Late, late at night, when I am the only one awake in the house, I am not alone; I always have hyperactive companions. They let me know that they're awake with the rattling of hamster wheels.

/zimages/hamster1.jpg
Hamsters are always a challenge to shoot, because they're always moving. Normal flash would overexpose, so...

/zimages/hamster2.jpg
Get up close, real close to the hamster. Switch to manual mode, turn on Macro, set the flash to its lowest power, lowest ISO, darkest aperture and fastest shutter speed (if you can set it). Both shots were on ISO 50, flash, F8, 1/500th of a second (I set it to 1/2000 but my camera refused to go faster.) The flash is already too strong even when it's turned down. The darkest aperture helps with depth of field, lessening the effects of flash, and keeping more of the furball in focus.

Wow, my siblings have had them since the 23rd of August, 2005. I'm not sure, but I think that's a pretty long lifespan for hamsters.

/zimages/fdlm2006c4.jpg
Oh, and I forgot to put this picture from the Fete De La Musique 2006. Even with a high ISO setting of 200, motion was blurred enough. Should've tried a slow-shutter flash, though.

Here are random pictures from the blogger gathering at Burger King, KLCC, 29th July 2006. WHOA that's yesterday! Count your lucky stars, people!

Funky colors are thanks to my infrared-modified Fujifilm Digital Q1.

/zimages/bkg1.jpg
Jasiminne surrounded by the Lengmou gang.

/zimages/bkg2.jpg
Bodicea/Jolin.

/zimages/bkg3.jpg
Avril Chan is always always in infrared (her blog's left-side sidebar features Sony Nightshot effects, which are really infrared.)

/zimages/bkg4.jpg
Jolene Lai bites.

/zimages/bkg5.jpg
But really, she's a (cock-eyed) blue-eyed wonder.

/zimages/bkg7.jpg
Cheng Sim.

/zimages/bkg8.jpg
Jasiminne and Evie.

/zimages/bkg10.jpg
Chloe.

/zimages/bkg11.jpg
When Joshua Foong takes off his cap, he becomes a Brandon Routh lookalike.

/zimages/bkg12.jpg
Fireangel is always happy to see me. (This would be a good expression to whoever stole her phone after that!)

/zimages/bkg15.jpg
Scorkes, who owns a few dragons. Let's hope they're not lost at sea like her Jack Sparrow probably is.

/zimages/bkg14.jpg
Simple As Cheryl. Accessories sold separately.

/zimages/bkg17.jpg
From left: Kelz, Erin Tan and Cheng Sim, featuring Ivan the eager photographer.

/zimages/bkg18.jpg
Burger King KLCC has renovated, and boy is it pretty. A lighted bar makes it easy for camwhores.

/zimages/bkg16.jpg
One big mob.

And now, for normal pictures with my Canon Powershot A520:

/zimages/bkg19.jpg
Spot the Suanie complaining about the lack of alcohol. Seems like the older bloggers were not afternoon people?

/zimages/bkg20.jpg
Jasiminne guards entry.

/zimages/bkg6.jpg
Jasiminne is enraged. (Okay, this was with the infrared camera.)

/zimages/bkg24.jpg
Slinky, Shaz and Jasiminne.

/zimages/bkg22.jpg
Jenifur reprises her role as a PC Fair promoter.

/zimages/bkg23.jpg
Full-color bar.

I have to say, Yvonne Foong captured a very poignant picture of me.
CLICK HERE FOR AWARD WINNING PICTURE.
There's a second one.

For more pictures, you should start at Tan Yee Hou's post.

I make it sound so simple.

Dude, get a job.

Then maybe you'd stop calling her, giving her a chance to miss you and cherish you. You're always there for her. Before she can even think of missing you... you call.

She wants to feel secure even though she is self-sufficient and independent. Who wants a jobless bum? That might be it. Some girls deny the men the booty until they get a job.

Heck, you might be more appealing after work, formal wear, male pheremones in the air.

/zimages/dramaset.jpg
Waste no time! If both of you are serious and intense about relationships, then now is soon enough to start. Fear starting, that she may become bored of you? Even if she did, both of you wouldn't be offended; it's not so much of boredom but a sense of complacency. I hope. Long-distance issues? You want her, take her now, don't wait until you're about to leave to start a flurry of emotions, where both of you will decide to break it off instead of continue.

Once you guys get it on, I'll be glad for both of you. Even though I don't know you, dude.

I'm a pharmacist, prescribing drugs that I'll never use.

What do Rihanna - S.O.S. and Pussycat Dolls - Tainted Love have in common?

Listen to Soft Cell - Tainted Love.

Ironic how both singles are out, sound about nothing like each other, yet have the same roots. Even then, Soft Cell's version is a cover; the original was performed by Gloria Jones.

...and I first discovered this, when my Winamp randomizer said The Cure - Tainted Love was playing. Well, it did sound enough like Robert Smith for somebody to have mistakenly labelled it as such.

/zimages/bsrs6.jpg
Now, for pictures from Broken Scar and Reza Salleh at No Black Tie, 28th June 2006.

/zimages/bsrs10.jpg
Broken Scar was in his bare acoustic modern rock setup today; just one man and his guitar.

/zimages/bsrs8.jpg
There was also a hot photographer chick! Waitaminute...

/zimages/bsrs1.jpg
It's Suzanne Lee with a Canon EOS 20D digital SLR!

/zimages/bsrs12.jpg
I knew her from 2002, when she worked in Xfresh as a marketing executive. She also brought me to a gig in Saloma, where I saw and was entranced with Damn Dirty Apes for the very first time.

/zimages/bsrs7.jpg
Last I met her, she told me she just did a beer ad. Little did I know that the money from that ad would be used to buy her first, a Canon 300D; she then modelled and travelled the world, selling her photos (hmm that doesn't sound right) and got... THIS! The white Canon 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM zoom lens is a premium luxury lens for sniping in the dark.

/zimages/bsrs13.jpg
Spot the photographer!

/zimages/bsrs9.jpg
Meanwhile, all I have is my Canon Powershot A520, and my infrared-modded Fujifilm Digital Q1. Seen here is Lionel modelling for his friend.

/zimages/bsrs11.jpg
Apparently, Reza Salleh and Suzanne Lee were finalists for the KLue Blue Chilli awards. That might be how they met. Or through the underground band Prana.

/zimages/bsrs2.jpg
Reza was backed with a full band; here's Stephanie drumming. To achieve this effect on the drumstick, use flash, and a slow shutter speed (in Tv/Shutter Priority mode.)

/zimages/bsrs3.jpg
Melina of Tempered Mental on bass, for all you grou fans out there. She probably couldn't be happier when Reza breaks out into a cover of Red Hot Chili Peppers - Under The Bridge.

/zimages/bsrs5.jpg
Hanafi of Estranged (and sometimes Tempered Mental) does quite a few solos.

/zimages/bsrs4.jpg
Reza invites Broken Scar up to the stage, as his Seattle-grunge voice is better suited to cover Stone Temple Pilots - Plush.

I knew a guy whose girlfriend turned lesbian. Poor dude.

And now, I know a girl whose boyfriend turned gay. Poor dudette.

I also know a guy who turned a girl lesbian, but that's another story.

But anyway, the winner of the Guess That Curve is Lex. She may have annoyed me many times over in real life (on intention) but at least she gives me plenty of comments, so there really isn't anything wrong with that now is there? I think she also left me the most Friendster testimonials. Her flattering testimonials were also the most deleted. Still, kudos for the effort. Definitely a friend to make if you need some testimonials.

The LRT station is where Pasar Seni heads to KL Sentral; you can see the third curve when you take a bus from Klang Bus Stand, below Pasar Seni, to Midvalley, or the Intrakota 21C bus to One Utama.

Oh, and there's the Sunrise Jazz & Rhythm Fest 2006.

Who: Fashion Jazz, Rachel Guerzo Quartet, Lewis Pragasam & AsiaBeat, Hip Hop by DanceStyle, GruvAvenue, Amir Yussof & Friends, Belly Dancing, Cosmic Funk Express, Jupiter@7, Sharizan Borhan & Swing Inc, Shelley Leong & Jazz Odyssey, Funk Mob [John Thomas, Eric Li & Fly], Rentak K.a.my, Mr. Gambus, Tinderbox, Jazzing With Style, Noryn Aziz, Aseana Percussion Unit
When: 28th July 2006 to 12th August 2006 (every Friday and Saturday from 8:30pm to 12:30am)
Where: Sunrise Plaza Mont Kiara
How much: Free!

I'm definitely going for August 4th and 5th, for Cosmic Funk Express's last gig and Shelley Leong & Jazz Odyssey.

More details here.

And now, for the feat of delayed musically-related pictures, most specifically from the Fete De La Musique 2006, a musical celebration held all over the world on the 17th of June. Pictures and commentaries will tell you that this is not any ordinary gig with specific genres or themes.

Click on any picture to view it at twice its resolution.

La Casa was playing. Funky, jazzy with some electronica thrown in! The turntablist is also the trumpet player, and they make funky sound effects too. You must go to their site and download their free MP3s.

Tony and Ian, a gospel rocker and an alternative rocker; Soft Touch, singing Disaster Radio, a tirade against a certain radio station that wouldn't play their music.

Wow good-looking white boy rock band! Too bad the band sucked. They kept messing up cover songs; between parts of songs, one guitarist would play a different chord, or the drummer would forget to change beat.

Dewangga Sakti with the Gambus; the rest of the group, and...

...a very gothic-looking fiddler; Jeep Latino Jazz Band.

Dragon Red, rap-rock at its best; Adam swallows the bites off the microphone's head.

Amil hilariously broke a string before the show, so he was relegated to a single-coiled Fender Stratocaster. We pointed and laughed at him (since he didn't have the thrash metal humbuckers of his ESP JH-1!) Last time that happened was when we saw him play bass at Fete De La Musique 2005! Right: Henry shreds for Triple6Poser.

Eddy is the hard-rocking frontman, and Khai plays guitar!

Syefri's former band; she's on keyboards.

Lightcraft plays British indie rock! Excellent work from the keyboard and synthesizers. Then there's the spot-on British drawl on the vocalist.

Inside Alliance Francaise however, is Superbar; there's also a piano where Shelly plays Chopin; it was the first time I heard that song Zack usually plays on guitar with Cosmic Funk Express!

Frequency Cannon from the front.

Soft Touch returns, with Melina of Tempered Mental playing percussion, and Wong shredding.

Left column, top to bottom: Alliance Francaise; didgeridoos; Jayaram, one of the usual emcees, the night crowd at Telawi, Bangsar.
Right column, top to bottom: An Indian emsemble; harp; a van equipped with wheelchair-loading lift and an old-school air-conditioning unit (I loved the smell); and finally Edge Of Fire, who was a bit off, with a different lineup. As of late people say I look like some dude from that band; I hope it's this handsome bugger they're talking about.

I've been tagged.

Name 20 people you can think of and then tag 6 people to do the tag. (Albert says, if you've done this before, you don't have to do it again.)
1. Stim-girl
2. Mystery Wolf
3. Ching
4. Tech
5. Cheneille
6. Tracy

For those who got tagged, think of 20 names and write it in your blog post first before you proceed reading this post. (I'm going to list lesser-thought-of names to challenge myself.)

1. Johnson
2. Anand
3. Cynthia Ng
4. Rama
5. Sarah Chong
6. Amil
7. Ywenna
8. Pietro
9. Jin Nee
10. Nabila
11. Johnston
12. Effa D.
13. Paulvinder
14. Cassie
15. Sashi
16. Jerry
17. Lionel Goh
18. Iszie
19. Amanda S.
20. Dominic

How did u meet #14? [Cassie]
This orang putih sesat was my colleague and Ramli-burger-mate.

What would your life be if u haven?t met #1? [Johnson]
I would not have rode in a turbo-charged Subaru Forrester before.

What would u do if #20 and #9 dated? [Dominic and Jin Nee]
Hmm, they have similiar complexion, and they both speak English. Why not?

Would #6 and #17 make a good couple? [Amil and Lionel Goh]
One makes orgasmic faces on stage; the other uh... hmmm. Maybe.

Describe #3. [Cynthia Ng]
The Nissan car-show-girl I didn't get to catch up with because she was missing.

Do you think #6 is attractive? [Amil]
Yes, even when he makes those orgasmic faces on stage.

Tell me something about #8. [Pietro]
He once stepped into the office with a whole load of brain radiation.

Do you know anything about #12?s family? [Effa D.]
Her dad is retired.

What is #7?s favourite? [Ywenna]
Favorite long-haired groupie: ME!

What would you do if #11 confesses that he/she likes you? [Johnston]
I'd tell him not to mix business with pleasure.

What language does #15 speak? [Sashi]
English, Malay, Tamil (I'm not sure) but his brother does a lot more.

Who?s #9 going out with? [Jin Nee]
Probably someone who likes eyes. BIG eyes.

How old is #16? [Jerry]
21.

When was the last time you talked to #13? [Paulvinder]
Sometime this week about beginner guitars.

Who?s #2?s favourite singer? [Anand]
I don't know, only met him like 3 times.

Would you date #4? [Rama]
No way, I'd get way insecure going out with a guy who looks like Asyraf Sinclair.

Would you date #7? [Ywenna]
Only if she'd never cover her ears with her hair.

Is #15 single? [Sashi]
I think so. He is of a wise age, though.

What is #10?s last name? [Nabila]
Nasir!

Would you consider being in a relationship with #19? [Amanda S.]
What kind of relationship?

What schools did #3 go to? [Cynthia Ng]
I have no clue.

Where does #6 live? [Amil]
I have no idea.

What is your favourite thing about #5? [Sarah Chong]
Her accent and intonation. Orrr-raaaight!

What do you think about #13? [Paulvinder]
He's a wizard.

What do #4 and #19 have in common? [Rama and Amanda S.]
They both look of mixed parentage.

What special qualities does #17 hold in your life? [Lionel Goh]
He has an affable mother.

What is the most memorable memory you had with #18? [Iszie]
Dropping by her shop while waiting to meet other people in 1 Utama.

And now, for a different spin on things - Guess That Trashcan Curve! Once again, the first person to guess correctly will get one most complimenting paragraph on my blog. All three answers must be correct.

/zimages/skcurve1.jpg
This should be a major hint; what is this? I have one. I know how to play it, too.

/zimages/skcurve3.jpg
Where is this?

/zimages/skcurve2.jpg
Where is this? Name a nearby landmark.

Don't worry people, I still have more trashcans to guess. I just don't want my winners to always be rhyming with "left" or "curve".

For those of you impatient to read about KL Sing Song 2006, click here to read the article I wrote for Xfresh. Then there are pictures by Jasiminne.

Oh yeah, I forgot; the only reason why I wanted a dedit card was so I could reserve tickets at The Actors' Studio and KL Performing Arts Centre. :(

Oh, and maybe get a 2x2x2 Rubik's Cube. However, that's the only one that's out of stock at Rubik's official website! Argh. I already have every other cube!

And now, for some random takes on movies:

Pirates Of The Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest
The monsters were... poppier than the first. Halfway through the movie they become a lot less gross-looking and more of a spot-the-sea-creature game. I'm keeping my beard for a bit and it's messier than before. ARRR! I wanna be a pirate.

Fast And The Furious 3: Tokyo Drift
Not supposed to make sense, but cool nevertheless. I wish they'd allow Ford Mustangs here. Too damn loud, they say.

Cars
Now this would be classic - spot the cultural references! For example, the organic fuel provider was Filmore, and he blasted Jimi Hendrix - Star Spangled Banner. Jimi also performed a few times at Filmore East. They even yelled Freebird! :D (Which has some relevance, being a tribute song to NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt...) (More details on Wikipedia.)

I also don't remember the last time watching a 3D CGI movie made me feel as fulfilled in a magical way like Toy Story did. None of the obscene current cultural references like Shark Tale.

And now, for McDonald's:

Spicy Beef Foldover
Quite a bit of cheese, tasting much like a pizza. A lot more salad and less sauce. And yeah, I have no beef with it. I mean, there's very little beef in it. Nice, but don't go for it if you have a beef craving.

Grilled Chicken Foldover (new recipe)
How could they? They removed most of the sauce, and added a lot more salad to make it as healthy as the Spicy Beef Foldover. Thankfully, there are still two chicken patties, but the one I had, sadly, had a foldover malfunction - one of the patties slid down (probably due to the salad's lack of grip on the chicken.)

And now, for random pictures:

/zimages/windowjam.jpg
New meaning to window jam.

/zimages/autoblot.jpg
Here's how you can indent/emboss a balloon:

1. Blow up the balloon and tie its end.
2. Draw on outside of balloon using marker pen.
3. Deflate balloon (the marker ink will now appear to 'emboss' the balloon.)
4. Stick a finger through its top, to turn it inside out.
5. Blow it just a little bit and you get this!

/zimages/tehfly.jpg
A mosquito decides to take a sweet dip in my Teh Tarik.

/zimages/moth4.jpg
Moths read blogs, too.

/zimages/moth3.jpg
Fight like a butterfly, sting like a bee, stone like a moth.

/zimages/moth2.jpg
Prepare for take-off...

/zimages/moth1.jpg
It seems to be inspecting itself.

"Sir, would you like to apply for a credit card?"
"No thanks, I do not wish to be caught in the evil trappings of credit cards." (I actually said that. Without looking at the guy, of course.)

"So... how many credit cards do you have?"
"Er... none, why?"
"Wah, you so rich ah?"

I've always paid cash upfront for everything before this.

It wasn't until YK told me how he got his Visa Electron, that I decided to get myself one. No, not a credit card; a debit card which could be used at most credit card terminals. So I'd head over to a Public Bank one of these days.

It was the beginning of the month, and I was depositing some cash in my savings account in Bank Simpanan Nasional. As I walked out, I saw a banner advertising their Matrix-i card. I quickly turned back and applied for one there itself.

Why BSN?

There is no kiasu queue of annoying, annoyed aunties and uncles. The tellers are polite, friendly Malay ladies in tudungs. Heck, they are forgiving to newbies! (Probably because they don't have the annoyed crowd.) I would not have to line up behind an impatient businessman. Everything is relaxed. They have a numbered ticket machine (in some places.) They aren't Maybank.

There was no hassle filling up the form, with an upfront payment of RM50. (Of which RM8 went to making the card?) Two weeks later, it was ready.

On a side note, when I was a kid, I wanted to be an inventor. I used to draw all sorts of contraptions. I found these inspiring links:

The MAKE Blog

What to do with your old computer
Nintendo controller phone
Cap-on macro using binocular lens

If I had space in my room, I'd do this:
Golf Ball Pool Table

Man, this is more than a month old. Albert is back in backdated season! (This should give all of you an estimate as to when the bucketload of pictures will arrive...)

Project Bazooka Band Night, 15th June 2006.

/zimages/pbbc1.jpg
Broken Scar Broken Ska is on the list tonight, with blues-playing Curtis Blues Review.

/zimages/pbbc2.jpg
Broken Scar Broken Ska. The colored spotlights were scorchingly bright that night, allowing me to get an exposure of 1/25 seconds, F2.6, at ISO200.

/zimages/pbbc3.jpg
The same manual settings, with flash. However, flash must be set to maximum power so it will reach the back, and it has to be ISO200 (or else the flash won't reach the background.) This effect is only possible when the spotlights overpower the flash. For digital cameras without manual settings, just set to Auto, flash on, point into the dark crowd, half-press the shutter, then point at the scene and snap.

/zimages/pbbc4.jpg
Curtis of Curtis Blues Review is jamming up his funky blues and soul. Sadly they were a three-piece band that night, as the other guitarist couldn't make it, so they relegated to covers instead.

/zimages/pbbc5.jpg
And this is how you tap the bottom end!

I now break my own rules and skip big gigs (don't worry, I will post pictures from Fete De La Musique 2006 when I feel that I'm up to the arduous task) in favor of this small Flipsyde showcase at Zouk, 8th July 2006.

/zimages/pbbc6.jpg
The tuning song. Flipsyde is rock-infused hip hop, with Santana-esque rock solos thrown in, and an acoustic guitar making the funkiest riffs since Baby Bash - Suga Suga.

/zimages/pbbc7.jpg
All tuned in? Let's go!

Dave Lopez is technically solid on electric guitar, despite his quote:

"I've been in rock bands my whole life, and no one ever cared about my playing. But some of these hip-hop kids have never heard a guitar solo. We did a tour with Snoop Dogg, and I'd go out and solo, and the kids would go wild. They thought I was Jimi Hendrix!"

/zimages/pbbc10.jpg
Nothing is cooler than a guitarist strumming and rapping at the same time. He can't help but sound like Eminem though. It's the white boy rap I tell ya. (Though sounding like Eminem or Anthony Kiedis is a compliment. Really.) And does anybody notice the guitar solos in some Eminem songs? I do!

/zimages/pbbc11.jpg
Slayer T-shirt and a G&L ASAT! There was no drummer because the DJ has all his beats laid down on the house, yo.

/zimages/pbbc8.jpg
Yes that's right, an eBow! Just like the one I have! At least he has an electric guitar to max out its effects...

/zimages/pbbc9.jpg
Check out the pedals... and the set list. I saw that extra song down there, so we knew they were coming back for an encore.

And now, to announce the winner of the 6th instalment of Guess That Trashcan!

I wanted an answer
Not a riddle or a question
Sure, smashpOp was a hinter
Cameron Highlands? He'd be mistaken

Steph does not win either, having answered correctly but guessed again after that.

This shows that all of you are dirty, littering buggers who don't care for public cleanliness. I dispose of my trash in trashcans. Do you?

/zimages/shIRve.jpg
However, Sher Vin is a sure win!

/zimages/triggerandthesilencer.jpg
Pictured here is me and her 'trigger' camwhore pose. Sadly, her digital camera is broken. Even if monetary contributions are not your forte, I hope at least to propagate her camwhoring pose, and acknowledge her as the initiator of such a pose. That way, when Taiwanese artistes are doing her trigger pose, we can ask for royalties. (And then, maybe, she can get a brand spanking new digital camera!)

P.S. The trashcan was in the lower Genting Skyway.

Yes yes, I'm going for Moonshine.

What: Moonshine, a homemade acoustic show
When: 9:30pm, 13th July 2006
Who: Az Samad, Broken Scar, Lied, Telebury, Malokaigruv
Where: Laundry Bar, The Curve, near Cineleisure Damansara
How much: Free, but you're gonna get thirsty cheering and gaping at their skill

For more details click here.

When you need a fix of the zany and absurd, read Cyanide And Happiness! Such genius, such comic expression in such a simple drawing of a face! I suggest you click on their First strip, then keep clicking Next, because their earlier works were more consistent.

There's even one with a Rubik's Cube (though it is technically wrong because there are only 6 colors on a cube, not 7.) They even have more cowbell!

There's amazing artwork in the Perry Bible Fellowship as well. Way more bizarre than Bizarro.

And now, for the sixth trashcan in the Guess That Trashcan series!

/zimages/trashcan6.jpg

As usual, first correct answer gets a free pimping.

Personally, I never tire of taking the LRT, depending on where I'm going, because there are always females of varying attractiveness at varying times and varying locations.

/zimages/boredlrt1.jpg
But hey, if you're bored... use the STAR LRT's inertia and metal seats to slide slowly towards a subject.

/zimages/boredlrt2.jpg
...wait for the prey to be distracted...

/zimages/boredlrt3.jpg
...then pick up your camera like it was your funky new phone with long zoom.

P.S. I know I owe a bucketload of people a bucketload of pictures, so hold your bucketload of horses as I haven't had the time to reply your bucketload of emails.

And now, for more delayed pictures from March 2006. Presenting the Xfresh Xplorer, our very own luxury transforming bus!

/zimages/xfx1.jpg
The Xfresh Street Surfers went to schools, colleges and universities with the bus.

/zimages/xfx2.jpg
From left to right, top to bottom:

• On the inside.
• Everyone wants to get in and be in.
• Everything and the kitchen sink.
• Crib, y'all.
• Broken Scar shows us where we can hide our stash.
• Waiting for something. (Note the sound console in the background.)

/zimages/xfx3.jpg
From left to right, top to bottom:

• On the roof; one has to climb through a manhole.
• Rails set up, mikes grounded.
• There's also a Playstation 2 with wireless controller and plasma TV!
• In order to get in, you gotta play games.

/zimages/xfx4.jpg
Top: Panning shots of Farahwahida and one half of Mass Raw superimposed; left: Doul; right: the Xfresh Xplorer, fully transformed, complete with yellow curtain and emcees on the deck.

/zimages/xfx5.jpg
We now teleport to May 2006, the Xfresh photoshoot. Picture may be strangely familiar.

/zimages/xfx6.jpg
Men fret though about the stability of their cameras.

/zimages/xfx7.jpg
Note the happy couple. :D

/zimages/xfx9.jpg
From left to right, top to bottom:

• A 3D Mark-like scene, with overexposed leaves.
• Same concept, on the floor, ala Unreal Tournament 2004.
• Containers ala Counter-Strike.
• Uh... cute antenna.

/zimages/xfx10.jpg
Run for the picture!

/zimages/xfx8.jpg
Trigger snappy.

/zimages/xfx11.jpg
Alright, show's over.

On a side note, and to prove that my backdated blog entry has some relevance, the Xfresh Xplorer will be coming to Cineleisure Damansara!

What: MYSO Jam Fest
When: 5pm to 7pm, 13th to 16th July 2006
Where: Main entrance, Cineleisure Damansara
Who: Performances from Samir, Liang, MIX, Lips, C.Loco, Premelodic, Estranged, Broken Scar, Shazzy and Doul!
How much: Free; how would we charge you anyway?

MORE DETAILS AND FUNKY GRAPHICS BY SMASHPOP HERE.

There's also the KL Sing Song 2006 at KLPAC.

What: KL Sing Song 2006 - Performance 1
When: 8:30pm, 14th July 2006
Where: Pentas Dua, KLPAC
Who: Mia Palencia, Shelley Leong, Reza Salleh, Ariff Akhir, Pak Pandir, Fathulistiwa Soundscapes
How much: Adult RM25, Student, Elderly & Disabled (limited to 50 seats) RM15.

What: KL Sing Song 2006 - Workshops 1, 2, 3 & 4
When: 1pm to 5:30pm, 15th July 2006
Where: Indicene, KLPAC
Who: Shelley Leong - "Singing With Style"
Shelley Leong and guitarist Az Samad share useful handy tips on performing with panache
Pak Pandir - "Lyrics & Creativity"
Pak Pandir talks about how to explore your environment through lyrics
Shanon Shah - "Make It Live"
Shanon Shah shares his experiences onstage and what it takes to be a live performer
Pete Teo - "The Indie Path"
Pete Teo talks about how to build a music career as a solo independent performer
How much: RM20

What: KL Sing Song 2006 - Performance 2
When 8:30pm, 15th July 2006
Where: Pentas Dua, KLPAC
Who: Pete Teo, Shanon Shah, Mei Chern, Meor, Broken Scar, Rhapsody
How much: Adult RM25, Student, Elderly & Disabled (limited to 50 seats) RM15.

More details here!

What: Mensa - Nestle Honey Stars Sudoku Competition
When: Saturday, 8 July 2006, 1:00pm to 5:00pm
Where: National Science Centre, Bukit Kiara, Kuala Lumpur
How Much: RM15/person, kids 7-12 years old RM5/person

FOR MORE DETAILS CLICK HERE.

I've volunteered to be an invigilator (though I gotta leave at 4pm). Yep, MENSA qualifying tests are also held.

On the 10th of June 2006 (oh no I'm going back to a picture backlog of about a month) I got on the bus from Ampang Park to Alexis at Great Eastern Mall, Ampang, to catch the return of Shelley Leong and Az Samad to our acoustic singer-songwriter scene.

/zimages/saa11.jpg
Yes, the caption is there just to fill up the space from merging two unaligned pictures, both 15 second exposures. It's one of the rare occasions where I break my 400 pixel wide barrier for 600 pixel goodness. Don't worry I'm not even breaking anyone's view in 640x480 yet!

/zimages/saa1.jpg
But first, Ampang Park LRT has a redeco.

/zimages/saa2.jpg
And back to Az, always in motion, with the flow, playing virtuoso acoustic fingerstyle.

/zimages/saa3.jpg
Shelley plans to take over the world.

/zimages/saa4.jpg
Okay fine flash her, she'll look alright.

/zimages/saa5.jpg
New songs include Perfect World (with some Hendrix-like chord plucking) and Fragile Hearts.

/zimages/saa6.jpg
Kevin Theseira can't go wrong with the bass player's tummy of tone.

/zimages/saa7.jpg
Shelley is hip, yo.

/zimages/saa8.jpg
Bow to the double bass.

/zimages/saa10.jpg
This Washburn guitar hasn't been christened with scratch marks by Az's violent playing yet.

/zimages/saa9.jpg
Random Alexis candle.

And now, for a blast from the past, more like blast from Blast Off! Season 2, which ended February 2006, but which pictures from various shows I never got round to posting until now:
/zimages/blastoff3.jpg
Left: Solsta* had a cool britpop vibe with singer bobbing his head while singing Supergrass; right: Jiaja has the Hendrix riffs and fashion sense, rightfully winning the competition, proving that Malaysian voters have their head on straight. This 2006, at least, compared to the bum notes that were 2005's reality TV show winners.

/zimages/blastoff4.jpg
Top-left: Fugitives rock AC/DC style.
Top-right: This dude from 3Flow looks like smashpOp.
Bottom-left: The Exilers got to the finals. Thank goodness they sharpened up and stopped playing emo punk at the end, excelling instead at power metal.
Bottom-right: Mariam the hothothot host. I wish I had a clear picture of the hothothot Belinda C. too.

/zimages/blastoff1.jpg
Nuk's bassist strongly planted the stoic KoRn pose for the rest of the band to follow.

/zimages/blastoff2.jpg
Yeah, again, the dude from the Fugitives.

We don't talk a lot, but everyone talks about us.

We talk a lot, but noone talks about us.

I hate it when I'm online in the wee hours of the night morning, and I find it hard to keep my eyes open (even without MSN Messenger open) and I'm struggling to finish just that last bit of whatever it is I'm doing...

...and I pull through. The energy reserves kick in. I finish my stuff. Except of course, that I'm no longer sleepy.

In 367 days, the live action Transformers movie will be launched. The official website says 7.4.7. Damn Americans! Turns out it wasn't 7th of April 2007 but 88 days later, on the 4th of July 2007.

On a side note, Superman Returns was disappointing. I'd expect action from Bryan Singer, who did X-Men 1 and 2; instead we got loads of majestic shots of Superman hovering slowly, taking a cue from Cartoon Network's Captain Linger. At least Captain Linger is funny!

I remember Superman 1 and 2 being epic, with Superman doing amazing feats. Now, he does amazingly ridiculous feats and spouts corny lines. Thankfully, they retained that warm technicolor 1970's color tone. The Superman movies also probably invented product placement, (he throws the villian into a Coke billboard) and the tradition is retained in Superman Returns. At over 2 and a half hours, it is best you find a comfy seat if you were a fan. GSC 1 Utama's headrests hurt!

P.S. Look out for one of Lex Luthor's henchmen, who seems like he's just tagging along because Lex promised him some White Castle. :D