Saturday, February 28, 2009

Baby Bath

Saw this last month when we were doing in one of the malls in town. The baby seems to be enjoying it... she's so cute! :)



Then, last week, when I was doing my shopping in another mall in the city hall area, I saw another one with the same concept. Hmmm... should i let my baby try this next time?


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Friday, February 27, 2009

Building my Family Tree

I'm embarking a new project!

I suddenly have this idea of constructing a family tree to keep track of my family history. It could difficult as my family genealogy is complicated with some of my relatives situated overseas, I may run into dead ends from time to time but I think I could try with the help of my parents.

I've found some websites that offers useful online resources (dynastree and sft amongst them) but I will start off with keeping my data in the primative and trusty excel spreadsheet first, then decide whether to use the available tools online...

The Genealogy of Abraham that I've found on the web:

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Designer Laptops ... Pretty or Ugly?

Saw on the Digital Life that HP has come out with a designer laptop fashioned by designer Vivienne Tam.




Can you imagine holding one in your hands? I can't ... but then again, I think it's targeted at the ladies. Gender aside, I think it's plain gaudy and downright ugly. What an eyesore!!!

Give me a Macbook anytime. If you want the wow factor, get the Macbook Air.

Sure, the price of Mac is higher, but then aren't designer laptops supposed to cost more? Till now, I have not seen a laptop that beat a Mac in the style department.

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Saturday, February 21, 2009

Slumdog Millionaire

We applauded this film! It's so unbelievably nice and engaging... and the child actors (who really were living in the slums!) were so street-smart looking and acted so well! The plot was different and the songs were beautifully written (ya, very Indie). No wonder it got itself 10 oscars nominations! :)

Reminds me of my India trip - the train station, the people and the environment. I wonder how many people would flock to Mumbai after watching this movie?

[Edit 23 Feb 09: Slumdog Millionaire won eight Academy Awards, including Best Pictures and Best Director! Wow!]

Slumdog Millionaire

Rating: NC-16
ConsumerAdvice: Some Coarse Language
Language: English/Hindi with English subtitles during Hindi dialogue
Director: Danny Boyle
Runtime: 120 min

"Slumdog Millionaire" is the story of Jamal Malik, an 18 year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai, who is about to experience the biggest day of his life. With the whole nation watching, he is just one question away from winning a staggering 20 million rupees on India's "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?"

But when the show breaks for the night, police arrest him on suspicion of cheating; how could a street kid know so much? Desperate to prove his innocence, Jamal tells the story of his life in the slum where he and his brother grew up, of their adventures together on the road, of vicious encounters with local gangs, and of Latika, the girl he loved and lost. Each chapter of his story reveals the key to the answer to one of the game show's questions.

Intrigued by Jamal's story, the jaded Police Inspector begins to wonder what a young man with no apparent desire for riches is really doing on this game show?

When the new day dawns and Jamal returns to answer the final question, the Inspector and sixty million viewers are about to find out...

Monday, February 16, 2009

It's Movie Mania this Valentine's Day

We rented and watched 9 DVDs this Valentines' day. I like this way of celebration... simple and cozy for couch potatoes like us :)




From Top left,
Mr. Mogorium's Wonder Emporium
20th Century Boys (Not shown above)
Assasination of Jessie James
Shark Tale
Babalon A.D.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Kung Fu Panda
Paris J'Taime
Blood and Chocolate

Not all films are nice, only the animations are watchable...

Besides the movies, DC concocted this fantastic drink. Squashed Orange with Yakult... Yummy! :)



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Friday, February 13, 2009

The Chinese Funeral

Chinese funeral is really not a fuss-free affair!

The wake was set up on Day 2. By afternoon, the body was carried down and placed into the coffin, all dressed up in her clothes. We were dressed in our mourning clothes (different colours black, blue and green to differentiate ourselves according to seniority in the family) and were busy setting up the place, receiving the wreaths and hanging up the blankets sent by friends and companies. Not many people came visiting that day for afterall, it was still chinese new year...



On Day 3, we had to prepare the things needed (e.g. folding lots and lots of incense papers into ignots, refilling the plates with peanuts, towels and red paper with coin to be given out on the last day). It was full seats at night, occupied by friends and colleagues. Thanks for the condolences and contributions!



There was a ritual on the 4th night where family members have to kneel, bow and offer incense to her. There were 5 rounds altogether but I was excused after 2 rounds. Then, we burnt paper money, houses, cars and gold/silver mountains to her and this marked the end of the ritual.



The 5th day was the procession day. As Ah Ma's wish was to have a grand ceremony, we arranged for music band, big-head doll dance troop, fruits offering ceremony (offered by the son-in-laws and grandson-in-laws), final ritual and an extravagant funeral parade vehicle to send her off to the crematorium.



Next day, we collected the ashes and stored the urn at the columbaria niche.



The seventh day was the day the soul was supposed to return home. My 2nd aunt claimed to have seen her (radiant and sitting on her bed chatting with her).



This was not the end, every seventh day of the week, we had to pray and provide offerings to her until the seventh week. There were also rules to follow until the 100 days (about 3 months). Heard from my uncles and dad that because Ah Ma has a blessed life when she was alive (7 generations), that's why red candles were used on her altar and only two joss sticks were needed during offering. So, maybe we don't have to follow the rules very strictly?


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Monday, February 09, 2009

The Demise

This chinese new year could have ended nicely but we were hit with a terrible news of the death of my beloved grandmother on the 2nd last day of cny (yesterday).

This news really caught us by surprise as none of us expect her to leave just like that, so quietly. We weren't even there for her when she took her last breath! :( According to sources, she was still ok when my aunt was talking to her at 5pm yesterday and when they went into her room to check on her an hour later, she was already gone. 8pm the medics came and pronounced her dead 11 minutes later.

All were at her house until late yesterday night (I was instructed not to be present because of my condition - *helpless*). Although we were all very sad to know that she has left, we were also very glad as she had lived to an old ripe age. Anyway, it's no time to be sad now, there were lots of things waiting for us at the funeral wake for the next 4 days.

We will not forget her, she will always be in our hearts...


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Sunday, February 08, 2009

The Reader

We watched another Academy Award nominated film today.

Cast: Kate Winslet, Ralph Fiennes, David Kross
Director: Stephen Daldry
Genre:Drama
Language: English
Release Date:5 February 2009
Running Time:123 minutes

THE READER opens in post-WWII Germany when teenager Michael Berg becomes ill and is helped home by Hanna, a stranger twice his age. Michael recovers from scarlet fever and seeks out Hanna to thank her. The two are quickly drawn into a passionate but secretive affair.

Michael discovers that Hanna loves being read to and their physical relationship deepens. Hanna is enthralled as Michael reads to her from The Odyssey, Huck Finn, and The Lady with the Little Dog. Despite their intense bond, Hanna mysteriously disappears one day and Michael is left confused and heartbroken. Eight years later, while Michael is a law student observing the Nazi war crime trials, he is stunned to find Hanna back in his life this time as a defendant in the courtroom. As Hannas past is revealed, Michael uncovers a deep secret that will impact both of their lives.

THE READER is a haunting story about truth and reconciliation, about how one generation comes to terms with the crimes of another.

Saturday, February 07, 2009

Benjamin Button & Changeling

I love it when there are many good films when Oscar is round the corner! :)

We watched two great films this week. Both 81st Academy Award 2009 nominated films, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (13 nominations) and Changeling (3 nominations) have very nice and unique plots.

Changeling is a true story and it sent shivers down my spine to think of what I would do if I were in the mother's shoes. Luckily times have changed and this is almost impossible to happen in this century and in Singapore. The film is very inspiring and I like the way Angelina Jolie protrayed the role. Although the film ended with an unknown ending, all crooks got what they deserved.

Benjamin Button is another very beautifully made movie. After watching, you would uncontrollably think and re-think about the events that happened and this caused DC a sleepless night. :) Plot is so unique, I wonder how the script writer came up with the idea. Warning: It's a long show (almost 3 hrs). If you are not a fan of life stories, you might find the show a little slow as it shows Benjamin Button chronologically from his birth (born as 85 years old man) to death (as an infant).

The curious case of Benjamin Button

Rating: PG
Consumer Advice: Some sexual references
Genre: Drama
Language: English with Chinese subtitles
Director: David Fincher
Cast: Brad Pitt, Malcolm McDowell, Cate Blanchett, Elias Koteas, Jason Flemyng, Peter Bergman
Runtime: 166 min

"I was born under unusual circumstances." And so begins "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," adapted from the 1920s story by F. Scott Fitzgerald about a man who is born in his eighties and ages backwards. A man, like any of us, who is unable to stop time. We follow his story set in New Orleans from the end of World War I in 1918, into the 21st century, following his journey that is as unusual as any man's life can be - a grand tale of a not-so-ordinary man and the people and places he discovers along the way, the loves he finds, the joys of life and the sadness of death, and what lasts beyond time.


Changeling

Rating: PG
Genre: Thriller
Director: Clint Eastwood
Cast: Angelina Jolie, John Malkovich, Jeffrey Donovan, Colm Feore, Amy Ryan, Michael Kelly

Clint Eastwood directs Angelina Jolie and John Malkovich in a provocative thriller based on actual events: Changeling. In the film, Christine Collins’ (Jolie) prayers are met when her kidnapped son is returned. But amidst the frenzy of the photo-op reunion, she realizes this child is not hers. Facing corrupt police and a skeptical public, she desperately hunts for answers, only to be confronted by a truth that will change her forever.

Los Angeles, 1928: On a Saturday morning in a working-class suburb, Christine said goodbye to her son, Walter, and left for work. When she came home, she discovered he had vanished. A fruitless search ensues, and months later, a boy claiming to be the nine-year-old is returned. Dazed by the swirl of cops, reporters and her conflicted emotions, Christine allows him to stay overnight. But in her heart, she knows he is not Walter.

As she pushes authorities to keep looking, she learns that in Prohibition-era L.A., women don’t challenge the system and live to tell their story. Slandered as delusional and unfit, Christine finds an ally in activist Reverend Briegleb (Malkovich), who helps her fight the city to look for her missing boy. Based on the actual incident that rocked California’s legal system, Changeling tells the shocking tale of a mother’s quest to find her son, and those who won’t stop until they silence her.

Wednesday, February 04, 2009

More Freebies

Yeah, got another hamper set and a CK watch from Standard Chartered. There should be another CK watch coming up as well, we'll see if we'll sell both. I had hoped to win the 50in LCD TV, but well ... too bad.

CK Chronograph watch


Marriot hamper set

Anticlockwise from top: Wine, tea pack, chocolates (which are especially nice) and kueh buangkit.

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Monday, February 02, 2009

Two Baby Celebrations In a Weekend

We celebrated the first month of DC's twin nephews on Sat and the 2nd birthday of DC's nephew on Sun.

On both occasions, there were lots of kids running about and I guess they must have enjoyed themselves... more are calling DC Uncle (not Brother) and me Auntie (not Sister), we couldn't but to admit that we have really come of that age, Ha! :P We also enjoyed ourselves with the food and balloon show. :)

Happy 1st month to Zhen Yuan and Zhen Kai!

The twins were sleeping so didn't manage any photos there.

Happy 2nd Birthday to Kiefer!

090201-01


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Sunday, February 01, 2009

Two Movies this week: InkHeart & Underworld

Just back from the midnight show. :) If you only have time for one movie, go for Underworld and you'll never go wrong. The third installment of the series, it is a prequel and tells of the love story of Lucian (the first werewolf that is able to take human form) and Sonja (the beautiful vampire princess) and how the Lycans (led by Lucian), stand up against the vampires. DC is a fan of the Underworld series and both of us enjoyed this one.

Inkheart, on the other hand, is not as exciting as expected. If you have watched Brendan Fraser's recent films, you would expect some thrills (like Journey to the Center of the Earth and The Mummy Series), this was just passable, not the roller coaster ride I had expected. However, you'll be reminded of the childhood stories when you see familiar characters come alive out of the book.

Inkheart
Rating: PG
Genre: Fantasy
Language: English
Director: Iain Softley
Cast: Paul Bettany, Jim Broadbent, Kathy Bates, Brendan Fraser, Helen Mirren
Runtime: 106 mins

Mo Folchart (Brendan Fraser) is a father who possesses a secret ability to bring characters from books to life when he reads them aloud. But when Mo accidentally brings a power-hungry villain from a rare children's fable to life, the villain kidnaps Mo's daughter and demands Mo to bring other evil fictional characters to life. In an attempt to rescue his daughter, Mo assembles a disparate group of friends - both real and magic - and embarks on a journey to save her and set things right.




Underworld: Rise of the Lycans
Rating: TBA
Genre: Action/Thriller
Language: English
Director: Patrick Tatopoulos
Cast: Michael Sheen, Bill Nighy, Rhona Mitra
Runtime: TBA

Release Date: 5 February 2009

The third film in the $200 million UNDERWORLD franchise delves into the origins of the centuriesold blood feud between the aristocratic vampires, known as Death Dealers, and the barbaric Lycans (werewolves). A young Lycan, Lucian (Michael Sheen), emerges as a powerful leader who rallies the werewolves to rise up against Viktor (Bill Nighy), the cruel vampire king who has persecuted them for hundreds of years. Lucian is joined by his secret lover, the beautiful vampire Sonja (Rhona Mitra), in his battle to free the Lycans from their brutal enslavement.
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