The state of this blog

Well, it has been forever since the last post, has it?

The thing is, I'm not sure if I want to maintain this blog anymore. The main reason is because I don't have the time anymore. I do the work of three people at my job, and at the same time, I maintain four blogs. You heard me, four blogs. Excluding this, which means I have five blogs altogether.

I have thought of shifting Book Gobbler to my main site, which has its own fancy domain and everything, but that could 'blow my cover'. ;) You see, on my other blogs, I don't reveal who I am. But it's so much more convenient if I have everything under one roof ...

So, I'm not sure if I'm going to post here much anymore. Let's see how things go. I may create a subdomain after all, and think, well, to heck with everything - let people know who I am.

Let's just see. :)

The Music I luv

1. What is the total amount of music files on your computer?
Er ... so sad, but I can count only five mp3 files. I don't download music much. :P

2. The CD you last bought?
Like Daphne, I haven't bought one in suuuuuuch a long time. But does cassettes count? I bought Gwen Stefani's Love, Angel, Music, Baby. She rocks.

3. What was the last song you listened to before reading this message?
Oh-oh, it was on my Internet radio, some obscure rap artiste - I didn't see who it was.

4. Write down five songs that you often listen to or that mean a lot to you.
* Andrea Bocelli's Someone Like You and Time to Say Goodbye. These two songs make me melt into a puddle of goo. I swear, if someone sings like that to me, I'll marry him on the spot (or at least, jump into bed with him).

For a rocking time, I love Gwen Stefani's What You Waiting For because she just oozes attitude.
Sarah Maclachlan's When She Loved Me always makes me sniff. Also, I can relate personally to what the little doll was singing about. Waaah ...

Nirvana's Smells like Teen Spirit. Man, they were the group that got me into Alternative music - all that angst, anger and rebelliousness in that song. It was me (at least 5 years ago, in college :).

5. Who are you going to pass this stick to (3 persons) and why?
Er, first of all, I'd need to know who reads this obscure little blog! :D The first three persons who leave a comment here ...

Grumpy me

I had to do some business at MPSJ today. I walked five minutes to the entrance under the fiery sun because I had to park my car far, far away and take a roundabout way to the door because they were doing some construction works. (Rant: There's this nice gate at the front of MPSJ that will lead us to the doorstep of the main entrance but it's always locked. Whylah?? Is the gate for decoration purposes only?)

And when I got there, what did clerk tell me (granted she was very nice while doing so)? I didn't bring the right form.

Right, so I spent another five minutes trying to get back to my car, muttering all the way.

Then, when I got back, I discovered that my dog's urinary problem - ala blood in the urine - is back with a vengeance, so my worry went up a few notches. My dog can sneeze and it'll send me into a frenzy.

Called the vet, and he said to collect the medicine. What did you know that USJ decided to live up to its nickname (Ultra Super Jam) by throwing up a big huge jam. Why? Because workers decided that it'll be just fine and dandy to close two lanes from the main road along SS19 for some construction work.

Then, couldn't find a darn parking spot at the vet. Had to double park. On the way out, some taikoh with a bad sense of depth and space kissed the front of my car with his bumper. The damage would've been worse if I had not smacked the hood of his car three times. Didn't even say sorry. Ceh.

Because of all this, was not that early for work. So, grumpy me walked into work today. Hmph.

Sepet wins Top Prize! Yay!

I'm really glad that director Yasmin got the nod when her movie Sepet won the Grand Jury Prize at the 27th Creteil International Women Directors Festival.

When I heard that this was the same director who was responsible for the fuzzy-wuzzy, muhibah, and oh-so-good to watch Petronas festive greetings ads, I was pretty sure it'll be good because it would be the most Malaysian movie ever.

For one, although Spinning Gasing, another local movie, was laudable because it dared to broach "touchy" topics, I felt it was weird that everyone spoke English.

Here, according to reviews, characters speak Malay, Chinese, English (I think). Just like how Malaysia is, a rojak* of languages and cultures.

I've got to admit that I'm a bad girl, I've not watched Sepet. I truly want to - anyone want to go with me - once I make the time that is! Hopefully this Friday, when I'm off, I'd make the trip.

Popular warehouse sale

Venue: Summit shopping centre, USJ, Subang Jaya, Selangor
Date: From today until March 20
Time: Starts at 10am
Discounts: until 70%, 90% for Popular members

I have to say that I practiced great restraint! I still spent RM200 over thanks to the huge and s0-heavy-that-it'll-cave-someone's-head-in National Geographic coffee book (~RM49) and House Beautiful's Decorating ideas for small spaces (~RM79). Bought three decorating mags for RM5 each (yes, I love interior decorating) and a couple of paperbacks.

The Big deals: Some paperbacks are being sold for RM10! Some starting at RM5, particularly Angel (the television show) and Buffy novels. And the books being sold at RM10 are not those crappy books you never want to read but books by popular authors ... Vince Flynn's Seperation of Power, David Baldacci (spelling wrong, pretty sure) etc.

Fantasy books: This is purely for eyeris. Yes, there are some scattered here and there. I bought one for RM10. They're selling some of Terry Brook's books for RM10 as well. The selection isn't as fantastic as the Time's warehouse sale, but it's close to good.

Non-fiction: So many it boggles the mind. Good selection, but prices not so good ...

What's not so good: The queues are damn long and damn slooow. I would say, avoid the Sunday crowd! But you might miss some good books, I guess. I don't know, but this seems to be the case for Popular sales ... they only have three counters open ...

Big news

So, I got this news right, and I can't tell anyone. Not anyone that don't know what I'm talking about. I mean, that'll be like stupid right?

So here I am steaming about the Big News with no one to talk to. Drat.

Knowing your classics

Daphne caught me mixing up my Russian authors today. Yes, I confess, I can't tell between Tolstoy, Dostoevsky and Chekov! Not that I claim to have read any of them. "Russian authors" is a category I keep telling myself I'll get to but never do. Instead I'm always stuck at Austen and am determined, somehow, to stay there.

Oh, yes, moi was very embarassed despite knowing that I mix my authors and books on a regular basis. ;) In real life, this little handicap translates into not remembering people's names - gosh, at the most inconvenient times.

But the very big truth is that I don't know my classics very well since I only deign to read them only once, and usually finish reading them with great relief.

I think the only classic fiction I've truly enjoyed was George Eliot's Middlemarch (which took me half a year to finish! But I think is the best way to savour her book) and Jane Austen's Emma. I read Northanger Abbey and Mansfield Park, but I honestly forgot 90% of it except for some vague rememberances of it being this or that. Oh yes, I loved F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. Lovely, tragic story.

I love short story writer Katherine Mansfield, and attempted at short story writing for a while until I realise that it's quite difficult to make a point in a few words. But if you asked me to give an example of some of her stories, I'd probably lamely say, "You know, the one where they discuss something over tea in the Garden" (It's called The Garden Party, by the way) or "The one where this housekeeper found a coin in this gentleman's place" (oh, this I still can't remember).

I think the other book I want to finish reading badly is Les Misereables by Victor Hugo. I have no idea, actually, whether I reached the ending! (Because, yes, again, I've forgotten about 90% of what I read.) Hey, wait! I remember reading this particular segment where the hero - which, I of course can't remember the name - rescued his adopted daughter's boyfriend because he was part of the rebellion. Ok, so I did read that far. ;) Hee.

Should I remedy the situation, I wonder? Hmm ... well, maybe after reading Su Tong's My Life as Emperor. (Translation: Maybe never!)

Okaylah, as a challenge to enrichen myself, I'd attempt (close eyes and pick a random name) ... uhm ... oh hell, I'll read Crime and Punishment. Written by Fyodor Dostoevsky. See? I can get it right.

No, I didn't google it up!

Review: The Aviator

I wrote a short review about the biopic a week (or two) ago.

Is it worthy of an Oscar?
Not that my opinion is going to matter, but yes and no. The competition for "Best picture" this year is stiff as usual, but if I had my way I want Hotel Rwanda to win. It has a stronger message, a worthy message, and boy was the acting top notch.

Your favourite scenes?
When Howard Hughes shot that airplane battle scene for Hell's Angels. Awesome.

Is it worth my hard-earned RM9?
You do get value for money - it is three freaking hours long.

Does that mean its too long?
Sometimes, especially after drinking too much Coke.

Is DiCaprio hot?
Whatever rocks your boat, baby.

Sin City rocks!

This is for you fanboys out there ...

Now, this looks like a movie that respects the material. I have not read Sin City, but a check at the Sin City section at IMDB reveals that:

After a poor Hollywood experience in the early-'90s, Frank Miller refused to relinquish the movie rights to any of his comic works, "Sin City" in particular. Robert Rodriguez, a longtime fan of the comic, filmed his own "audition" for the director's spot in secret. The footage, shot in early 2004, featured Josh Hartnett and Marley Shelton acting out the "Sin City" short-story "The Customer is Always Right". He presented the finished footage to Miller with the proclamation: "If you like this, this will be the opening to the movie. If not, you'll have your own short film to show your friends." Miller approved of the footage and the film was underway. Rodriguez also screened the footage for each of the actors he wanted to cast in the film - all of whom are reported to have been instantly amazed.

There's more news there as well.

Have a look at the trailer. It's super cool as well. I'm probably going to convert it to VCD so that I can watch it in all its glory on TV. You can tell I have too much time on my hands.

Everyone looks as if they belong there. Benicio del Toro looks cool as well as Bruce Willis. I wonder who Hartnett and Wood is playing.

A fan did complain that Jessica Alba was miscast as Nancy. Why? Apparently because she won't take her top off. Now, I know you fan boys are dissapointed, but hey, I will testify from what I saw on the trailer that she gyrates, slithers and wriggles very well.

Keanu as Constantine? Who were they kidding?

Neo, part deux.

While at Kinokuniya recently, I decided to browse through Constantine graphic novels to get a feeling who this Constantine person is.

When I first saw the trailer, I thought it was kinda cool. I didn't think Keanu Reeves could act to save his life, but I didn't know anything about Constantine then. So, hey, I thought - he was good as The One, so this may be no different.

After reading some of the books (cough) by browsing through them at Kino, I echo Constantine fan sentiments: WTF? Keanu as Constantine?!

First, Constantine is English.
b) he cusses like there's no tomorrow
c) he oozes attitude
d) blonde

Keanu isn't a good Constantine fit because:
a) he looks like a yuppie fresh out of a Starbucks refill
b) he's not blonde.
c) attitude? My pooch has more attitude.

Some people say it's just not fair to evaluate the movie before it's even released, but if you can't even get simple basics right like the fact that his secret name is Ged, not Sparrowhawk, you git (sorry, wrong movie adaptation) then this movie has no reason for existing.

Who would've made a good Constantine:
a) Ralph Fiennes
b) Paul Bettany
c) Not Brad Pitt. Okay, maybe Brad could do. As long as he can pull off a convincing accent.

Book Gobbler and Movie Gobbler

I've decided that since I gobble both in equal quantities (who am I kidding, I think I gobble way too much TV and movies) I'd from now on blog about it here as well.

So, does that mean a name change? Hmm? Book/Movie Gobbler? Or maybe just keep it as it is with a little disclaimer at the bottom? ;)