transat Airbus A330 Flight 236 [2001]
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Tonight's episode was entitled Flying On Empty and it was such a harrowing experience, even when I was not there. Like Avianca, this plane lost all power (because no fuel) in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Thanks in part to luck, in part to technology, in part to perhaps God and a large part to the 2 brilliant pilots, the plane glided for the next 15 minutes and the captain successfully landed the entire plane and saved, including themselves, 302 on board. No one died, but definitely went through hell as they glided. I am amazed by the skills of the pilots, one very experienced Captain and the other a young co-pilot, very handsome as well but not credited in some news report. He did most of the calculations. It was a scary time and when it ended with zero fatality, I was overjoyed. It was much more scary to watch than Die Harder which I watched some days ago.
I won't tell you much. This near crash has the dubious honour of the longest glide ever and the captain and co-pilot honoured and hailed as heroes although Air Transat blamed them for the near crash but hey, why you honour them ah? The show may not have shown everything but it was very careful in spelling out the fact that the captain was very skilled in his job having had an unusual training and the co-pilot was young (very handsome as well). Strange though, the show said no fuel, reports said spilled fuel. I doubt the captain was THAT cool but the co-pilot was a bit jittery in the show.
The near crash was because of poor maintenance, putting like proton saga parts into a Rolls Royce car (in this case it was Rolls Royce who supplied the plane but the parts were some other brands) and so friction occured and guess what? Oil pipe bursts and so they lost oil that whole time. Luckily for the passengers, the island where they did the emergency landing was right there, the wind and the height of the flight was ideal, teh co-pilot calculated everything perfectly and the Captain expertly guided the whole plane to safety puncturing just 8 out of 12 tyres. To tell you the truth, I don't want to be on this plane or even Aviance. But this had a happy ending. It could have been 302 lives in the Atlantic Ocean.
AMAZING!
Read more about this near miss at the following links:-
- News Report 1 (see the tyres)
- News Report 1 at BBC (a picture of the Captain)
- A personal view
- Possible reconstruction
- Picture of the Captain and handsome co-pilot
Cast of Riches & Stitches
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Does anyone know the full cast list (as well as the names of the characters they play) for Riches & Stitches? I found one at SPCNET but only in Vietnamese. Please post the list here in this post.
Thanks in advance.
May 09, 2005
Updates : Episodic Thoughts
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I have added an Episodic Thoughts page for TVB's Riches & Stitches. All episodic thoughts will be updated daily from Monday to Friday except when I missed one particular episode, which you can see by the missing episode in the Menu panel. I will put up a link of 5 episodes in advance. It's just an observation and some discussions. I am watching this series as I post each episode, so my final review may be very different from my day to day observations. I noticed through this way I noticed more flaws or maybe more plus points but my final review will summarise my actual thoughts, having watched all episodes.
Please feel free to comment on my thoughts and to fill in the plot gaps or names of characters if any. Treat this Episodic Thoughts page as a discussion forum. I would appreciate you leaving your name when posting.
To link to this page, use the subdomain
http://richesstitches.point2e.com
The link can be found in Reviews > TV > TVB and under the sign E.
May 08, 2005
Books - reading for fad or for pleasure?
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There was a time when everybody was into Harry Potter but rarely did I see anybody holding any Harry Potter books in the LRT. Then came LOTR and suddenly everybody was holding a copy and funnily enough, always the first volume and always the first few pages. Then of course came the next big thing, The Da Vinci Code. Now everybody holding a copy of this book, LOTR discarded and I believe never beyond the first 3 chapters. Guess what? I suspect next one will be The Rule Of Four.
All I have read, and all different in every sense though Rule of Four at first is a bit like Da Vinci Code. I enjoyed the contents, I enjoyed the analysis but there is a common thread amongst these 3 books-they're all very tedious read.
LOTR is tedious because it is a difficult read, and boring at times but nevertheless a momentus type of achievement.
Da Vinci Code I read it because everybody was reading it. I enjoyed the analysis about the paintings but the story and the narrative style, I hated these two aspects. It took several chapters just to find out what the grandfather was doing on the floor which shocked our heroine. That was enough for me to hate the book. And the ending was pure nonsense, as in aimless. The narrative style was tedious at most part. But the analysis was interesting, and I learned something about Leornardo Da Vinci and I understood what the book was trying to say and I believe the book, as in the female-male equality analysis may be real though I am doubtful Christ had descendants.
That was a fad book you know. What everybody is reading, everybody else is reading the same. And now Tom Hanks will play the title character. Sorry to say, wrong casting decision.
Now came The Rule Of Four, a book my sister was looking for it everywhere. The cover was disappointing, the book quality looking and feeling quite cheap though the price is the same. And I was reading it the first 5 chapters or so and I almost fell asleep. Reading the book I knew the authors (there are 2 by the way-how the 2 can come to a certain consensus on a certain scene is beyond me) were new to this, as in this was their first novel. The description is too flowery at times and yet most of the times irrelevant and badly paced. Like Da Vinci Code, the only interesting part is when the characters discovered something about the book that HYPNEROTOMACHIA POLIPHILI that until now I still do not know why the character named Paul was so obsessed with it. It looked like just an ordinary love story to me. Of course I am still very early into the book and I hope it will get better. But those side stories about friendship, Princeton and what nots are all really tedious read. Sometimes aimless and this book makes The Da Vinci Code so much more entertaining to read you know. But writing style, I sighhhhh
I am a lover of books. At times I prefer a book more than a movie or the company of friends and I can finish book in a week even if it is thick if I really love that book. I can escape into the world as imagined by the author and I love all kinds of book, though there are stages in my life I prefer certain types of books.
To me Michael Chrichton is a sensationalism type of writer, taking a popular or controversial topic and disguise it with a story and then call it a novel when every book he has ever written were more like for movies you know. Whilst he lacks physical description for his characters, he more than made up for the action scenes, all very very well described and I always enjoyed reading his books. His book, Prey was such a good read, I can imagine Kevin Spacey as the hero. In fact I would say one of the most thrilling and scariest book I have ever read.
Jeffrey Archer is one of my most favourite author, despite his personal live. His books are all great reads, very well paced, very well told, very well everything except for the often lame ending. But every page is a page turner, except for his latest works. He wrote his best novels when he was at his most unfortunate times and now I think he may still be able to write such books since he is down on his luck.
My sister loves Paulo Coelho and his very famous book, The Alchemist. I find him too preachy and I disliked to read translated books until I have no choice you know. Never liked his books but he has a got a distinctive style and theme that is easily identified as his own style.
JK Rowling needs no introduction, the woman who brought the love of reading back into children and adults alike. This woman is so good, I can read her books 10 times each and never bored.
Edgar Allan Poe, I read only one story of his called The Tell Tale Heart, I think that's the title. The best thriller if you can call it a thriller I have ever read. I long to write like him, playing with our psychological side. That story was brilliant and I could almost hear the heart beating like the protaganist in the story.
And many more great authors.
Lately I discovered Mitch Albom's The Five People You Meet In Heaven. A very short novel but so well written. Very simple approach, the story very simple at first but the whole book is just so enchanting, the ending will sure to bring tears into your eyes. The only problem I have with the book is why must the character discover his value after he is dead? Ahhh no second chance but in heaven, maybe so. I wonder which 5 I will meet in heaven? Maybe one of them the devil himself? Who knows?
And then I read Andelin Yen Mah and her first novel, Falling Leaves. I chanced upon this book and being bored stiff, I bought it on a whim and mind you, RM35-00 gone just like that. But the first chapter itself was such an intriguing read and the best of all, it was an autobiography. I cannot imagine anyone having such a lonely childhood, such useless siblings and such an evil step mom but you know, my mom had that life, I could have wrote this book on her behalf. The book is sad, but the frustating as well as the author herself seem to be stuck in the ever strong influence and grip of her very dead step mom she calls Niang. I wonder why bother? But a good read, after all somebody else' misery is often very entertaining you know since it is not happening to you.
And then I read The Rule Of Four. Really none of the beauty of the narrative styles of the authors above. And suddenly I realise that Michael Crichton may be accused of being a sensationalism writer, I realise The Da Vinci Code, and The Rule Of Four types of books are exactly that. But I still give this book a chance. I hate reading and giving up half way when everybody seems to think it is a great book. Maybe it could be, I hope.
Anyway nowadays books are a bit like diets you know; the fad books that everybody is reading, and everybody else will read too. But I suspect next time I am in the LRT, The Rule Of Four will be the book everybody is reading. And I will be left to wonder, did they finish The Da Vinci Code?
Jennifer Garner is pregnant!
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I know, when did Point2e.com became a gossip column eh? But this news is just too interesting to ignore. Of course she and baby's father, Benn Affleck did not admit nor deny this, nor are they admitting they're engaged. But rumour has it they're are indeed engaged and she is 3 months pregnant and all these while they never admitted to being a couple!
Ben Affleck may be such a bad actor but he is really quite a lady's man, all the women who fell for him has 3 things in common, or maybe 2 at least;
1. great body
2. Jennifer being their name
3. they're all famous even on their own, at times more famous than Mr Affleck himself.
Well, if it is true, congrats to them. If not, and things don't won't out, ermmm there was Jennifer Lopez, then Jennifer Garner..both Bennifer you know. There's always Jennifer Aniston...
But the one really missed out golden opportunity would be Penelope Cruz and Tom Cruise. Imagine..Penelope Cruz Cruise...that would be wonderful for all the jokes...
I never liked Penelope Cruz, and I still don't, but my opinion of her changed from transvestite looking wanton woman to transvestite looking intelligent articulate sophisticated woman after watching an interview of her on BBC. Very surprised to know she is a very serious lady.
You Know You're Chinese When...
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"1. You unwrap Christmas gifts very carefully, so you can save and reuse the wrapping (and especially those bows) next year."
True true. But that's called recycling and it is a virtue.
"20. You live with your parents and you are 30 years old (and they prefer it that way). Or if you're married and 30 years old, you live in the apartment next door to your parents, or at least in the same neighborhood."
So do Indians and the Punjabis and most of the young adults these days, myself included though I am not yet 30.
I wonder did the author include the one where you know you're Chinese when you walk into a shop, buying anything of any value, even the lowest value and you expect a free gift, any free gift to go with that thing you bought, even a pen will do. Very chinese behaviour you know.
Many more very funny jokes as in you know you're chinese when ... at this website called Chinesebride Xanga Site. I found this link when I was at Pearl's website called Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind and Chinesebride mentioned she found Pearl's website via my website and funnily enough, I found hers via Pearl's website!
Updates : Reviews
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Added the following new reviews, all especially by the contributors are very well written, in my humble opinion.
TVB Series
- The Vigilante In The Mask by Funn Lim
- Point Of No Return by Funn Lim
- Split Second by Debbie Law
Books (new!!-eagerly awaiting more reviews for this section or even excerpts from your favourite book!)
- Suzanne's Diary For Nicholas [Fiction] by Black Eyed Susan
Any new reviews??
May 07, 2005
Upcoming movies
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Looking forward to:-
1. Part 3 Star Wars, hated the first 2 parts but 3rd part looks promising, and Ewan McGregor is always a good watch
2. Kingdom of Heaven because it looks, feels and is almost like LOTR. And Orlando Bloom, a pluc point BUT isn't he being typecast? You know he looks great in period dramas and I have yet to see him in a modern day drama...
3. Cars by Pixar...I am waiting waiting waiting...
And what else?
May 05, 2005
The definition & the importance of beauty
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I was visiting one of my favourite website, actually an online diary of someone you always see in here, Pearl's website and the very top post made me ponder why would someone whom I feel is gorgeous doubt her own gorgeouness?
Her post started depressingly enough and ended somewhat even more depressing, for me. Maybe it was stress that made her feel doubtful of her looks, as she described it, pimples, fat and unattractive. Maybe we have all been bombarded with thin models that in times we forgot women are supposed to have curves, that flawless skin may be more of a myth than the norm and that slim, thin, tall, willowy body with gorgeous hair and perfect features are the standards we live up to when we should live up to the expectation of being kind, considerate, polite and helpful, all these are the qualities I feel my net friend, Pearl has, in abundance. I myself can't say that I am of these qualities and let's be honest, I talked about Atkins, and I am sure all would know I have a weight problem. My skin isn't exactly great, my hair isn't Pantene type hair and I am not tall at all, not in this generation though I was considered tall then. I am not exceptionally hard working, I never volunteer for anything charitable and I am not successfully financially. If my friend Pearl can feel so low of herself today, then I should be lower than her you know?
I wrote in her post that "Beauty starts with oneself. " and I believe that. I am vain because when I look in the mirror there are times I thought I look pretty and if I ever lose more weight or just start exercising, I will look darn gorgeous. Of course one shouldn't be too vain or too confident and I am not confident, at least not in front of strangers.
What is my definition of beauty? If you're think you're, you are! Like that saying in Latin I think, "I think therefore I am". Arrogant? Why not? You know your limits and you know your ability to go beyond your limititations.
I hope Pearl will feel better. A face full of pimples or a bit tighter clothes or a bit of fat doesn't define who you are. I feel her helpfulness, her positive posts, her insightful comments and her politeness in all her posts define this person. I do not know her in real life but I have a feeling I may like her if I ever know her in person though I doubt she will like me much actually. Imagine this; Internet is a great place where someone can remain anonymous, and because of that most people, like myself take this opportunity to be nasty because it's just words without a face, I don't have to live up to my physical image or an expectation that one should be polite and truthful. And yet to me Pearl did not abuse this opportunity and she came off more polite than I would expect anyone using the Internet to be. In a place full of nasty people, I met someone as sophisticated, classy, articulate and intelligent as this net friend of mine.
If that is not beauty, I do not know what is.
Do give her some words of encouragement. Maybe it's just a phase but a good word never fail to liven up a good spirit you know...
May 03, 2005
Walking down memory lane..something like that!
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If you're wondering why the Featured DDG is like nothing, it is because I just added some new slides with new intro and new ending (like 72 pictures in all) so it may take quite a long while to load. You know when I was searching for some new slides for this slideshow, I kinda had a trip down memory lane especially when I was looking at Changing Lanes screencaptures. Needless to say, my favourite one in the slideshow is the one before the end slide. So handsome, so intelligent looking. And of course I thought I wanted to add the new scans where he was dressed like a boxer and scanned by Pearl and Catlau. You know his first feature story where I learned about his real name, hometown, struggles and wishes and I wanted to add in the pictures and guess what? I just couldn't do it except for one (where he was wearing a cap I think) and his old ads. The rest I can't bear to put them in because frankly so not him you know! I mean I love this guy but those big scans which you can find in Shaunsation...made him looked rather sissy which was why I quickly switched my ACDSee to the Changing Lanes captures to remind myself, he IS gorgeous. Of course he is.
I was watching Holland V today since public holiday as well as To Mum With Love, where he was gorgeous in both shows and reminded me why I liked him so; because he has charisma and because he can act very well, very impressive "debut" if you ask me. And I must say, Michelle Saram is tolerable in To Mum With Love (with Mandarin she could stop concentrating on the language and just act) and Christopher Lee is old but very good looking. A good show thus far.
Anyway enjoy the new slideshow. If you so happened to click on it and got a 404 message, it is because I am moving Shaunsation from http://shaunchen.theddgs.point2e.com to http://shaunchen.point2e.com
Shorter you see, my devious way of making it more memorable and thus ensuring more hits because I DO really want you to visit my Shaunsation. A new layout coming soon also.
As for reviews, I will be posting some new reviews in a day or two AND yes will be posting that one everybody is asking about. Not quite sure you will like what I have to say but you know...I mellowed down over the years...not that nasty anymore...
Also going to open a new section that was previously in Ebuzz but neglected to reopen it here, that is Book reviews. Got one submission already.
Anyone got submissions?
May 02, 2005
Falling Leaves by Adeline Yeh Mah
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Has anyone ever read this autobiography? I was wondering that she wrote that her half sister, Susan is married to a very rich and prominent HK rich businessman and I think she used pseudonym. I wonder who she may be talking about? And her siblings as well!
I know of evil step mothers but I have never read how much acceptance a child or even an adult would crave for even when she knew such stepmother was the worst of its kind? Quite frustrating to read all that. If I were her, I would tell my step mom to bugger off and I don't need your lousy inheritance or your acceptance. I am capable of finding all that on my own!
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