Some pictures from the competition






P.S: Jason, so, was I the fat girl that you were laughing at during the Millennium?

Oh yeah! If anyone reading this (are there people reading this???), was at the competition yesterday? There was a jive song that they played and the singer sounded a lot like Scotty Morris of the Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. Can anyone confirm? Just curious.

Okay so, nothing seems to be up for the next few months. Time to catch up on my movies. Dying to watch 'Minority Report'. Time travel, one of my favourite topic, and Tom Cruise ... how bad can it be? ;) Also, that French flick at the International Screen, 'The Taste of Others' I think it's called. Sounds interesting. Hope it's still playing.

semi-finals ... again

Competition yesterday was utterly tiring for me and I'm only doing two dances; cha-cha and jive. Outcome wasn't too bad. Managed to get into the semi-finals of the Novice category. I'm happy enough ... at least we didn't get kicked out in the heats! :)

So, this time around, we had to dance in the heats, the quarter finals and the semi finals. As compared to the Millennium competition back in March where we danced only twice, the heats and then the semi-finals. Must try and get into the finals the next time round.

The day was great even though I was tired before we even began, thanks to the 5 hour hair braiding that I did for my hair which ended with me finally going to bed at 3am. Then waking up at 8am. *yawn* Dance floor was much better than the one at the Istana Hotel, although a little sticky but the Ballroom was much better at the Istana, looked grander, so was the washroom. Washroom at the Wisma PGRM (venue) is not very make-up friendly, too dark, dim. It's lucky that I brought a mirror along so the girls could put on their make-up at the changing room (a hall on the opposite side on the competition hall) instead of in the washroom.

Plenty of people = plenty of people watching opportunity.

My favourite watch would be one of the adjudicators. While all of the other adjudicators would be serious, standing still or walking about looking at the competitors, this one was tapping his foot, moving to the music and even once, I caught him mouthing to the song that was playing. :) One thing I noticed, where the other adjudicatos usually take turns in judging the competition, he judged almost all the competition save a few in the afternoon. He definitely judged all the competition in the evening. Poor guy. His feet must have hurt from standing all day. Well, at least he looked good doing it. He had on a beige jacket for the afternoon session and the a quick change into a jacket with mandarin collar with some sort of cravat? or kerchief tied around the neck. Very nice. Very stylish. Mucho yummy!

Anyway, Darren Bennett and Lilia Kopylova was back again. So, I had an eyefull of gorgeous dancing by the couple. Also had fun watching couple no. 1. I don't remember what their names were but they were really good too. I really liked their paso doble. Really strong and with brilliant dramatic expression. In my opinion, they did better in the paso than Darren and Lilia. However, I really like Darren and Lilia's samba. Boy of boy can Lilia really shake that hip of hers. Amazing.

Lastly, I do not agree with the decision of the judges on one of the finalist in the Amateur Latin section. It was an Australian couple and their dancing was not that great. Several of the other asian dancers were better than them but they got in. I don't understand it. Or rather I do but I don't agree with it. Judges here seems to like putting foreigners into finals no matter if the other asians were better. If the asians were not significantly obviously better, chances are, the foreign couple would make it to the finals.

But hey! What do I know? I'm only a Novice.

I like this. Go read it.

I think I will stop tinkling with the PHP app now. Otherwise it's never finish. I keep going ... "hey! It'll be nicer this way wouldn't it?" and "hey! Let's try it this way." and "let's add this in". Keep trying to improve upon it non-stop. Guess I'm very much an end-user huh? Always asking for more.

As theendoffree continues on reporting all the freebie sites that are converting to fee-based sites, the real world seems to be going in the opposite direction. This past week, from out of nowhere, I received two freebies.

Freebie 1 - A translucent covered cheque holder and a JUMBO pen from my bank. According to the accompanying letter, it was an early bird gift. I don't remember being an early bird when I started that account a couple of months ago but it's great. Keep the freebies coming Maybank.

Freebie 2 - This one's totally unexpected. My colleagues and I were sitting at a kopitiam (coffee shop) at Taman SEA having lunch when all of a sudden, a hoard of females promoters barged into the shop with their white t-shirt tied on the waist to show some skin and tight black miniskirts and started to hand out something encased in a thin layer of plastic to everyone in the shop. The parcel was a pair of sunshades. It's a promotion for a beer. I don't remember which. Anchor? Heinneken? Carlsberg? I don't really drink beer so I don't remember which it was. Thing is, I was just talking to Vi from the studio about sunshades on Sunday, about how she's got loads at her office and I don't have any in my car, and here I am being handed a pair on Tuesday.

Wow! Easily pleased aren't I. Heh heh. If you only knew. But freebies are always great. So keep them coming. Can't wait to see what else I'll be getting next week.

Deadline's come and gone and I'm still not done with the codes. Well, not as done as I like it to be anyway. Need to do some cleaning up and then sort of test it.

I'm not very familiar with testing programs. Not sure what to test it besides making sure everything suppose to come out right and limits tests. All the stress test and performance testing stuff; I haven't a clue. Should try and get a clue though.

'sides that, practise still going on in the dancing front. Only five more days before the competition on Sunday.

Still not satisfied with my routine. I need to learn how to stop after spins!!! And there's so many spins in my routine? I don't know what my teacher was thinking when he choreographed it. I know it's nice/flashy to have spins but what good is it if you can't do it well?

Dress rehearsal for all competitors tomorrow at the studio.

Oh yeah, if anyone's going to the competition, scream for couple number 47 ... or was it 46. I think it's 47.

I'm gonna take a break from PHP codes for awhile.

Maybe for the rest of the day.

Can't escape if for too long though, have to finish the project by Monday and I have two more modules to finish.

Just that I'm going blind looking at code.

I'm Ctrl-S ing everything after I've typed something. Even in my putty screens and the I'd freak and wonder why nothing's happening to my screen even if I'm furiously typing in it. Even after I added a link into my template just a few minutes ago.

Break time.

Empress, wipe that silly grin off your face!

:D :D :D

I can't help it. KB and the idiotic colleague is having a heated argument which sort of further instills my belief that Cambridge grads are a weird lot. Something about getting KB to draw out a complete design of the base table which KB says wouldn't help in whatever discussion that they'll be having. But idiot colleague wants it anyway for no apparent reason ... at least none that I managed to eavesdrop.

Talking to idiot colleague just makes you want to bash your own head against the wall just so that you have an excuse to excuse yourself. Bleeding head IS a good excuse ... right?

I am truly passionate.

Find your soul type at kelly.moranweb.com.

You're excited about life and in touch with yourself and nature. Tell me, do I have this straight?

Virtues: You appreciate humor like none other. Puns might even spark laughter in you (TEHY R FUNNI). You seek adventure and connection with your surroundings. You seek friends who will not only share laughs with you but actually form a deep bond of trust and empathy beneath the surface. You look for adventure and courage in people, and variation is necessary to keep you under control. You see yourself as multi-faceted, so you need people who can see you in your many lights. You're constantly trying to figure yourself out while analyzing the people around you. Silly, silly people.

Aspirations: You can't decide what you want to be yet, but you know you want it to be adventures and interesting, with constant changes. You don't know what love will do for you yet, but it's competing with adventure for a place in your heart. An internal conflict has begun: can you be a successful worker, lover, and parent all at once?

Quirks: Noise of any sort is irritating when you're in the mood. Smacking gum, loud chewing, humming- it's about as pleasing as bodily noises. You dislike emaciated people because of jealousy and just plain disgust. You're a procrastinator but a hard worker, too.

Factors: You need constant attention and support. You're high-maintnence, but a great, reliable friend. Nature needs you and you need nature; it's helped thus far, so keep in touch with the outside world.

Future: Who knows! You absolutely need constant change, so vacationing is surely in the cards. Will you settle down or not? Love will find you eventually, as it does to everyone. Will you choose the sweet home life or the rewarding busy-bee life?

Email from an audience about 'Opera di Tutti Frutti'. :)

Thank you Mr. Yanagida.

DATE: Sun, 23 Jun 2002 07:45:40
From: Masao Yanagida <xxxxx@xxxxx>
To: xxxxx@xxxxx

Dear PSS Choir Members,

My name is Masao Yanagida.
I'm a Japanese businessman staying in Kuala Lumpur.
Last night I went your concert "Tutti Fruitti".
It is first time to see your performance for me,
I spent really happy time to enjoy your performance.
And also I'm very appreciate of your effort to practice that songs.
It is very good night and very good experience for me.
So thank you very much your great performance.

Actually I'm also member of choir group which so call "KL Japan Club
Glee Club".
We are male choir group in Kuala Lumpur Japan Club where is at Taman Septeh.
Next month, we invite Japan top male choir group "Shingetsu Kai".

Today, I'm happy to inform concert of Japan top male choir group
"Shingetsu Kai"on 14 July 2002 8:30pm at DBKL.
I think it is good opportunity to you to see foreign choir group
performance.
I believe it is good experience for your group also.
So please come to see "Shingetsu Kai" concert which is FOC.

Detail information is as below (taking from brochure):

SHINGETSU KAI CHOIR CONCERT
14 July 2002 8:30 pm at DBKL Auditorium

Shingetsu-kai is one of the most prominent male choirs in Japan.
"Shingetsu" meaned a new moon and is derived from the emblem of their
alma mater Kwansei Gakuin University.
Since the establishment in 1934, they have continued creating glorious
history.
Almost every year they give concerts or participate in choir
competitions in Japan and overseas, and have been a winner over many
tirnes.
They will present twenty over songs from their vast repertories ranging
from classical and folk songs to modem popular songs of Japan and other
countries.

free admission

enquiry:
tel. 03-5638-3001 (Ms. Yamamoto)

http://www.my.emb-japan.go.jp/jfm2002.htm

Received email ultimatum deadline for PHP project from boss.

"... we must absolutely complete by this Friday, OK?"

Who the heck are we? There is no we. There is only ME.

Well, unless you count weird cambridge grad guy who set up the client's PC more than a month ago as part of the team then sure. It's a we.

Concert - done.

Post concert party - done.

Next up - latin dance competition.

Also, gonna have committee meeting on Wednesday to see what we will be doing for the next half of the year for the choir. Any suggestions?

Trying really hard to finish the PHP project. I'm so sick of it.

New items in auditions.

Cor! Freaking cool man! The Yoshi box is incredible.

Not that I'm a big gaming fan but ... shit! That is one cool box if I were!

Have been looking at some PC mod sites lately. Basically, I'm too much of a hardward idiot to try anything like mods but I'd like to be able to try it one day. Maybe just one of those casing mods to begin with, eh? Don't need to know too much about hardware for that and I love looking at nice things. Would be great to have a change from that ugly looking beige box.

I'm pretty sure that I can tell which is the casing although I'm not too sure of how to take it out completely. I have a HP Vectra and all I can do is slide the casing to the back to open it. Still trying to figure out if I can take it off completely.

One of these days.

Drained ... I am so drained.

4 hours sleep everyday for the past three days is simply not enough for me.

I simply don't have the strength right now to do any coding but I have to cause I'm suppose to finish this app by this week. Have a feeling it won't be ready by Monday though. Unless I pull an all nighter tonight and tomorrow.

Have to go over to Sally's to talk to the caterer's people who are going to set up the canopy later. Which means I might have to miss the zoo party - birthday for the grannies & meeting up with visiting gorilla from Penang. I'll try and pop in after I've finished at Sally's. Hope it won't take me too long. Really need some R&R time.

Anyways, Tutti Frutti the past two nights have gone well. Crowd turnout was quite dissappointing but not to the extent that there were more on stage than on the floor *thank god!*. Last night tonight. After this the calendar should be free-er, at least with the extra-curricular activities. Work wise is still as packed.

WHAT'S YOUR SEXUAL MO?


What's Your Sexual MO? Find out @ She's Crafty

You love to be pampered and romanced by your men and things like cuddling by a fire, having an intimate meal, or having a long, deep conversation can always put you in the mood. Sex to you is usually more about the man your with than the act itself. Not a one-night stand kind of girl, newness and disconnectedness just don't do it for you. The mature, stable men you prefer to date appreciate your loyalty and big heart, but they especially love the way you inspire their more aggressive, protective masculine side.

WHICH BUFFY GIRL ARE YOU?


Which Buffy Girl Are You? Find out @ She's Crafty

WHICH HACKER'S CHARACTER ARE YOU?


Which Hacker's Character Are You? Find out @ She's Crafty

Things You Would Never Know Without Indian Movies

1. A man will show no pain while taking the most ferocious beating but will wince when a woman tries to cleanse his wounds.

2. If a large pane of glass is visible, someone will be thrown through it before long.

3. The hero cannot fall in love with the heroine(vice versa) unless they first perform a dance number in the rain.

4. Once applied, make-up is permanent, in rain or in any other situation.

5. A large group of goondoos can be shooting at the hero, but he will never be hit, unless of course he is attempting to save the heroine.

6. Enemies shooting the hero will always miss but every shot the hero takes from his small revolver will kill an opponent.

7. Two lovers can be dancing in the field and out of nowhere, 100 people will appear from god-knows-where and joins them in the dance.

8. The heroine will have time to change outfits several times in one song, however short the song will be.

9. If the hero start dancing in a field, everyone you bump into will know all the steps, and will be wearing coordinated outfits.

10. It does not matter if the hero is heavily outnumbered in a martial arts fighting - the enemies will wait patiently to attack him one by one by moving around in a threatening manner until he has knocked out his current opponent then the next one will follow up.

11. In the final scene, the hero will discover that the bad guy who he is up against is actually his brother and the maid who looked after him is his mother and the chief inspector is his father and the Judge is his uncle and so forth.

12. Key English words used in the movie (usually said out loud between sentences) are no problem! My God!, Get Out! Shut-up! Impossible!, Please forgive me!


Things You Would Never Know Without Chinese Swordsman Movies

1. Being the hero's parents will always be unlucky and will usually be killed by enemies when the hero is young, and the hero will become an orphan.

2. When a man is wounded and dying, he always manage to catch his breath and speak a few sentences to reveal the killer before dropping his head and declare dead.

3. When an old man is dying after being attacked by villains, while lying down he will ask the hero (kneeling beside him) to take care of his beautiful daughter (who will be crying).

4. When fighting with the enemy, instead of hitting each other, the villain and the hero will choose to hit each other's palm and stone there for sometime before pushing each other away..... and one of them will spill blood out of his mouth

5. Skilled people are able to fly over roof tops, up trees and across distances without any sweat. But when travelling to towns and villages, they still have to walk or ride horses.

6. When saying goodbye to other skilled fighters, they will cover their right fist with their left palm and jumping out of camera screen (assuming you know they actually fly off into the sky).

7. The heroes need not have to work for money, but will always have golds and silvers with them to pay for their dishes.

8. The inn is such an up-to-date information-centre that when having lunch at the inn, you can always overhear gossips of latest news on what's happening in the pugilistic-world. And usually the gossips come from a few goons at the next table.

9. Assassins seem to have some kind of agency for employments - they always wear the same standard uniform, black cloth all over revealing only the eyes.

10. The heroes and villains will meet each other very often no matter how big the country is and no matter where they are.

11. It's easy to immobilize someone - just touch someone with your fore finger and middle finger anywhere on his body and he will not move... but he still can curse and swear.

12. To cure an immobilization, just anyhow tap your fingers all over his body again.

13. Healing internal wounds in the body is as easy as sitting down cross-legged, palms on the knees and smoke coming out from the head.

14. People like to pass short messages on paper with flying darts to show off their darting skills.

15. When committing suicide, people are so lazy that they choose to hit the forehead with their own palm.

16. The villains have some kind of strange habit that they like to stay in a secret underground compartment just behind the walls of their room....usually opened up by turning a small statue.


17. When chasing someone, people tend to shout at the runner and order him to stop...as if he will obey.

18. Nobel's invention of explosives in 1866 is in fact useless. Highly skilled people in the pugilistic world during ancient times already know how to cause explosions with bare hands.

19. Highly skilled villains have the power to destroy rocks, but do not have the power to kill the hero.

20. Two highly skilled person are so nervous in their duel that they keep talking and criticizing each other before they actually start the fight.

21. People in the pugilistic world are so free that they don't have to work. They attend gatherings, meetings everytime and nose around other people's matter.

Finish a whole 100g bar of Tobleron milk chocolate with honey and almond nougat. On my own!