Movie: Kung Fu Panda (2011)

Twice the Awesomeness

Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011) is the sequel to Kung Fu Panda (2008).

Synopsis: Po the Dragon Warrior and the Furious Five are defending the Valley of Peace from evil when a new threat arises. Lord Shen, an evil peacock banished by his parents many years ago, has returned with a mission to conquer the whole China. He and his pack of evil wolves and gorillas have built massive weapons that could end kung fu. As the Furious Five embark to stop Lord Shen, Po begins to realize that Shen is linked to his lost childhood past.

Here's a good summary from IMDb: Kung Fu Panda 2 brings back the A-list voices of Jack Black as Po the Panda, now very much comfortable in his celebrity role of the prophesied Dragon Warrior, and the Furious Five consisting of Angelina Jolie as the no-nonsense, hard hitting Tigress, Seth Rogen as the wisecracking Mantis, David Cross as Crane, Lucy Liu as Viper, and Jackie Chan as Monkey, recognizable animals used in distinctive martial arts boxing styles.

Also returning are Dustin Hoffman as Master Shifu and James Hong as Mr Ping, while joining the fray are Gary Oldman as the chief villain Lord Shen the vain peacock, Michelle Yeoh as The Soothsayer, Jean-Claude Van Damme as Master Croc, Dennis Haysbert as Master Oxen and Victor Garber as Master Thundering Rhino, the latter three forming some formidable masters of kung fu whose city they're protecting falls under siege.

This is a lovely movie, some scenes might move sentimental souls to tears. Most scenes generate good laughs because the conversation liners are really hilarious. The animation is lovely and do pay attention to all these animal warriors, especially their gravity defying kung fu moves. You shall be entertained. :)

Do watch this movie to get your much needed dosages of good laugh and fun time. :)

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Project 365 2011 - Photo #151

My new table in our new office's premise. I've finished unpacking my stuff that I brought over from the old office. 1st June (tomorrow) marks the first day of work at this spanking new office! :D

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Project 365 2011 - Photo #150 - Day Watch

Day Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko. The first book in this series is Night Watch.

Synopsis:

The second in a blockbuster series of novels from Russia's most popular science fiction author, Day Watch brings us back into the hyper-imaginative world of Sergei Lukyanenko and continues the dramatic battle betwween good and evil, light and dark, day and night.  

Day Watch introduces the perspective of the Dark Ones, as it is told in part by a beautiful but troubled young witch. When she falls in love with a handsome young Light One, the balance is threatened and a death must be avenged. Replete with the thrilling action and intricate plotting of the first tale, Day Watch is fueled by cunning, cruelty, violence, and magic. It is a fast-paced, darkly humorous, haunting world that will take root in the shadows of your mind and live there forever.

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Family Food Outing @ The Salad Bar, Damansara Uptown

Our first dining experience at The Salad Bar was very positive and that led us to our second visit. Last Sunday, we were there again for a post-Mother's Day and pre-Father's Day celebration with the family. :)

Supersalad - Old Granny's Caesar (Half)

On the menu, it's described as "all time's favorite... with cheese and grilled chicken". At first glance, we thought it was a pasta dish. The thick slices of cheese as toppings did the trick. Auntie Grace commented that this salad has a strong Indian flavor. Hmm.. perhaps, it was the combination of olive oil and black olives that gave such an aftertaste.

Supersalad - Squares & Rounds (Half)

On the menu, it's described as "something special with buckwheat, chickpeas & millet". I was quite fond of having nuts or grains in my salad. Having tried the super delicious Fruity Nuthouse, I gave Squares & Rounds a try, simply because of the mentions of buckwheat, chickpeas, and millet. Well, it turned out to be not as delicious as I hoped it to be but I still enjoyed nom-nom-ing the whole bowl.

Pasta - Dory Carbonara

Carbonara - rich and creamy, with a few chunks of dory fish. The portion is rather small, not a good choice if you're starving.

Yogurt with Mango Topping
 
Their yogurt is touted to be one of the best in town. I'd say it's a good dessert choice for those who love yogurt with fruit topping.

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Revisit Face To Face Noodles House @ Plaza Danau 2, Taman Danau Desa

We revisited Face to Face Noodles House for dinner last Friday. Our first visit to this outlet was more than seven months ago. Well, there are so many restaurants in Taman Danau Desa and it's kinda impossible to revisit the same outlet again and again, not when we can get cheaper dinner at the food court. :P

Creations Minced Pork Pan Mee

Here's the explanation on the billboard in the shop: "Try our very very own creations, noodles served with minced pork cooked in homemade gravy, crispy fish cake & meat balls."

Umm... I'm not a fan of having really sweet gravy in my food. But the rest of the ingredients did a decent balance to the sweetish gravy, thus a better taste in my palate.

Sichuan Piquant Pan Mee

Here's the explanation on the billboard in the shop: "Lips are scorched; stomach sizzles; tongue torching treat for fiery food lover."

Oh my goodness! That is a serious understatement. I had a few mouthfuls only prior passing the entire bowl to David. My lips, tongue, and gum were on fire and no matter how much iced water I drank, the numbing feeling didn't seem to subside. It was a horrible experience and I've banned this dish from my next visit. Serious.

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Project 365 2011 - Photo #149

David's mom made a chocolate cake as an early birthday cake for my birthday next month. Thanks auntie! :D

We also had steamed mini keropok lekor for supper. David's parents brought them all the way from Terengganu.

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Movie: Awake (2007)

Every year, one in 700 people wake up during surgery. When they planned her husband's murder, they never thought he'd be the one.

Awake (2007) is a supernatural crime thriller.

Synopsis: Clayton Beresford Jr. (Hayden Christensen) is a young rich millionaire. He has a loving yet controlling mother, Lilith (Lena Olin), a gorgeous girlfriend, Sam (Jessica Alba), and his late father's successful business.

However, he's suffering from a heart problem and needs to undergo a risky heart transplant. His good friend, Dr. Jack Harper (Terrence Howard) is willing conduct the surgery. Once he's under anesthesia and ready for surgery, Clay realizes he's awake and aware, but paralyzed on the operation table. Soon, he discovers that these doctors are in a conspiracy to kill him and get his money. He must save himself before time runs out.

The movie's saving element is the unexpected twist when the conspirators are exposed. I don't quite like watching Jessica Alba and Hayden Christensen. Alba is being pretty and sexy - her character requires her to seduce and act like a victim; Christensen looks like a helpless idiot, well, perhaps because his character needs him to be like that. Sadly to say, I don't see any sizzling chemistry between the two of them. 

So, don't bother watching this movie unless you happen to be one of Jessica Alba's many fans.

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Date A Girl/Guy Who Reads

Photo Source

Find original article here.

Date A Girl Who Reads

Date a girl who reads. Date a girl who spends her money on books instead of clothes. She has problems with closet space because she has too many books. Date a girl who has a list of books she wants to read, who has had a library card since she was twelve.

Find a girl who reads. You'll know that she does because she'll always have an unread book in her bag. She's the one lovingly looking over the shelves in the bookstore, the one who quietly cries out when she finds the book she wants. You see the weird chick sniffing the pages of an old book in a second hand book shop? That's the reader. They can never resist smelling the pages, especially when they are yellow.

She's the girl reading while waiting in that coffee shop down the street. If you take a peek at her mug, the non-dairy creamer is floating on top because she's kind of engrossed already. Lost in a world of the author's making. Sit down. She might give you a glare, as most girls who read do not like to be interrupted. Ask her if she likes the book. Buy her another cup of coffee.

Let her know what you really think of Murakami. See if she got through the first chapter of Fellowship. Understand that if she says she understood James Joyce's Ulysses she's just saying that to sound intelligent. Ask her if she loves Alice or she would like to be Alice.

It's easy to date a girl who reads. Give her books for her birthday, for Christmas and for anniversaries. Give her the gift of words, in poetry, in song. Give her Neruda, Pound, Sexton, Cummings. Let her know that you understand that words are love. Understand that she knows the difference between books and reality but by god, she's going to try to make her life a little like her favorite book. It will never be your fault if she does. She has to give it a shot somehow.

Lie to her. If she understands syntax, she will understand your need to lie. Behind words are other things: motivation, value, nuance, dialogue. It will not be the end of the world.

Fail her. Because a girl who reads knows that failure always leads up to the climax. Because girls who understand that all things will come to end. That you can always write a sequel. That you can begin again and again and still be the hero. That life is meant to have a villain or two.

Why be frightened of everything that you are not? Girls who read understand that people, like characters, develop. Except in the Twilight series.

If you find a girl who reads, keep her close. When you find her up at 2AM clutching a book to her chest and weeping, make her a cup of tea and hold her. You may lose her for a couple of hours but she will always come back to you. She'll talk as if the characters in the book are real, because for a while, they always are.

You will propose on a hot air balloon. Or during a rock concert. Or very casually next time she's sick. Over Skype.

You will smile so hard you will wonder why your heart hasn't burst and bled out all over your chest yet. You will write the story of your lives, have kids with strange names and even stranger tastes. She will introduce your children to the Cat in the Hat and Aslan, maybe in the same day. You will walk the winters of your old age together and she will recite Keats under her breath while you shake the snow off your boots.

Date a girl who reads because you deserve it. You deserve a girl who can give you the most colorful life imaginable. If you can only give her monotony, and stale hours and half-baked proposals, then you're better off alone. If you want the world and the worlds beyond it, date a girl who reads.

Or better yet, date a girl who writes.

Photo Source

Find original article here.

Date A Man Who Reads

Date a man who reads. Date a man who spends more on books than on video games, electronics, or car "accessories". Date a man with a library card, a man who'd rather carry a book then a gym bag. Date a man who keeps a running list of books, poems, essays, and reviews in a Moleskin in his back pocket.

Date a man who'll be so excited over an essay in The New Yorker or Hitchen's latest piece in Vanity Fair that he can hardly contain himself waiting for you to finish reading. He'll fight you for the NYT Book Review every Sunday but it will be worth it, if for nothing else then the smell of newsprint on his skin.

You'll be stashing books on every stationary surface in your apartment but the joy of swapping books, of sharing spine-broken, dog-eared paperbacks will be euphoric.

Find a man who reads. He'll be the one who drifts quietly through a bookstore looking for a book he read about on an obscure French literary website, or yet another copy of The Divine Comedy, Beowulf, or On Love.

Date a man who smiles broadly and gleefully when he finds exactly what he was looking for. You'll see him sitting quietly in the corner of a coffee shop drinking from a ceramic mug because he can't bring himself to waste a paper cup on a latte he's going to wallow in while wading into Steinbeck, yet again. Crack a joke about the yellowed scotch tape holding his copy of East of Eden together and his heart will probably stop beating. Share your scone with him and spark up a debate about Michiko Kakutani's latest review and you can probably bend his ear for hours.

Date a man who reads. He's the kind of man whose calendar is full of lectures at local museums and universities. His "bookmarks" and browser history are full of indie bookstores, book dealers, literary blogs, free-trade coffee roasters, and library catalogs. He can't pass a bookstore without popping in "just to see". He's got a stack of library books on his nightstand and knows all the librarians at his local branch by name. He shops at co-ops and farmer's markets because he wants to stay connected to his community.

Date a man who reads. He's flawed, like every man, but he tries his damnedest not to be. Rest assured though, when he screws up he knows the power of a well-worded apology because he knows that the greatest heroes often trip on their capes. He knows he's no different than a good novel; he unfolds a chapter at a time.

Date a man who reads because he'll cling to your every word likes he clings to plot developments. He'll lean across the dinner table with a glimmer in his eye as you challenge him on…well, anything.

Date a man who reads. He'll understand your need to keep the bedside lamp on till 2AM in the morning because you couldn't possibly go to sleep before reading the last chapter. And when you're done with that last chapter, he'll consume your thoughts as voraciously as he does your body.

Date a man who will lie languidly in bed with you on a rainy or snowy weekend day with you with an anthology of Neruda or Cummings.

Date a man who reads because you deserve it. You deserve a man who will be your Mr. Darcy, who will square his shoulders against the world for you, who'll sweep you off your feet. You deserve a man who smells of books. You deserve a man who'll whisper in your year on the sofa or as you walk hand in hand through the years.

Date a man who reads because a man who reads is the perfect hybrid of the blissful fantasy of literature and the comforting strength of reality.

Or better yet, date a man who writes.

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Project 365 2011 - Photo #148

Happy 1st Birthday to Bookalicious! This birthday cake is taken during their birthday party today, Saturday, 28 May 2011 at their bookstore (Lot G35, The Summit USJ). Bookalicious' tagline: Where great books meet irresistible prices!

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Project 365 2011 - Photo #147

A handphone cover with the Angry Birds' green pigs.

*oink oink*

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Movie: Priest (2011)

The War is Eternal, His Mission is Just the Beginning.

Priest (2011) is a post-apocalyptic vampire action-thriller movie based on the Korean comic of the same name.

Synopsis: Set in an alternate world, humanity and vampires have warred for centuries. After the last Vampire War, the veteran Warrior Priest (Paul Bettany) lives in obscurity with other humans inside one of the Church's walled-in cities. When the Priest's niece, Lucy (Lily Collins) is kidnapped by vampires, the Priest breaks his sacred vows to hunt them down. He is accompanied by the niece's boyfriend, Hicks (Cam Gigandet), a wasteland sheriff, and a former Warrior Priestess (Maggie Q).

Most of my friends didn't give good comments about this movie. However, I went to the cinema unbiased and without expectations, and I found myself pleasantly surprised and enjoyed watching Priest.

From the director, Scott Stewart: "The priests of our story are like Jedi knights. They have these supernatural abilities to fight vampires and they saved humanity before the movie even begins. Now, a generation later, society has moved on from war, and the priests are like pariahs. They're almost like Vietnam vets - they've been cast aside by society and they're now reviled and feared."

It feels so good to watch vampires that don't look and act all beautiful and sparkly. (Yes, I despise Twilight.) Priest's vampires are not human and they have different forms - hive drones, guardians, and a Queen. They are photosensitive and they dwell in hives.

Humans bitten by vampires are called Familiars, except the main villain in the movie, Black Hat (Karl Urban), who becomes a human-vampire when he's "saved" by the Queen.

Winning elements in the movie include the dark cyberpunk-inspired Church City, post-apocalyptic western towns dotting the hostile desert lands, futuristic motorcycles, shotguns, and the Warrior Priests' and Priestess' arsenal of deadly cross-themed blade weapons. Fight scenes are slick, stylish, and well choreographed.

Overall, I honestly say, this is an enjoyable and entertaining movie.

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Project 365 2011 - Photo #146

This "$" sign reminds me of my dream in the long run. Don't get me wrong, it's not about making tonnes of money. It's about finding a balance between being a mother and an entrepreneur but I still can't get myself to set a definite year yet. I still haven't found my courage to do so. Perhaps one day? Haha.

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Movie: Ticking Clock (2011)

Evil Will Strike Again... It's Only a Matter of Time.

Ticking Clock (2011) is an action mystery movie.

Synopsis: Lewis Hicks (Cuba Gooding Jr.) is journalist specialized in writing crime stories. One day, he finds himself on the trail of a sadistic serial killer (Neal McDonough) after his girlfriend is brutally murdered.

With the killer's journal in hand, Lewis must race against time to rescue the murderer's next victims. As the path begins to weave its way around and to a young orphan boy named James, Lewis begins to discover a deeper mystery surrounding the murders.

So, here's my verdict. The synopsis is intriguing; the storyline has great potential; and the twist-ending is interesting although it's not an entirely new concept. 

Unfortunately, this movie is flawed and marred by a rushed and inconsistent presentation. The screenplay and the killer's character deserve better development to support the interesting concept. 30 minutes is just not enough to give the audience the "wow" effect, no matter how good the twist can be. Given a better and more developed way of presentation, I believe this movie would be better than average.

Well, unless you've time to kill, I don't see the point of watching this movie.

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Movie: The Lincoln Lawyer (2011)

The Lincoln Lawyer (2011) is a crime drama movie based on the best-selling novel by Michael Connelly.

Synopsis from IMDb: Mick Haller (Matthew McConaughey) has a bad reputation around LA for defending murderers and rapists. He makes a decent living doing so and currently has an old client driving him around town while he conducts business in his Lincoln town car.

When he's hired to defend a high profile realtor's snobby son, Louis Roulet (Ryan Phillipe), in an attempted rape case, he sees it as a big break. Roulet says his accuser saw him as an easy mark and is just trying to milk some money out of him.

At first Haller believes him and is excited at the chance to defend an innocent man but things soon get complicated as he sees a connection to an earlier case. Nothing is of course as it originally appeared and Haller soon finds himself in over his head as well as in grave danger.

This movie is highly recommended for fans of this genre, i.e. crime-courtroom battle movie with a lot of judiciary jargon.

The cast gives pretty realistic performances:

- The casting of Matthew McConaughey as Mick Haller is very good. He's smoothly appealing despite playing a corrupt lawyer who has no scruples in defending guilty clients as long as he makes money.

- Marisa Tomei is Maggie, Mick's ex-wife and who's also a lawyer. Her character is like an anti-Mick who's still attracted to him despite clashes in their work values.

- Ryan Phillippe is excellent as Louis Roulet, the client whose surface appearance belies the fact that he's as street smart as his sleazy lawyer.

- Frances Fisher is outstanding in a small but pivotal role as Louis' protective mother.

Overall, this movie wins with an intelligent script, designed to baffle and blindside the viewer in the course of unraveling some startling surprises. A must-watch if you like this genre.

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Project 365 2011 - Photo #145

David's Trion:Z Sports Tag has arrived. :)

Original photo is here.

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HiShop - Malaysia's Most Exclusive Online Shopping Club

Online shopping is a booming trend. People are getting more and more socially active online -- making new friends, keeping in touch with friends, receiving and sharing information, and last but not least, shopping!

Having said that, here come's HiShop - Malaysia's Most Exclusive Online Shopping Club. Their promises? Best Pricing, Real Deal, Reliable Customer Care, Hassle Free. Read more here.

Since HiShop is an exclusive club, you need to sign up as a member.

Why should you sign up as a member? Members are granted exclusive access to HiShop's online private sales of branded goods ranging from ready-to-wear garments, handbags and accessories, and home furnishing at up to 80% discount!

HiShop's branded goods and limited edition items are carefully selected and come with a 100% authenticity guarantee. And, since these products are available only on HiShop, sales last two to three months, depending on availability.

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At the time of writing, the Current Sales section displays the following items.

Also, members are informed of an upcoming sale two weeks prior to the items being displayed online. So, at the time of writing, the Upcoming Sales section displays the following items.

As merchandise sold comes in limited quantities, it's first come, first served!

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Take a look at HiShop's promotional advertisement on YouTube.



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Hop on the bandwagon now!
Sign up as a member here.

Happy shopping!

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HiShop's Domains:
Website
Like them on Facebook
Follow them on Twitter

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Project 365 2011 - Photo #144

This appliance resembles a water bottle fitted with a mini fan and water sprayer. While the mini fan is switched on, you can press the bottle's handle to release mini sprays of water. I don't know what is it called but I think it's a kind of runner's "gadget".

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Project 365 2011 - Photo #143

Bought this basic white tunic from The Chick Habit. Love its light, comfy material.

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I Cook Chikuteh

Eating out has been a weekend affair for David and I. However, last weekend, instead of eating out as usual, I decided to cook chikuteh, the sister version of bak kut teh.

In chikuteh, you use chicken meat. Chi means chicken in Mandarin. In bak kut teh, you use pork meat, ribs, and innards. Bak kut means meat and bones in Hokkien. And knowing pork being the main meat consumed by the Chinese, bak kut automatically means pork and its equivalent. :)

Here's the link of my first attempt at cooking chikuteh. This would be my second attempt. :)

Ingredients 

Chikuteh herbs & spices mix pack (Claypot brand), butterhead (to replace sayur minyak or yao mak), tofu pok (fried tofu balls), Inoki mushroom, Chinese mushroom, button mushroom, garlic, and chicken breast meat.

How Do I Cook?

• Bring water to boil with the soup mix packs, garlic (de-skinned but retain the bulbs, don't smash or chop them), and chicken breast meat (prepared into bite-sized chunks).
• After 30 minutes or so, add in Chinese mushrooms (soaked), button mushroom (halved or whole), Inoki mushroom (shredded), and tofu pok (halved).
• Let the soup simmers for another 20 minutes.
• Butterhead goes in last, about 5 minutes before switching off the heat.
• Add soy sauce and salt before serving.

 

Nom! Nom!

Here's a bowl of wonderful chikuteh, the perfect meal on a breezy afternoon. :)

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How To Make A Glass of Bloody Mary

Source: The Score, Issue 06, June 2011, p. 78

What You'll Need

• 1 oz Vodka
• 3 oz tomato juice
• 25ml fresh lemon juice
• 2 dash hot sauce
• 1 dash Worcestershire sauce
• 0.5 oz lemon juice
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 pinch peppers
• 1 stalk celery

Directions

Chop the celery and place into the bowl of a food processor and blend until finely minced. Combine all other ingredients except the vodka in a large pitcher. With the food processor running, pour one quarter of the tomato juice through the feed tube. Pour this mixture into a pitcher with the remaining portion of the tomato juice mixture. Add Vodka and chill in refrigerator. Serve in a tall glass over ice with one celery stalk.

Bloody Basics

• Here are some points and tips on how to make your guests begging for more:
• Serve the Bloody Mary in unusual glasses and garnish with a celery stalk and a slice of lemon.
• Jazz up your glasses with a frosted edge by dipping the rim of the glass into lemon juice and then sugar or salt.
• Use decorations like umbrellas, sticks, paper flowers, drink coasters, straws, sparklers, and swizzle sticks to create a positive impression to your guests.
• You can use cocktail sticks to twist or skewer fruits and place them on the rim of the drinking glasses. Adding crushed ice makes your drink look exotic.

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Project 365 2011 - Photo #142

We have Bak Zhang or glutinous rice dumplings from Terengganu for mid-noon snack. I really the ones with fatty pork, mushrooms, and some bean stuff as filling. Yummy!

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Dinner @ Mastermind Cafe, Sec 17, Petaling Jaya

Mastermind Cafe has an interesting tagline: Where Great Ideas Are Born. I'm frequenting this cafe to meet with like-minded people for personal growth talks on weekends.

Address: AG-1, Ground Floor, Block A, Happy Mansion, Jalan 17/13, Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
 
(Food Foundry is located at Block B. So, if you can Food Foundry, you will easily spot Mastermind Cafe at Block A.)

Pumpkin Pie

 This is actually served as dessert. For me, I order it for dinner. Served with a dollop of whipped cream and almond flakes, I'd say this pie looks delectable. The first mouthful tastes pretty good. However, the rich pastry and salty-sweetish filling give me the icky feeling after a few spoonfuls. Ummm... it's best shared with another person, I think. It's priced at RM5.90 per slice at the moment.

Chicken Pie

 This is a pretty filling snack. I like the pie's savory fillings and the fragrant, creamy sauce on it. As I dig into the pie, I find chicken meat and vegetables - the standard fillings. The creamy sauce tastes mushroomy and slightly watered down. Coleslaw, fries, and toasted garlic bread are served with the pie. This dish is priced at RM10.90 at the moment.

Mastermind Cafe also serves a variety of Asian dishes, mainly fried rice and noodles, priced at RM8.90 and above. Their western dishes, mainly pastas, are priced slightly higher, about RM12.90 and above. Their selection of drinks include interesting bottled drinks known as Barbican Malt Beverages, fruit juices, smoothies, coffees, etc.

If you want a quiet place to read and have a cuppa, Mastermind Cafe would be a perfect choice. :)

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Movie: My Best Bodyguard (我的最佳保镖) (2010)

My Best Bodyguard (我的最佳保镖) (2010) is the action debut of HRH Princess Ubolratana, the Princess of Thailand. This movie is a collaboration between Thailand and Hong Kong.

Well, I wasn't aware that the leading actress is a princess till I did a search online.

Synopsis: Nicha (Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya), a famous and competent news reporter from Thailand stumbles upon a deadly secret about an experiment created by a foreign pharmaceutical company owned by Shawn Lee (Shawn Yue 余文樂).

The experiment uses unsuspecting Thai citizens as test subjects to find an antivirus. Nicha must find the victims before it's too late. Little does she know that her good intentions will send assassins from the pharmaceutical company after her.

To make matters more complicated, the National Security Special Detachment (NSSD), led by Jate, is also on a secret mission to eliminate the test subjects before the virus spreads throughout the country.

Action scenes, especially those that involve car-chases, heavy artillery, and things get blown up in this movie deserve thumbs up - not bad for a Thai-HK collaboration.Acting wise, a few of the Thai male actors do worth a mention, especially the two lead actors, Jate the NSSD leader, and another unnamed solo assassin hired to protect Nicha. Shawn Yue (I think he's the only actor from HK) starts off with pretty impressive English but his impact in the movie dwindles horribly when he starts to babble his strings of conversation liners in most of the scenes involving him.

About the Princess, she's not an A-lister but kudos for her to step into an action genre to show her action chopping skills. There is always room for improvement but for now, word of advice, don't deliver your lines like an announcement to the people. (Quoting from movieXclusive)

Well, I won't say that you must watch this movie. It's a high budget production but with decent entertainment value. Do a search online and you might be able to download it.

Note: My previous statement does not imply that I support piracy or illegal downloads. :)

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Project 365 2011 - Photo #141

Tap & Die? I wonder what is this for.

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Project 365 2011 - Photo #140

Marigold Peel Fresh™ No Sugar Added Mixed Wheatgrass Veggie Juice has wheatgrass, apple, orange, pineapple, celery, mango, lime, beetroot, guava, green pepper, gherkin, apricot, banana, carrot, sauerkraut, and passion fruit. Wow. Power.

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Movie: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011) is the fourth installment in the Pirates of the Caribbean series.

Synopsis from IMDb: Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) crosses paths with a woman from his past Angelica (Penélope Cruz), and he's not sure if it's love -- or if she's a ruthless con artist who's using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth. When she forces him aboard the Queen Anne's Revenge, the ship of the formidable pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane), Jack finds himself on an unexpected adventure in which he doesn't know who to fear more: Blackbeard or the woman from his past.

Here are some interesting pointers for those who haven't watched but have decided to watch it one day:

1. There will be no Will & Elizabeth (Orlando Bloom & Keira Knightly). New additions are Angelica and Blackbeard. A good and fresh spin-out from the prequels.

2. Last time we've Bill Nighy's monstrous Davy Jones. In this movie, we don't have monsters. We've fictional versions of historical characters such as Blackbeard, King George II of Great Britain, and King Ferdinand VI of Spain. And we still have Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) from the prequels.

3. We've a lot of mermaids! Most are CGI-ed though. Two of them play pretty dominant roles - Syrena (Àstrid Bergès-Frisbey) and Tamara (Gemma Ward). I don't know mermaids are evil creatures till now. I've always remembered The Little Mermaid from Disney and she had no fangs. :(

4. Everyone has a fair share of screen time. Captain Jack Sparrow is as cheeky as ever but that doesn't mean he can steal the limelight all for himself. Both Barbossa and Blackbeard contribute a significant amount of weight to the storyline.

I'd say this 4th installment of the Pirates of the Caribbean series is definitely a lot better than the 3rd one. However, I'd recommend that you watch it without exceptional expectations. It's not the kind of movie that will make you go all WOW but nonetheless, you'll still be fairly entertained. :)

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Movie: Fast & Furious 5 (2011)

Fast & Furious 5 (2011) is the fifth movie in the The Fast and the Furious franchise.

Synopsis: Former cop Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker) partners with ex-con Dominic "Dom" Toretto (Vin Diesel) on the opposite side of the law. Since Brian and his girlfriend, also Dom's sister, Mia Toretto (Jordana Brewster) broke Dom out of custody, they've blown across many borders to elude authorities. Now backed into a corner in Rio de Janeiro, they must pull one last job in order to gain their freedom.

As they assemble their elite team of top racers, the unlikely allies know their only shot of getting out for good means confronting the corrupt businessman who wants them dead. But he's not the only one on their tail. Hard-nosed federal agent Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) never misses his target. When he is assigned to track down Dom and Brian, he and his strike team launch an all-out assault to capture them. But as his men tear through Brazil, Hobbs learns he can't separate the good guys from the bad. Now, he must rely on his instincts to corner his prey... before someone else runs them down first.

One word: Awesome! Highly recommended.

Personally, the showdown scenes between Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson are what I like the most about this movie. In fact, I really enjoy watching Dwayne Johnson being fueled with testosterone as he hulks his way throughout the entire movie. And oh my... you should watch how he sweat 90% of his screen time. Can you imagine that? :P

Anyway, mark my words. You just have to watch this movie even if you haven't watched the rest of the Fast & Furious movies. It's really rewarding. :)

Ah, one more point; there's a sequel! Can't wait for Fast & Furious 6. And, a little spoiler for the 6th installment - Letty's still alive. ;) Intrigued?

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Project 365 2011 - Photo #139

WUQkie has breached the 4K KM mark. And that's within a 6-month period. :P 1K more and he'll go for his second service. :)

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Project 365 2011 - Photo #138

Fish Head Noodles at Damansara Kim. Perfect recipe for post-lunch coma today. It's worsened by air-cond breakdown in the office. Productivity is discounted big time. :S

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Revisit The Salad Bar, Damansara Uptown

Our first visit to The Salad Bar prompted us for a second visit within the month. :)

Supersalad - Spicy Salad (Full)

On the menu, it's described as "with spicy teriyaki chicken & spicy vinegar dressing". This salad is mildly spicy and sour, thus a very appetizing dish. Oh, and you'll find yourself busy munching lots of fresh onions, salad greens, teriyaki chicken, and sunflower seeds.

Pasta - Chili Mushroom

 I give the pasta a try and I'm slightly disappointed. To me, it doesn't really taste like pasta, instead it tastes like one of those Chinese "tai-chow" (fried noodles) dishes. Hmmm... perhaps I should just stick to their supersalads and soups.

Anyway, I would like to visit this outlet again sometime soon. :)

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Project 365 2011 - Photo #137

Lizzies! These adorable plushies are made by David's sister, Cheryl. The "tattered" looking one, affectionately named "Scrap-man" is mine. The purple one is for the mom, and the maroon one is for the aunt. I think "Scrap-man" will do me a favor by being my wrist pad while I'm using my laptop mouse. Thanks Cheryl! :D

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Project 365 2011 - Photo #136

You've just won yourself a pair of advance screening passes to Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides!

The advance screening will be happening at:

Date: 18 May 2011, Wednesday
Time: 9.30 pm
Venue: Cathay Cineplex, e@Curve

Won this via this contest. w00ts!!!

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Movie: Confessions of A Dog (2010)

Confessions of a Dog (2010) is a fictional story of police corruption in Japan but with details from actual reported incidents. Director Gen Takahashi stresses that 99% of the events in this movie are true. This movie was completed in 2005, but it was only released in Japan late 2010.

Synopsis from here: Takeda (Shun Sugata), a big burly bear of a man, gently extricates the girl from his partner's machinations and because of that is brought to the attention of police captain Mie (Gen Idemitsu). Impressed by Takeda's loyalty to the force Mie offers him the chance to become a full-fledged detective, a position he takes on with gusto.

The people around Takeda, most specifically his wife see that the captain's intentions aren't entirely altruistic. During a hostage situation, the captain instructs Takeda and another officer to use drugs to lure the captor away from the woman he's holding at knife point. It works, but it's clearer an illegal move, one of many that will take place throughout the film and one captured on film by freelance journalist Kusama (Junichi Kawamoto) and news photographer Ricky (Kunihiko Ida). These few photographs will end up being the undoing for the police force.

Director Gen Takahashi takes his time setting up Takeda (over an hour of "Confessions of a Dog's" 3-hour and 15-minute mammoth running time) as a good man whose loyalty to his bosses warps him into a drug-dealing, money-laundering adulterer. Most filmmakers wouldn't take the time to create a character so meticulously, but Takahashi's care in doing so makes Takeda's fall from grace all that much more heartbreaking. Once Kusama takes of the kid gloves and begins to reveal the rape, extortion, theft, paybacks and intimidation tactics used by the police, we know that Takeda is living on borrowed time.

This movie is eerily successful in delivering its message to the audience. Shun Sugata (as the main character Takeda) has such a powerfully engaging and realistic screen presence that the 3+ hour running time is not felt as a burden at all. One might feel uncomfortable while watching such a powerfully played epic movie that highlights issues most countries' police force would not want the public to be aware of.

Here's the movie trailer:



This movie will never be aired in Malaysia. If you don't want to miss it, catch it on DVD. Believe me, it's highly recommended.

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Project 365 2011 - Photo #135

Saw this article in a magazine - "Damsels NOT in Distress". LOL! They are Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Wonder Woman (Lynda Carter), The Invisible Woman (Jessica Alba), Mystique (Rebecca Romijn), Silk Spectre II (Malin Akerman), Lara Croft (Angelina Jolie), Selene (Kate Beckinsale), and Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer).

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Project 365 2011 - Photo #134

Love this shot because it captured Sephora, Pavilion KL, and KLCC in the background.

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