I've been wanting to do this since I watched the movie in April.

My opinion in one word: SUCKS!

I guess to answer the question, the only people who watched the Watchmen are the ones who are totally fanatic about the comic and the ones who were duped by the action-filled previews (like me).

The movie was so boring it made me sleepy and regretted that I spent $8 on the junk even during the first few minutes of its beginning. While the preview showed a lot of action, it's pretty scarce in the movie. What you get is drama, more drama, talk-talk-talk, and oh.. one whole scene of sex. I mean, WTH?? Is it an action movie or sex/drama movie?

No offence to those who are fanatic, but to me, this movie tops the worst-movies-I've-ever-seen list.

Rate? 0/10. Not worth to watch at all.

Well, this is basically extremely subjective as it is based on my own personal experience. Except for #1, because I believe that's what everyone gets in here.

1. Excellent service (mainly in supermarkets).
I have to compare this to Adelaide's level. But perhaps that's a bit too high. In Adelaide (it's the capital of South Australia, in case you're wondering), every time you pay at the cashier, you'll always be greeted with "Hi! How are you?" or at least a "Good Morning", "Good Day", "Good Afternoon", or "Good Evening", and most importantly, with a happy smile. Even though you feel bad, you can't feel worse after being greeted happily like that. Although, I have to admit that some cashiers do emit an aura of being "pressured" to smile, thus the smile and the greetings look and sound really fake. However, that's the standard.

In S'pore, you'll be greeted with a sour look on the face, no smile, often no words exchanged except for the total amount of purchase. Often the cashiers are busy talking amongst themselves, totally ignoring the customers and just running the goods through the scanner without even looking up at the customers' face once even until the whole paying session is done. So I suppose, if you had a bad day, you'd feel even worse after shopping....

2. "Healthy" food in fast food chains.
I used to be able to buy salads at McDonald's in Adelaide. It's pretty much affordable and the taste is acceptable. But the fast food chains here apparently only sell "junk" food and it's quite difficult to find a good place that sells good-taste salads. I did find a decent one in a cafe at quite a high price for a plate of salads, but no longer can I find it at any fast food place for quite a low price. So, you need salad? Go buy at a cafe or make it yourself.

3. Clean buses.
Well, the trains are quite clean. But the buses... They can use some extreme cleaning-up. Not only the seats are dirty, the windows dirty, even the smell inside is really bad too. It smells like a toilet. I avoid the buses as much as possible. Though most often, it's inevitable. Avoid the buses as much as possible. If you have to, try to seat along the aisle or just stand. Breathe through your mouth if you can't stand the smell.

4. Good variety of TV programs.
What I don't like are the re-runs.

Some programs shown during the previous evening are shown again the next morning/afternoon. It somehow shows the lack of variety. If a channel has a lot of variety to fill the slots, they won't have re-runs of yesterday's programs. I understand it's a free-to-air TV channel, but come on! Put the budget to buy more programs if there's no worthy local programs. Don't have enough budget? Sell more advertisement slots.

Well, I can't say much. I don't work in the industry. And I can't do anything about it.


*sigh*

Abbreviations:

sts = stitches
k = knit
kfb = knit into front of stitch then into back of same stitch
foll = following
alt = alternate
K2tog = knit 2 stitches together
yfwd = yarn forward


Materials:
- 1 x 50g ball "Bella Baby" Layette (80% Bamboo, 20% Wool)
- 1 pair 3.75mm knitting needles
- Scissors, yarn needle
- 2 x buttons

Patterns:
Left Bootie
Cast on 27 sts.
Row 1: (K1, kfb, K10, kfb) twice, K1 (31 sts).
Row 2 & foll alt rows: Knit.
Row 3: (K1, kfb, K12, kfb) twice, K1 (35 sts).
Row 5: (K1, kfb, K14, kfb) twice, K1 (39 sts).
Row 7: (K1, kfb, K16, kfb) twice, K1 (43 sts).
Row 9: (K1, kfb, K18, kfb) twice, K1 (47 sts).
Row 11: (K1, kfb, K20, kfb) twice, K1 (51 sts).
Row 12: K2tog, K to last 2 sts, K2tog (49 sts).
Knit 10 rows without shaping.
Shape top
Row 1: K16, K2tog, (K3, K2tog) 3 times, K to end (45 sts).
Row 2 & 4: Knit
Row 3: K15, K2tog, K2, K2tog, K3, K2tog, K2, K2tog, K to end (41 sts).
Row 5: K14, K2tog, K1, K2tog, K3, K2tog, K1, K2tog, K to end (37 sts).
Button top
K10, cast off next 7 sts, K3, ast off next 7 sts, K10 to end, turn. **
Knit 3 rows on last 10 sts and cast off. Cut yarn.
Rejoin yarn to middle 3 sts, work 16 rows. Cast off. Cut yarn.
Cast on 14 sts, join to remaining 10 sts and K to end. Knit 1 row, turn.
Button hole row: K1, K2tog, yfwd, K to end. Cast off.

Right Bootie
Work as for Left Bootie until **.
K10, cast on 14 sts. Knit 1 row, turn.
Button hole row: K to last 3 sts, yfwd, K2tog, K1. Cast off.
Rejoin yarn to middle 3 sts, work 16 rows. Cast off. Cut yarn.
Rejoin yarn to remaining 10 sts, knit 3 rows and cast off. Cut yarn.

Or... supposedly... hashbrown.

The recipe is quite simple and I just mixed in anything that I could remember: potatoes, onion, salt + pepper. I didn't have parsley, so I mixed in basil :p. I also put in some grated parmesan cheese, without knowing whether it's necessary or not. Then I put in rice flour. Then fry 'em. Something's missing? I thought not.. So I continued frying all of the mixture till the very last of 'em when I remember that I forgot to mix in... eggs!!

Well, it STILL tastes delicious, though... Cheesy fries, anyone? :D

I AM TALENTED!!! :DD

Yeah... especially with boys. The recent one, I had to work with 2 boys in a group project. Didn't have a choice. It was my bad luck, I think... out of a lottery-kinda thing.
Anyway, one boy did come to every meeting, but he didn't exactly provide what was asked for. We're supposed to provide key points of each reading and give our opinion on correlations between our readings... What he provided was only summaries of the readings. Okay, fine, that's about 1/4 of what we're supposed to do.
The other only understood one of the 2 readings. And he definitely didn't even read the previous week's readings, which we all should, coz it's part of the other 3/4 task. He did, though, give an opinion about the correlation between our compulsory readings and even insisted on providing a fancy diagram... which he can't even explain... =_=

Whenever I tried to clarify what he meant, he always said I'm wrong or just not exactly right. We had a little friction for that, but I backed away even though I could see there was no logic in his proposed diagram. In the end, though, I insisted in putting some of my own ideas to make it more logic.

Then, the most important part of our group's task, the correlations between all readings we've ever read was done by me. Me, and me alone. And when I finished proposing all of my thoughts, that 2nd boy simply asked, "Isn't there more?" I was like... 'What the heck?' then said, "Well, what do you think? What's your opinion?" He just simply answered, "No idea.."
'F*#k off!! If you don't have any idea, then don't ask for more!!!!!! I already gave enough!!!!! And I basically had covered everything!! (According to my limited mind, of course)'

But until due time, he didn't give anything else and both of them just accepted what I proposed. They didn't even try to argue or anything. And since we had to present that to the class, before presentation, the 2nd boy simply said, "If there's any question, please ask her." 'Shithead!'

Guess what? It turned out very good!! My opinions are all very good!!

This evening in class, he didn't even have to courage to ask the lecturer about the mark we got. He asked me to do it. With my headache, I just looked at him and snapped, "Why don't you?" But he didn't reply and actually left... What a loser!!

So yeah, I went to the lecturer and we got a distinction. I'm pretty happy, considering that I felt like all of it was my work, since I did most of the most important task... When I showed it to him, he looked really dissatisfied.
I became really angry and snapped, "What?! You're not satisfied?!"
Him: "Not satisfied."
I stomped away saying, "I did most of the correlation part."
Him: "But I also contribute." (Yes, he can't speak English fluently nor spell it perfectly nor even make perfect grammar)
Me: "Only one!!" Then I just turned away..

Man! Talk about a loser!! With big huge capital L!!

A friend of mine just patted me on the back when she heard I had to work with the boys. She knew that in the end, it will be just us girls doing all the work. It just happened that these boys were chinese. I guess most of the boys would be like that. Which is why I don't ever want to be in a group with boys, whenever possible.

I heard also from other people that boys are like that. They want to feel like they contribute something to the group work, but in the end they just left it all to us girls..

>>.>>

I was kinda curious about what furikake looks (and tastes) like when I read Skip Beat. Then I found (and bought) these.



The green one, noritama, is just like its name, consists of nori and tamago (egg). The red one, sukiyaki, has some beef in it (though I can barely taste it except that it's quite salty..). All I have to do is put these onto the steamed rice and eat. Yes, the simplicity of enjoying it is kinda tempting.. but the price... I wouldn't even want to buy any soon... it's too expensive for me... =T

Plus, it's not that delicious anyway... =T

I love Lego. Been have since ages ago. Since I knew I could build a house from 'bricks'. However, it's not so easy (and cheap) anymore to find a good set of Lego bricks...

And to get these 3 Lego stuff,

I ate 30 small packages of cookies...

Thankfully, I got all 3 from buying only 3 boxes (@ 10 small packages of cookies).... XD And thankfully, there are only 3 to collect...

Hmm.. now I want a rubic cube (got interested after watching Mukodono 2003...)...

About the new 2004 version
For people who have seen the original 1978 version (the year I was born… yeah… _), like me, the first thing that came to mind, would most probably, “Why is Starbuck a FEMALE??” For me, Starbuck is a male inside and out. They didn’t change the basic story (thank goodness) about a colony of fleets running away to find “Earth”, but they made lots of differences about the characters.

The Cylons are now cooler. I mean, for a robot kinda way. It’s more robot look-alike. Well, considering the technology now, they didn’t need to use people to wear the robot outfits. They have CG for that. And I love the new Cylon’s fighters and battlestars. They’re cool and fast. One more thing I like about is that the Cylons can look like humans. W00t, I’d say.

But that’s about all I like about this new 2004 version.

Because there are a lot more things that I dislike.

The female Starbuck. She looked really unfit to smoke cigars. She may be a good fighter pilot. But that’s it. I used to love Starbuck because he was such a gentle playboy! And he’s super cute, on top of that! (Good ol’ Dirk Benedict! He’s still cute even though he’s way much older now… Hohohoho… =])

Why they also changed Boomer to a female? Moreover, a disguised Cylon? Aargh!

They could’ve deleted lots of other side characters, but they decided to keep Boxey. The annoying and irritating brat. Nothing’s changed about that.

And one other thing remains the same. The idiotic colonial president. It doesn’t matter that now it’s a female character, the president is as idiot as ever.

Oh… plus the coward Baltar…


The old and original Battlestar Galactica (1978)
What? I love it! Even though I can see strings hanging up all those model fighters / planes, the story is way more interesting than the new one. Need I mention again about Starbuck? =D

Starbuck = love. XD

For those who like Battlestar Galactica after seeing the 2004 version, try watching the original one. For me, nothing beats the original one. Furthermore, I found the new version is boring as ever. I love fighting scenes and stuff. I love action scenes. But I found the actions in the new version were boring.


That’s about it, I guess.

“As you command.” (I always laugh when the Cylons say that.)

Don't be afraid... You can still make home-runs!! XD

Another new addiction:

Baseball It is bottom of the ninth; rally your team to win the game with only 3 outs left

Play this free game now!!

Sometimes it's difficult, sometimes it's easy... Depends on whether my mind's working or not.... -_-;;

Bloxorz Get the block to fall into the square hole.

Play this free game now!!

This is the 3rd group project I have to do. And I really hate doing it as well. I can't understand why the other members just simply want to wait until the very end near the dead line to do the whole thing. I kept reminding them to read and check the report even though it's only halfway done, so if we needed to change anything or search more info, we'd have enough time.

But no. They preferred to do it on one day, whole day, from morning till midnight to do it. I can't understand...

I find it easier if I work on something step by step, bit by bit. And finish it by the time it's supposed to be finished, but never delay the process of finishing it.

I hate people slacking off.

I have another group project with some of them, unfortunately. I don't know how it'll turn out, but so far they have been slacking off and the deadline is in 4 days. I've done my part. And I want to be the one to check the whole report before it's submitted. Even though my grammar and vocabularies are not perfect, at least I know what sensible sentences look like.

And one of the members was so sure about the grammar even when I found several sentences, that no matter how I read them, I couldn't understand at all. And this particular person is supposed to be able to speak English fluently (and thus wanted to "correct the grammar"). To be what? Worse? Hmph!

Well.. I wouldn't believe that people who have good conduct of English can perfectly know about grammar. Funny thing is.. even my Aussie's housemate makes wrong English grammar and I help her corrected them... And she's fine with it coz she realized that even though English-spoken people learn English at school, they never really care about good grammar whatsoever.

So yeah, I hate doing group project. Again.

I want to find group members who can actually work as a group. And as a group means that we all work hard together. Give comments on each other's part. And actually would LISTEN to what the others say (which that particular person DIDN'T do). Plus that particular person accused me for deleting one part that's supposed to be important. Well, I've search again in the report and I didn't found the part that particular person mentioned. What? Now I lied? I have proof that I was right. And I DIDN'T DO the thing that person accused me of doing.

Done for today. I'm tired. =_=
D4mn3d B14tch!

My comments:
- not worthed enough to be watched in cinema as most of the time the story is boring...
- the jet is super cool coz it can be divided!
- the silver surfer is way so cool I only looked at him when he's on the screen... XD

Rating: 6/10
Why?
- I dislike Alba's blond hair (yeah, it's personal, but yeah...)
- The ending is way too expected and absurd

Overall comment: it's not as good as advertised....... Not so fantastic, I mean.

It's different when you do a group project if every member contribute at least as much as other members. It's fun. It's how it's supposed to be.

BUT!!!

I've been doing 2 group member so far and the members just S.U.C.K! They simply don't really care about the project and just do the report like doing craps. No hard work. Even though they said they had difficulties, but when the result is only 1-2 lines, that's NO HARD WORK!!

The first one was better, though, because I was in charge, I tell them what they should do and they obey. Still I do most of the works, but at least that's what I wanted it to be as I couldn't trust them enough to refine the project before it had to be submitted.

This time, however, I had to stay up UNTIL 3 AM to finish it, doing LAST-MINUTE RESEARCH FROM 8AM, and everyone else seemed to be vanished... I had less than 5-hour sleep, dammit! Perhaps I'm a perfectionist whatsoever, but I want the work I do to be the best I do. My life is at stake here! I HAVE TO PASS!! They may not care, but I DO. I don't want to fail and repeat this subject. This subject sucks enough in the first place and I don't want to go through it all over again.

Then one member called me crying, saying that she didn't mean to be not contributing and bla bla bla that sounded crap to me. Well, she may be honest when saying that, but my mind was almost exploded since I had to do that last-minute research for HER PART and I was furious enough realizing the lack of support from them. The other members did give a little bit more of contribution rather than just complaining and busying themselves on craps. 'Not enough time' is not a reason. Just admit having trouble managing time, that's accepted.

Geh.. I should've been doing this project by myself. If only I was allowed...

Somehow, the objective of group project will never be achieved, I think. Only some people really understand that doing group project means hard work for ALL MEMBERS, not only one or two. That's what WORKING TOGETHER means!!!

Bah!!

Yeah, it's been more than a year since I post anything to LJ.

Well, I have... like... 3 blogs out there, but then again, I don't really like writing in blogs that much, so most of the time, I neglect them.. XD

Anyway, I'm currently supposed to be doing my assignment. But then again, I can't find enough materials out there to support my arguments. What's wrong with those experts?? They should've released more works so we students can depend our arguments on yours!!

*pant pant*

Okay.. at least I've found a bit info about the brand I choose. I just hope I'd find more on the theoritical background for my assignment.

*sigh*

And my head hurts!! Damned flu! *_*

Both were held in different cities. Thank goodness the dates are also different.

Anyway, the first one was held in December 18th. Thankfully the city is quite close, about 3-hour drive. But it was tiring nevertheless. She's one of my best friends in uni. Though we haven't seen each other for about 5 years and ever once lost contact, we finally can meet. She sure looked happy. D'uh! Who wouldn't be happy on their wedding day? But I didn't stay long. I enjoyed the meal, congratulated her (and the family), took picture (only me and the couple), and went home. It's simply because I didn't know anyone else in the guests. >_<

So again, congrats, Leo! ^^

The other one was held last Sunday, on January 8. At the beginning I didn't want to go because the city is quite far (I have to take a flight to go there) and it's at the evening and the next day was a working day. But I finally decided to go. It's been quite a while since I met her, so... I went with my mom (who happens to know her quite good too). She already provided me the hotel and transport so I didn't have to worry. It's convenient. Really. =D It was kinda hectic at the party. First, it was raining so it's kinda ruined the mood. Then, I simply didn't know anyone in the guests. Thank goodness my mom was there. Otherwise, I might've only stayed for about 5 minutes. Went in, congratulated the couples & family, went back to the hotel. Also, I didn't understand what the singer sang most of the time, coz it's in Chinese... XD
We met the next day and had a brief chat before I had to go back to the airport.

Anyway, congrats, Ayu! ^^

>>>>> I hope my turn will come soon!!! <<<<<

First of all, Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Yeah, it's soooo very late, but it's better late than never, right?

Anyway, even it was a holiday season, I didn't get any holidays at all. But I did take an office leave on the 30th. With my friends (whom I haven't met for about 1 1/2 years), we went to a mall, ate together, and dried out our voices in a karaoke place. It was exhausting, but it was fun. ^^

Christmas went fine and New Year went fine too. No big celebrations, just gathering with family. Though I skipped the New Year one because I was too tired.

On New Year's eve, I ate with my parents at the usual place we go almost every New Year's eve, Tony Roma's. And of course, we ordered the only food we wanted ... the BBQ baby-back. Yummy!

Work started on Jan.2. Though still wanting the holiday, I had no other options than to come to work. But on the 3rd, my car broke down. It was the battery. It simply broke. Then that night, I got a fever. It's a light one, but my body felt weak. So I took the day off on the 4th. Sleeping almost all day, eating, and sleeping again. =p

I did get better today, but still weak and dizzy. My head seems like it's spinning non-stop. I hate this feeling. I'd prefer sleeping than working. But I don't want to waste my office leave allowance so soon. So I pushed myself to go to work today. And I did.. but couldn't concentrate on my work. *sigh*

Aaaarrgghh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I made another blunder!!!!! Though I have to admit that this is not my fault entirely, but still, I have a part in the problem.

This job really doesn't suit me at all. Coz I have to remember things, but I'm such a forgetful person.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

This sucks.

Oh.. at least one of my applications get through...!!! Phuleaseee!!!!

The Chronicles of NARNIA
~The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe~

Aaaaaah!!! I just saw this movie yesterday! It was so crowded! There were only two front rows left empty at about 2 hours before the last show. Even though it was shown in 2 studios!! Thankfully I could find 1 empty seat at the back corner! But then the show was delayed for 1 hour!! I'm now very sleepy....

Anyway, what I like about the movie, is that it's so "DISNEY". Even though it's adapted from a book (by C.S. Lewis, which is on my next-to-buy list at the moment), the value in that movie is just like any other Disney movies. It's about "family, friends, and love". It's a common theme, but I do believe this theme will never wither across centuries. Oh.. and what's evil will be evil, no matter how beautiful the cover is. Coz what's black and dark and dirty, is not the outside, it often is in the inside.

Too bad the background picture couldn't match perfectly with the others. So I can say that visual effects of this movie are not as great as Lord of the Rings. But the animations of the animals are perfect. I like the beavers.. They're cute!

If you like the book, I'd suggest you to watch the movie. I don't know how it compares with the book coz I haven't read it. But... it's still a good movie.

Overall rating from me: 9/10.

I hate people who smokes. Especially the ones who smokes without considering or thinking that their surroundings might not like the smell. Included are the people who smoke under the "No Smoking" sign.

Yeah... under the "No Smoking" sign.

They're simply illiterate. That's the only reason. Why? Because their brains are filled with the nicotine and thus cannot process the system to read and understand the meaning of the sign.

I can't stand the smell. It's so suffocating and makes me sick. Once I had to be seated in a restaurant next to a person who smoke. If I could, I'd certainly would not choose that table. I asked him politely, "Can you please put off your cigarette? I'm allergic." His answer was, "Why don't you seat over there?" He pointed at a place far away from there. I gritted my teeth and though I was thinking, 'Fuck you, asshole!', I said, "This is the only table that's empty. Besides, it's air conditioned. And you shouldn't smoke in an air-conditioned public place. Thank you." Without waiting for his answer, I went back to my seat. I saw him reluctantly put off his cigarette. He stopped smoking only for about 15 minutes, before he started to light a new one... ¬_¬ 'Jerk!' But then he left. 'Oh God! Thank you!!'

Too bad Indonesia doesn't have firm law regarding smoking in a public place, especially in an air-conditioned one. There's no way you can separate the smoking room and non-smoking room in a restaurant with only a meter away. I can still smell the smoke even from 2 meters away because it's so suffocating and choking.

I heard though, that this law of no smoking in a public place will be applied in 2006. I don't know how it'll turn out. But I really want to go eating or shopping in a place free of smoking...

Oh and no, people who smoke are NOT cool.

Beh!

I got this wonderful story forwarded by my friend. I don't know if it's indeed true or not (according to the note, it is), but I'm fascinated anyway by it. Here's the story (please read carefully):

How British Airways deals with racism

It happened during British Airways flight Johannesburg - London. A white South African woman at the age of 50's, sat beside a black man. She seemed to be bothered so she asked for the stewardess.
"Any problem, Ma'am?" asked the stewardess.

"Don't you see what happened?" asked that woman. "You had seated me beside a black man. I object to be seated beside a disgusting person like him. Give me another seat."

"Please calm down," answered the stewardess. "Almost every seat is full. I'll se if there's one that's empty."

The stewardess went away and came back a few minutes later.

"Ma'am, as I've thought, there is no more empty seat in economy class. I've talked with the captain and he said that there's one empty seat in business class and one in first class."

Before the woman said anything, the stewardess continued, "Our company usually does not allow passenger from economy class to sit in first class. But, in this kind of situation, the captain felt that it will be very humiliating to let a passenger sit beside another passenger that is so disgusting."

The stewardess turned to the black man and said, "Therefore, Sir, if you would, please pack your belongings and move to the first class."

At that moment, the other passengers who were still surprised of what had just happened, stood up and gave their applause.

British Airways just showed us an intelligent way to fight racism.

This is a true story.

I like this. I like this a lot! Yay! Fight racism!