The most well spoken dog - Gromit

Wallace and Gromit may be something new to me, although it exists years ago. It wasnt that popular among the asian, and really.. i dun know why.

This movie has an interesting plot and solid momentum! The story was absolutely hilarious. It went beyond my expectations. I wasn't bored one bit! At first, I was quite skeptical about a plot that involved rabbits, but wanted to see the movie anyway because the short clips had hooked up my interest. If there was ever a chance to give any animated character a best supporting actor oscar award, it should go to Gromit. I wish I had Gromit living with me!!

In fact, I've never left a film wanting more and more of it as much as I did with this one..

The perception of cny and resolution

At the age of 10 or younger, i had always been looking forward to this festive season as there were nothing more amusing through out the year than having to play with my cousins, visiting my long lost relatives, drinking fizzy sodas and eating some colorful food that - according to my mom, would cause cancer :p (We didn't get to drink and eat them all year round at fast food joints). As i grew older, it's my turn to watch my little cousins playing around with one another. And there, i saw my own shadow.

Every first day of chinese new year, it has been a tradition for my family to return to the ancestor house to give respect to the elder generation. On the year when i started to have better understanding on stuff, my mother began to relate stories of my great great grandparents in the old house. I felt drawn to the mysterious portraits hanging on the wall.

Well, a little out of topic.

As we celebrate chinese new year- years after years, do we really know the true meaning behind it? I doubted so. Chinese New Year, which signifies the turning over of a new leaf, is a time for family reunion and thanksgiving. The celebration is traditionally highlighted with a religious ceremony given in honor of Heaven and Earth, the gods of the household and the family ancestors. People always have new resolution for the coming new year. I was wondering why resolution is made only when there's a new year? Why can't people evaluate themselves at any time of the year? I suppose that's only an excuse. Some people said resolution is meant to be broken. Ha...hah.. perhaps so.

I'm not against those people that jump on the bandwagon, having resolution only when new year comes. I have my own perseverance on resolution. Althought it is yet to know if i have achieved my goals. And if i have not, my resolution for the year will be the same thing...

Digital Fortress

Dan Brown has caused quite a stir with his Da Vinci Code, an international bestseller.

All-night session with that book inspired me to see if its author had any more pulse quickening thriller in his masterpiece. I had already 'devoured' Digital Fortress and was ready for a bit more exhilaratingly and tantalizing adventure.

As the matter of fact, i think Digital Fortress could be produced to a movie instead. Every single word allowed me to picture the progress of this heart racing thriller. Quite simply this particular book is almost pure geek. It is more satisfying if the reader is equipped with slight knowledge of computer security. Encryption is the central theme of the story. The moving forces include ultra-secret fantastic TRANSLTR located at the National Security Agency in Puzzle Palace at Fort Meade, a delectable heroine with both brains and beauty, people with excessive lust for power, a goodly dose of murder, and a hero who has astounding luck while trying to stay alive. Heroes are always lucky, huh?

Dan Brown suceeded in drawing me from the beginning till the end of the page by his twist and turns in narrating the two events that happened simultaneously. Though it was predictable. Yet it still considered as a jolly good read ;)

Me and my old stuff

It's 2006 and I'm still clinging to things that i am unwilling to be seperated from. But it's not very useful to me. I'm just getting myself used to it ha..haa... Or because i wanna feel the sense of possession?

Well, almost all of us have more stuff than we'll ever use. Though it can be comforting to be surrounded by things, far too often they become a source of stress, clutter, and unhappiness.
It always involve decision making when i'm getting something for myself or when i'm clearing something off myself.
Sometimes those decisions are easy and obvious, but when they're not, being willing to part with stuff requires some determination and some tough love. Anyway, i have always been giving myself alot of excuses...

"But..I may need it someday"
Yeah this one is real strong point. No matter how obscure or ridiculous the things are - i'm still able to find some excuse to keep it. Such as... i may still need this drawing board, i may still need the brushes. I may still take up painting. Almost anything can qualify as potentially useful, depending how i look at it. Hence it ended up a house full of rubbish. Ha...ha..

"But I paid good money for it"
Sometimes i buy something with love at first sight. It's quite an impulsive decision. At the end of the day, i may be wondering what caught my attention to go into such hideous thing. And i couldnt explain my affection for that at the beginning.
Investing a hefty chunk of cash in something that turns out not to be as appealing or as useful as you originally thought can bring up all sorts of emotions: stress, anger, guilt, annoyance. It can also strengthen the desire to hold on to the object in question; after all, who wants to relegate a valuable object to the Goodwill pile?

"But it reminds me of a person, a place, or something memorable.. :("
Sorting through sentimental stuff requires that me to be honest, gentle, and firm with myself, all at the same time. I have to be sure about why I'm clinging to the object: is it really a reminder of a pleasant memory? Or an unpleasant one? Is it a way of escaping something difficult or unpleasant in the present? Unless it summons a positive memory--one that can't be summoned by any other means--there's a good chance the object isn't worth keeping around.

I hope i will be able to organize my old junk wisely ;)