Qee: A new obsession...

...not mine (just yet), but i just stumbled upon this new thing for my vocab - Qee (kwee). a quick search through wiki established the validity of the article about Bart Simpson Qees designed as Bartman and Daredevil! darn, the Simpsons marketing machine is running full speed ahead all thanks to the movie, which i've yet to see. check out the qee samples below, with Bart's likeness and their various designs.

some geeks design their own! i like this one here just for creativity and the colour...
...this, not so much.
and they even have pets! down, boy!
and something to overcome that Cow Stage trauma in Diablo!
and something for those fans of anything Bill Gates (i really can't wait 'til Halo 3!).

the QEE, amen.

Hard work for nothing?

I miss blogging. I haven't blogged in a few months. Been working quite hard lately. However what I like to bitch about is how one can work so hard and not get enough credit or reward while others who do not work hard, leaves the company, thinks the company is shit, vows not to come back, goes off on holiday soemwhere, then comes back getting offered 20% more that what they were on?!

Should I be complaining? Is this simply the nature of things?

Someone once told me - "At the end of the day it is only a job." I'd like to believe that but for some reason, it is in my nature to help people. And I have a professional pride. It seems unfair.

Another person told me that I am too nice. Maybe I should be as conniving as these fuckwits and perhaps I'll get somewhere? Sad...

I wonder how many people feel this way and in the same situation as I am.

It's Not Just Politics

this has got to be one of the most efficient displays of unscholarliness ever witnessed in the Land Of The Long White Cloud when an international student at the University Of Auckland (hail, my alma mater!) asked her professor, Paul Buchanan, for an extension on an academic requirement when her father passed away. paul was suddenly in the unemployment line, and good riddance. (darnit, i was a Hoadley student, too, hah!) To quote Red, "You Dumbass!!" this is what got you fired because you couldn't just say No, could you!

Subject: RE: Extension

Date: Wed, 30 May 2007 19:24:20

From: Paul Buchanan

To: Student

Dear xxxx:

I say this reluctantly but not so subtly: you are not suitable for a graduate degree. It does not matter if your father died or if you have a medical certificate.

I have been too nice and given you too high marks all along (at C+). I do not anticipate that you will do better in the final exercise. You are already a day late.

The extension is meaningless because you have not attended the last few classes and are the worse performer in the class.

Of course by a far stretch, You will have the obiturary of your father, but even if available and the student health people might have believed you, I do not.

You are close to failing in any event, so these sort of excuses-culturally driven and preying on some sort of Western liberal guilt-are simply lame.

Prove that your father died and your were distraught and unable to complete assignments-in spite of your abysmal record to date as an underperforming and underquallifed student- and perhaps you might qualify for an extension to get a C-.

But as it stands, you will flunk since your are already a day+ late, and your track record is poor.

By the way-are you a Hoadley student? That would explain a lot of things.
In a word: NO-I do not accept your extensuon request.

PGB

Paul G Buchanan

Director, New Zealand Centre for Latin American Studies (NZCLAS)

uhm, that's EX-director to you! :D

Darkchylde in Aotearoa

here's a find! Darkchylde (yep, yet another graphic novel-inspired venture into the silver screen!) is shooting in New Zealand! i haven't really read a single book out of this series, but i heard it's about this young woman called Ariel Chylde who can become the creatures of her nightmare. oh, and she's a poet, too?! great news for fans of Richard Taylor and WETA because they are heavily involved here.

rumours say that first days of shooting the film are being held in Mount Victoria (WTN). no idea who the actress is though, and it's even weirder that i can't find anything in imdb about the film.

if you're familiar with filipino folklore, you can probably come up with a manananggal comparison! ;)

Heroes Vol. 2

expectations for heroes season 2

what's Sylar doing here?!

[dʒim]

2.5 weeks and 3 (less) kilos later, and i'm still pumped. believe it or not. this is the kind of discipline that i could have only hoped for 12 years ago back in the University of Auckland rec centre! somehow, looking at the ceiling didn't seem too boring, and making faces wasn't as embarassing as it should be. who would've thought that all those mp3s that i collected in the 90's would serve me some healthy purpose! between savage garden, bon jovi, and michael jackson, the hour-long of working out would finish so much quicker... and i'd still have some steam left! ah, let's not jinx this.

the biggest factor for me in this new regime is a statin drug called Lipex. i've been on it for more than a couple of years, and it did help lower my bad cholesterol. the good ol' doctor said to just keep taking it. it's not until i read about it and another called Lipitor that i realised this is actually doing me more harm than anything else! i've noticed some nasty short-term memory loss as of late, and methought that it was because of old age. i'm not 100% sure about the relationship to be honest, but i'd rather live a healthier lifestyle moving forward. it sounds very cliche, but here goes: better diet, regular exercise - a happier life.

after all, i gotta be able to get back in the suit!

HP: Order Of The Phoenix

4 stars out of 5

despite the movie being more than 2.5 hours long, it didn't feel like it. it had been quite a wait since the previous Goblet Of Fire, and so this one's been well anticipated. and you do get to see the Dark Lord in action here, and it was also great to see previous characters featured in the previous films of the franchise.

my most favourite protagonist this time around is Luna Lovegood, a member of Dumbledore's Army who's quirky but effective, mysterious but a well-defined individual. i haven't read the book, and so i delirously wonder if she was written the same way.

the rest of the cast members are also a refreshing sight to behold, obviously more grown up now, but still very much embedded in their roles (check out Dudley, hahaha!). we do get to see more wand work from most of the characters, even the most annoying Mrs Umbridge. the only part of the story that i felt was forced was Hagrid's little secret. the time invested in this plotline could've been better used for more Luna or You-Know-Who.

i do have one question for bigger fans than i am: what happened to the eldest Weasley brother??

Great Scott! It's made of lead!

Superman would have been frustrated, too! these collectible marvel mini-statues are made of lead, and thus, are not allowed to be sold in the land of Oz because of importation guidelines. thank goodness for the generosity and magic of Santa Pogz, i got to see and possess the first batch of said goodies! what's pictured here is a rare variant of the Wallcrawler, and the rest of the 2nd batch are not slackers either! the Hulk, the Silver Surfer, Green Goblin, and Blade! YOWZA!

On The Rocks

ON THE DAY BEFORE FRIDAY THE 13th, WE ATTENDED THE INTERNATIONAL WHISKEY EXPERIENCE IN ST KILDA. THAT WAS MY 2nd SESSION WITH THIS PROMOTIONAL GROUP, AND IT'S STILL THOROUGHLY INFORMATIVE AND ENTERTAINING. I RECOMMEND THAT EVERYONE TRIES IT EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT A HUGE FAN OF WHISKEY, JUST BECAUSE IT'S NOT MEANT TO BE A PISS-UP BUT MORE OF A LECTURE HELD AT THIS HUGE BALLROOM. OKAY, YOU DO GET A COUPLE OF VOUCHERS FOR PRE-SHOW AND AFTER-SHOW DRINKS AT THE BAR WITH CRACKERS AND CHEESE WAITING ON THE SIDELINES. (HANG ON, WHY AM I "SHOUTING" HERE? must be the alcohol, hehe-hic!)

drivers beware, these whiskeys are no lightweights if you're new to the industry.

the show featured whiskeys from 3 major whiskey-producing countries: Ireland and the original whiskeys (Jameson and Jameson 12 Years), Scotland and their scotch (The Glenlivet and Chivas Regal 12 Years), and the US of A with their southern bourbons (Wild Turkey and Wild Turkey Rare Breed). my favourites would be the last 3 tastes: Chivas, Wild Turkey, and the Rare Breed, with the last one bowling me over for both sips that I've had so far (that's definitely for the special occasion or a must-forget heartbreak). Chivas is as smooth as ever whilst Wild Turkey certainly gives some tingle in the spine, which explains why it's the best-selling American bourbon (yes, it's also a whiskey) and very popular in the poker circle. and how do i take 'em? always have them ON THE ROCKS.

oh yeah, this regular event is totally free.

Transform and Rollout!

4 stars out of 5

there's a reason why this movie has so far broken records previously set by the "Pirates..." franchise: it's because Michael Bay has made this bigscreen rendition of the classic 80's cartoon very accessible to everyone in the market. if you still haven't seen this in theatres, do the 10 year old in you a favour and see it now. a fair warning that this is not for the "i'll wait for the DVD" category.

i'm so glad they didn't change the original logos... although i think i didn't notice any of the Decepticons with theirs!?

is that Optimus Prime? let me hear Peter Cullen speak!

Megan Fox, a regular grease monkey, sure!

Bumblebee, Prime, and Ironhide

oh, Jazz... a disappointment with style.

Death

Four Funerals in so many weeks

"what would you do if you only had... one more day?"

friends and family, may your souls rest in peace....

What can hands do?

John Rambo

check out the trailer... 60-yr old Rambo!

Menu

Shakoo: What would you like to order? What would you like to eat?

Rennanimal: Whatever man! Check the menu.

FF2 Cast in Melbourne

the cast of the upcoming Marvel flick, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer visited Melbourne earlier in the month, and greeted fans at the Southland Shopping Centre. the only person missing is Silver Surfer himself, Doug Jones (Abe Sapien in Hellboy), but the cosmic character is voiced by Lawrence Fishburne (Morpheus, dude!).

think tank, Sue Storm, portrayed by Jessica Alba

and during Spider-Man 3's premiere, it's the Fabulous Adam Richards with a certain spandex-clad arachknight.

Godzilla's Visit May 07

Spidey 3: a quick one!

this one's a 5 out of 5 spider-sense stars for me. my review coming up soon! go watch it at a friendly neighbourhood theatre near you!

The newest Pussycat Doll

As I begin to watch the final episode of Search for the Next Doll, I was excited for Melissa R, the candidate I support.

All started well until Asia started an argument with Melissa R. Poor Mel fell for Asia's psych job and it affected her performance during the practice sessions. Well it sort of affected everyone's.

The three sang Lady Marmalade as a group but for their solos, Melissa R sang Stick wit U and Asia sang Don't need a man. I don't think Chelsea is worth mentioning.

At the end of the night, ........Asia won! And she performed with the rest of the dolls as a group.

Well that sucks.

I still support Melissa R.

Look! The latest Harry Potter promo!