Can’t Blame You For Being Confused, Guys…

An article on chivalry on Yahoo! made me realise how confused guys must be sometimes. If they are too chivalrous, we may think they are just creepy and if they don’t do anything, we think they are jerks. I never really thought about until I read the article. For example, when a guy doesn’t hold the door open when he’s just like a few steps in front of me, I think: “how ungentlemanly”, and if they are holding the door open but I’m actually little ar behind, I will feel the need to walk faster and wish they would just not hold it open. Those poor guys out there who just don’t know what to do in a situation. Although being nice is always the better choice, there’s being nice and then there’s “thinking” you’re being nice. If it’s a simple situation like holding the door open or helping with heavy items, even if we didn’t need it, we would still be thankful. However if it something that is a little more conplicated like a girl and guy having a heated arguement or a girl is alone and totally drunk on the streets, think first before you do anything, doing the wrong thing may just make things worse or get yourself in trouble. But then again, I’m sure it’s not just guys who get into these situations, so I guess everyone must be confused.

On another note, the Australian Open this year was great for men’s tennis! Anyone as stoked as I was that Federer wasn’t in the finals?! Congratz Djokovic and Sharapova.

Women In High Places

Taking a que from Cashmere Mafia the new ABC show, it made me very curious as to what do men actually think about being in a relationship with a woman who has a “higher status” in terms of higher paying job and is more successful.

Is it such a crime for a woman who ‘wants it all’? So ok I think that it’s a little sad that these days some people have nannies raising their children for them. If that’s the case I can see how that would make some more ‘conservative’ men prefer their wives to be more family orientated. But I’m sure there are women out there who can juggle family and career. So let’s say that a woman can have a great career while taking care of family business just fine. How does it make a difference if the woman makes more money than the guy? Does that make him feel inferior? Does that make him feel useless? What is it? Is it just an ego thing or is there something deeper?

I guess people will always want to be the best at what they do, irrespective of what gender they are. But why should that have any effect on a relationship? I guess being a person who has no experience what so ever, means I can’t really give my view on the situation. I’m just want to know what people really think about this issue.

Please, please, if you are reading this, please leave a comment tell me what you think. You can be annonymous if you want.

On another note, thanks to the writer’s strike, I’ve started watching two new TV shows: Mad Men and Cashmere Mafia. I’ve only just seen the first episode of both and Mad Men seems to be a very intense drama but it won two Golden Globes this year including one for best Drama Series so I’ll see how that goes. Cashmere Mafia on the other hand is a drama/comedy, more of what I prefer watching. It’s the new Sex and the City but less about the sex and fashion, and more about women in high places.

Displacement: Globalisation – Why Complain?!

Kuala Lumpur… supposedly the fashion capital of asia… maybe… maybe not but whatever it is… there is no doubt that fashion is a booming industry here… However it seems that it’s also popular for firms to hire foreign models from eastern europe rather than our local, home-grown models… and the models are complaining of being displaced… Now lets think about this for a moment… True that the industry should have a responsibility of helping its local talents… Which of course leads to the talent itself… do our models have what it takes? It seems that some of our models are not having any problems finding jobs and are even finding some overseas fame… Now then what is the problem exactly?! Well it’s clear what is going on isn’t it?! Competition… it’s all part of globalisation… having to compete with foreigners is all part of the norm in business these days… Personally I don’t think that there is much bias… it maybe because of money or it maybe because of comsumer target or it ould be for any other reason… definitely not because they are local… If you have the talent… you will find a job… Some people are obviously mindlessly complaining about not getting a job but also in the mean time not understanding how the business world works… Think about it… a Hungarian model is taking up a job here while at the same time a Malaysian is probably taking up a job in some other part of the world… It’s how the world works these days baby… get on the train or get out of the queue… don’t hold up the line… There’s also been talk about the governments restriction on using foreign faces in advertisements in Malaysia… some recent car ad with Brad Pitt in it was banned because it could have showcased a Malaysian face instead… Something to do with how using too many foreign faces will cause some kind of inferior complex… More like some people are lacking in confidence… The minister in charge was quoted saying something along the lines of “Why not use Malaysian faces. Are we not handsome enough?”… I think we should leave that question unanswered… Actually I really think it’s more than looks… please… if it was just about looks it would have been cheaper for the company to hire some random good-looking guy to promote their car… It’s all about the marketing… using Brad Pitt… he’s a worldwide recognisable face… with the exception of people who have been living under a rock… Plus with his “connection” to Angelina Jolie these days… he’s probably as popular as ever… “ka-ching” $$$$$$… This is just so brainless… However I have to say that if the government play their cards right on this one… it could be good for the local industry… and still maintain a healthy flow of western culture into the country… Personally I like the fact that Malaysians are not as ignorant as some Americans are…

Fire Fire!!!!

The temperature in Melbourne reached a maximum of approximately 42 degrees yesterday…!!!!!!!! Bush fires everywhere in northern Vic and Andy Roddick has been knocked out of the Aussie Open by Marcos Baghdatis!!! Oh well… Baghdatis is cool… hope he makes finals… that would be awesome!!!!! For women’s I think Sharapova vs. Davenport for one of the semis would be quite a match… most probably Davenport will win but I hope Maria gets through… but first Maria has to beat Petrova… and Davenport has to beat Henin-Hardenne… and I think it will be Hingis vs. Clijsters for one of the quarters… that would be quite a match as well then hopefully Hingis can go on maybe play Mauresmo for semis but Hingis has to play Stosur (home fav) and Clijsters has to get pass Schiavone which shouldn’t be any problem unless her shoulder gets worst… Mauresmo is definitely through to the quarters and will wait for either Schnyder or Myskina… I’m kinda feeling that Myskina will take it though… and finally I would like to see Hingis vs. Sharapova for the finals… to totally different playing styles… my gosh… can’t believe I’m so into tennis now… Hahaha… As for the men… still quite some way to go… what I would like to see is Haas beating Federer which is very highly unlikely… but I would LIKE to see it… but anyway I think Federer vs. Davydenko and Chela vs. Grosjean… besides the already through Santoro vs. Nalbandian and Ljubicic vs. Baghdatis for quarters… Then maybe Federer vs. Grosjean and Nalbandian vs. Baghydatis for semis and finally Federer vs. Baghdatis for finals… that would be way interesting… but I doubt Baghdatis will get that far maybe more realistically Federer vs. Nalbandian… I would also like to express my disappointment that Liverpool was defeated by Man U… sigh… I guess that’s all for now… wish me luck for my mid sems on Wednesday… Cheers…

One Park To Rule Them All

So I have now been to 4 Disney Theme Parks… Anaheim, Orlando, Paris and Hong Kong… Here’s a summary of the four parks…

Disneyland Resort, Anaheim, California

• Consists of 2 parks: Disneyland Park & Disney’s California Adventure Park
• Disneyland has 5 main sections: Mainstreet USA, Adventureland, Frontierland, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland
• Has over 50 attractions
• Landmark: Sleeping Beauty Castle
• The Classics: Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, Pirates of The Caribbean, It’s A Small World, The Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh, Snow White’s Scary Adventures, Peter Pan’s Flight, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Indiana Jones Adventure
• Other personal recommendations: Mad Tea Party, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, Honey I Shrunk The Audience
• Rating: 4.5*

• I have not been to California Adventure Park but I think they might have used some of the rides from MGM Studios.
• Has over 30 attractions
• Famous rides: The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida

Consists of 4 parks: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios, & Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park

Magic Kingdom has 5 main sections: Mainstreet USA, Adventureland, Frontierland, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland

Has over 35 attractions

Landmark: Cinderella Castle

The Classics: Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, It’s A Small World, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, Peter Pan’s Flight, The Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Pirates of The Caribbean, Snow White’s Scary Adventures, Jungle Cruise, The Haunted Mansion

Other personal recommendations: Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress, The Timekeeper, Tomorrowland Transit Authority, Mad Tea Party

Rating: 4.5*

• Epcot is the centre showcasing technological advancements
• Has 18 pavillions, 11 of which are for 11 different countries
• Landmark: 180-feet-tall Geosphere (Golfball Sphere)
• The Classics: Test Track, Journey Into Imagination With Figment, Spaceship Earth, Ellen’s Energy Adventure, Living With The Land
• Other personal recommendations: Maelstrom, Impressions de France, Honey I Shrunk The Audience
• Rating: 3.5*

• MGM Studios is built based on their famous productions
• Has over 15 attractions
• Landmark: Water Tank With Mickey Ears
• The Classics: Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, The Great Movie Ride
• Other personal recommendations: Star Tours, Disney-MGM Studios Backlot Tour, Rock & Rollercoaster Starring Aerosmith
• Rating: 2.5*

• Animal Kingdom is the latest addition to Walt Disney World
• Has over 20 attractions
• Landmark: Tree of Life
• The Classics: It’s Tough To Be A Bug, Kilimanjaro Safaris, DINOSAUR
• Other personal recommendations: Kali River Rapids
• Rating: 2.5*

• The best thing about Walt Disney World is that you can get a single pass for all the 4 parks and easy access from one to the other with the Disney Monorail.
• Overall rating: 5* (My All Time Favourite)

Disneyland Resort, Paris, France

• Consists of 2 parks: Disneyland Park & Walt Disney Studios Park
• Disneyland has 5 main sections: Mainstreet, Adventureland, Frontierland, Fantasyland, Discoveryland
• Has over 40 attractions
• Landmark: Sleeping Beauty Castle
• Recommended: Big Thunder Mountain, Phantom Manor, Pirates of The Caribbean, Indiana Jones and The Temple of Peril, It’s A Small World, Mad Hatter’s Tea Cups, Peter Pan’s Flight, Blanche-Neige et les Septs Nains, Space Mountain Mission 2, Honey I Shrunk The Audience, Star Tours
• Rating: 3.5*

• Walt Disney Studios is a new park for Disneyland Paris
• Modeled after MGM Studios

Disneyland, Hong Kong

• Consists of 4 main sections: Mainstreet USA, Adventureland, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland
• Has 22 attractions with 1 more coming soon in summer 2006
• Landmark: Sleeping Beauty Castle
• The attractions: Hong Kong Disneyland Railroad, Main Street Vehicles, The Disneyland Story, City Hall, Festival of the Lion King, Rafts to Tarzan’s Treehouse, Jungle River Cruise, Liki Tikis, Sleeping Beauty Castle, Mickeys PhilharMagic, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Cinderella Carousel, Fantasyland Train Station, Fabtasy Gardens, Mad Hatter Tea Cups, The Golden Mickeys, The Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh, Snow White Grotto, Space Mountain, Orbitron, Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, Autopia
• Rating: 2.5*
• Advantages: cheapest, can shop while in Hong Kong
• Disadvantages: very few rides, very long queues, occasional bad English

So if you get the chance… you SHOULD go to Orlando… Because then you can stop by all the other theme parks there as well… More on that some other time… Cheers…

Spring Weather Sucks… Can’t Imagine Summer!!

The current weather in Melbourne is terrible… I’m hating it… The worst part it’s not that it was freaking hot the past few days but there are bugs everywhere… it’s almost worst than Malaysia… at least the bugs back home are pretty small… they are absolutely HUG over here… like mutated insects… I think it was Tuesday night… it was soo hot so I decided to keep my window open… well actually it’s open almost all the time anyway even when I’m sleeping… people I know might know that I’m practically HOT blooded… must be the thick layer of blubber around my body… like a bear you know… Anyway… yeah so the window was open… and I didn’t think much of it until I wanted to go to sleep… when I suddenly realize the ceiling of my room was like infested with these little flying bugs…!!! I was horrified… I mean bugs in general are fine… but if they are in swamps and I’m going to sleep with them around… Hello… who knows they might start biting and flying up my nose… So I got a cloth… because I have no swatter nor insect spray… and started swatting them… Man… took me like half any hour to get them all I think…!!! I’m so paranoid now that I close my window when the sun is setting… Today was windy and cloudy though… so it was pretty alright… But I can only imagine how hot it is going to get in the Summer… I know the locals love it… but coming from Malaysia… you tend to get sick of the hot weather… Can’t wait for autumn and winter again!!!!

What They Don’t Tell You…

You know how some people know what they want to be since they were young and they know just exactly how to get it… Well I’m not one of them… and I’m like wondering how did they know how to get it? Did someone sit them down and tell them or did they go around asking or what? I’m basically focusing on ambition here… Lets say you want to be a molecular gastronomist… Well first of all who on earth would know such an occupation exists… but oh man it sounds soooo interesting… Anyway back to the point… I don’t think that your parents can tell you anything about it… and even if you wanted to ask someone who would you ask? How do you find a molecular gastronomist? So… basically… I’m just wondering… is there a place where wew can actually get step-by-step guides to achieving our ambition? I’ve never been one to know what I want… I’ve always changed my mind on what I would really like to do as a career… however I still think chef would suit me well… But if only somehow someone had let me know the route to every career I’ve ever thought of I might have just been able to make up my mind… just maybe…

Breeding Racism

I was going through the papers today and came by a rather “interesting” article… I’m pretty sure you have never heard of the following pair of twin maybe unless you are a RACIST white living in America!!! Well anyway it’s about this pair of 13-year-old “white” American twins named Lynx and Lamb Gaede… and they are rather Mary-Kate and Ashley looking but trust me when I say they will do more harm to the world than the Olson twins can ever do… and this is because this pair of twins preach pro-racism… more specifically they are Neo-Nazi whose parents are… ahem… coincidentally pro-racist people… wahey… what about that… They are actually a music act who performs at pro-racism (pro-white) gatherings to attract people… Well part of my research in writing this entry was to get some samples of their songs and let me just tell you… their performances might just have the opposite effect… THEY CAN’T SING… seriously… I mean hey I’m no pro but I’m pretty sure they suck… maybe it’s their braces inhibiting proper pronunciation and pitching… but their songs really gave me a headache… and their ability to play the guitar and violin are something left much to be desired… For purposes of NOT promoting them I shall not disclose their group name and song titles… Which brings me to another thought… I wonder if they actually know what they are singing about… because there is one song where they are talking about their children being proud… erm… ok if they have children at their age… wow… And if you are wondering… Yes they are home-schooled… I don’t think they’d last a day in a proper school… they’d probably be either (a) beaten up by the other kids, (b) kicked out of school straight away anyway, or (c) sent to the psychiatric ward… It’s rather sad really… we’ll never know if they really chose this idealism at their own will or it was just too embedded into their brains… One thing we do know is they themselves chose to promote this “evil”…

Growing up in a multi-cultural country… I really don’t understand what’s all the fuss about the whites and blacks (no offense to anyone… I’m not sure what they are preferred to be called… African-Americans?)… If I’m not wrong the whites are the ones who brought the Africans over to America… ahem… Is it really so difficult to see beyond the colour of the skin? I mean come on our skin isn’t that thick anyway… rip it off and we all have the same stuff underneath… and in fact even the skin is the same substance anyway… just some are more sensitive to the light than others… So basically we are all the same… The only thing that makes us different is our mind and soul… so I say this… our colour does not make us evil… but rather we choose to be… Are you?!