MARCH-ing forward

It has been a fruitful month. Things are beginning to slow down a little as spring break approaches in a week's time.

To sum up Feb., it was all about multicultural events and activities. February celebrates Black History Month as well as LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transexual) History Month. In the mist of it, the Asian-American and American Indian societies hosted some events too in conjunction with Unity Day.

I can't believe I have survived through half the spring semester already. My performance in the University Chronicle surprised myself even more. As of date, I have 22 news and arts articles published, not counting 6 opinion columns. My journalism class professor challenged the class to publish at least 18 news stories because one student did that last semester and my professor is very proud of her. I take pride for breaking her record in half a semester though.

As March comes by, more tests and assignments await in my schedule. Nonetheless, I'm very excited about the upcoming Arizona Mission Trip during the spring break. I can practice as a good servant of God and show God's love for the community in the Apaches reservations.

Being with you is all I ask...

Confusingly, I'm surrounded by the question regarding "love" at this moment, way past Valentine's. I hold fast to the principle of John 3:16. And I believe God loves us for who we are. Yet, sometimes, I wonder if who I am deserved to be loved. I overheard a very triggering saying today: God hates sin but loves the sinners. We, sinners, are worthy to be loved and do love who you love.

Just a side bar, I've just got the Minnesota driving permit last Friday. I can now drive with a license holder and schedule for a road test after the summer break, I guess that would be a better time to drive on the road, without the snow and ice.

I can do this.

So, my focal points in March are 1. Continue to get published in the Chronicle, and 2. Academics. 3. Weight down to 150lbs by the end of the month.

C'mon, all ye soldiers, let's go MARCHing on!

Mind your language

Let’s put this straight, I don’t want to offend anyone but it is just what’s happening around us. We are all very-so familiar with the F-word, S-word and whatever that has relations with hell and its damnation. How many of us remember passing a day without speaking or hearing any of such word in our daily routine?

I recently watched a video clip on YouTube that promotes the use of the F-language. Instead of feeling entertained by the usage of such a language, I was upset by its reality. Most of us, especially the “Millennial” generation, think that such vulgarity is just something that happens in life. In fact, many would ask me to just “get over it.”

I am not offended, but I just couldn’t accept how these words can even be seen as a norm. Even heart breaking is that one said it could even be seen as a form of art. I’ve once heard a professor in a theatre class using these words for expressions. In my opinion, these terms did not bring any praiseworthy effects. Instead, it brings shame to a person who uses it.

The F-terminology is so often used to expressed anger or disagreement, the YouTube clip said. I just don’t see how this terminology could help with any situation. Taking for example: if one was very angry over another person, a “go F*** yourself” would not resolve the situation very much.

You get what I mean? With almost everyone using these words in our society right now, even toddlers would pick them up and use them as they learn their conversation. I couldn’t foresee how our world would be in the future if these F’s are growing to be a norm in our culture.

Be it noun (fish), verb (fishing), adjective (fishy), adverb (fishing-) or any parts of speech, the F-terminology has become recklessly dominant. One day, I think no one would be surprised to see in our Constitution (Amendment XXXX) that reads “No individual shall f***ing commit any language offense without due process of law…”

We are what we do or say. People value one another by observing their behaviors including their speech. Employing vulgarity in our speech puts down our reputation before others. Why don’t we use any of those F-words when it comes to interviews? It is simple: we knew it very well that these terms downgrade our status. Then why do we use them when our superior wasn’t around? Haven’t we trashed our integrity?

In short, I personally oppose the use of this indecorous lingo. Finally, let’s take one of the greatest and infamous quotes that playwright Shakespeare has ever written, and turns it into our F-terms: “O, Romeo, Romeo, where f**king art thou Romeo?

O well, it doesn’t seem very artistic after all.

Jason Tham/Columnist

University Chronicle

Of fate, faith, and luck

Do you believe in "fate?" Or it's "faith" that you cling onto?

I've always argued with my inner self that we Christians should not trust "luck." This may be why you don't always see me wishing people "good luck" in their undertakings.

Nonetheless, is "fate" similar to "luck?"

Dictionary.com defines "luck" as the force that seems to operate for good or ill in a person's life, as in shaping circumstances, events, or opportunity.
Dictionary.com defines "fate" as something unavoidably befalls a person.
Dictionary.com defines "faith" as confidence or trust in a person or thing.

If you have Faith, do you still believe in Fate? Doesn't already God designed your Destiny?

I'm sorry. I apologize for throwing so many "frustrating words" to you, beloved readers. But it really triggers me when my acting class professor said today that, "as an actor, your body is somehow your fate."

It has been echoing in my mind for the rest of the day till I decided to pen this in my blog. One side of my brains struggle that I live my life based on Faith. It is faith, the truth, that has made life meaningful to me. On the other hand, Fate seems to be real too. When everything starts to fall in place, have you ever wonder why things JUST happen?

Oh well. I know this is not a topic that worth the time to think over. Yet, these are things that somebody needs to clarify for us. I don't want to live a life pondering why things happens. I trust that God has plans, this is Faith, I'm sure. He knows what's before us and how we will ended up be.

What about Fate?

I guess the following video serves as a very good example of fate. Some people are just so blessed with talents, may be this is fate. Watch it, and you'll understand what I meant.

He very-so good.

Let's spend the rest of our February loving everyone around us!

蘇打綠 - 小情歌

A good song made my night.

Watched 2 plays in a roll

I haven't been watching so many theatre plays in my life after getting out from high school English Literature class.

It's fun going to watch these shows here, partly because I am not forced to wear formal suit like what my high school teacher did (note, she had a good intention though).

The other fun part is I get to write reviews or evaluation paper about those plays after watching them. These are for me acting class. With these, I criticize the play openly, but of course, be responsible of my words.

Working for the Chronicle and writing the reviews for them also helped to earn my ticket money back.

The first play I watched at Paramount Theatre was Romeo and Juliet by Guthrie and The Acting Company.

Last week, 2 weekends in a roll, I watched the followings:

DON JUAN ('dawn wan')
Featured by SCSU Department of Theatre, Film Studies and Dance
Arena Stage, Performing Arts Center

The Odd Couple
Presented by Paul Bunyan Playhouse
Pioneer Place on Fifth, St. Cloud

These two plays are really interesting to watch. Don Juan's main idea is about sexuality and sensation. The Odd Couple is comical and made me laugh.

One more play to go for the semester that is The Threepenny Opera in April. I am looking forward to it.

Fun Night in the Cities

Thanks to Cole, we were able to attend the annual Chinese New Year celebration hosted by Maranatha Christian Fellowship and International Students Outreach (ISO) located at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis-St. Paul.

I've got to know so many new Malaysian friends as well as some China students and Americans. Food was super delicious, I felt exactly like eating Chinese food back home.

We played games, fooled around and telling lame jokes. I also competed in their annual Ping Pong tournament, lost at quarterfinal.

All in all, it was the fun that matters. It's been so long since I laughed till my stomach muscles ache.

I look forward to seeing them again!

The worst nights

I have experienced the worst 2-nights I had since the last 180 days in U.S.

Headache and fever. I wonder if it is the changing-weather that is causing everyone to fall sick. My editor was sick, my friends (I know 3 of them) are sick, and more to come I guess. It was warm in the days and freezing cold at nights, my body isn't adjusting well then.

Anyways, I feel whole lot better today - no more headache, just a bit of sore throat and running nose. Feeling heaty too.

Today was a light day for me. Classes were interesting. I did some editing on my news video for the journalism class and had so much fun in acting class.

Even though it was not easy to memorize lines, I find it really enjoyable when my partner Cory and I devote ourselves into our characters. We were doing a war scene by the way. The moment that I will never forget is where we acted as if we were in the battlefield, so we crawled and rolled on the floor in Arena stage. After all, I finally understand how it is to be "ROFL," just that the "Laughing" part belongs to the audience.

Apart from these, my days going sailing pretty good. I'll have to interview 4 persons tomorrow for my stories. I am really glad to work with University Chronicle. I've learned to open up to approach people, even if I haven't not seen them before.

15 days left till Arizona Mission Trip!! I am excited. I will be serving in the Vocational Bible School (VBS) team, my expertise I guess. My team has to plan activities, bible studies and games for kids in Cibecue Indian Reservations. I am looking forward to this wonderful trip ahead.

Weekend activities: CNY Party at University of Minnesota (Minneapolis), DON JUAN Theatre Production, finish up all my homeworks/assignments for next week.

Till then, stay warm - think summer.

Solomon Kane review

Before i write my sentences with a structure of a ten year old, i need to say one thing. This film was one of the most anticipated ones ever for me! I love Solomon Kane and of course its creator Robert E. Howard (he created Conan the barbarian as well. Oh yeah!). Now why i was so much into Solomon Kane? Because the trailer looked super promising and James Purefoy utterly convincing as the

The Season of Love

Uptown girls and city boys headed up north of Minnesota as to spend their valentines and lunar new year weekend together.

From Duluth to North Shore, we took pictures all the way up and enjoyed the road trip in a van that fitted 10 of us. Through this trip, I see friendship as love without wings, it is comforting though it doesn't go as high, as far, as romantic relationship.

In this month of love, I am so much affected by the special people in my life that are not around me physically. Distant did not obstacle our feelings for one another. My heart feels so warm in love even I live in this cold spring.

God, indeed is love.

I am grateful that He provides my ambition. I am selected as a Community Advisor (widely known as Residence Advisor) for Fall 2010 till Spring 2011. This helps to reduce the burden that my parents bear since I came to the States. The compensation includes free meals and free on-campus housing for the academic year, plus $1000 stipend on top of that. All I have to worry now is my tuition fees.

I believe God will see me through. More challenges ahead, yet, I know He is there with me walking down the trails. Looking forward to more tomorrows!

Happy Lunar New Year.
Happy Valentine's Day.

Sam Tsui and Kurt rock it again

3:03. Epic! Subscribe them, they make a good team and make present songs even better than the originals. Thumbs-up!

Facebook launched new layout, again?

I am sure most of us are astonished by the changes on our beloved Facebook pages that took place on Sunday night. I am a regular Facebooker who barely keep up with any new features on my Facebook site. However, we all know that with this new amendment there will sure to be controversy.

The changes on Facebook this time is whole lot subtler then the last redesign. I was entirely pissed off by the previous changes that Facebook made to my page.

According to slate.com, 94% of one million users voted against that design. Still, we endured it for almost 19 months.

This time, all updates (new messages, requests and notifications) plus the search bar are moved to the top-left hand side of the page. It is said that these features are now located at a more “prominent” position.

Nonetheless, I find that the switching side of the “Home,” “Profile,” and “Account” links to the right has created some discomfort for the mouse. Well, we will be able to deal with it.

The new Facebook now shows you which of your friends are online automatically. This new feature is located at the left navigation bar. I would say we have been waiting for this long enough. Good job, Facebook. I can now see who is appeared online and simply removed the hassle of clicking the chat tool at the bottom right side of the page.

The new redesign has also included the links and applications that you’ve bookmarked immediately under the core features – News feed, events, photos and friends list. Each of them has a pretty looking dashboard. Since I am not a big fan of Facebook games or applications, this doesn’t bother me much.

The reminder for events and friends’ birthdays remain at the lower right navigation bar. And the chat box still sit at the same place. I suppose we would love to see something new at our chat box.

Yet, this new layout still hasn’t done away with the noisy homepage. I am especially headache and lost when I see irrelevant updates early in the morning. The new “Top News” and “Most Recent” are not of much help.

Logging out is also another troublesome tasking since we now have to sign out under the account menu, a thumb-down to that.

Overall, the new revamp has not created a big wave out of all Facebookers, which is, in a sense, a good thing. At least for this time round the changes are not too drastic and obstructive. I think the Facebook team must have been very careful when they were drawing this new layout. After the hoo-haas in 2008, I believe they have learnt a lesson.

Nevertheless, no matter what happens to Facebook in the future, I presume it will still be our much-loved social networking media as it has always been.

Columnist

University Chronicle

Edge of darkness-average?

Mel Gibson? Did u miss him? Well not many people did after his controversial commnets  in his arrest for being drunk. He called a female police officer "sugar tits" and mentioned that "jews are responsible for all the wars". Now what happened and why? I do not give a fuck. I like mel> He has made awesome movies. "lethal weapon", "braveheart", "Mad max", "the patriot", "payback" and a whole lotta

Did you just mentioned "Weekend?"

Boy it's Saturday! It's so relieving seeing an empty, well, almost empty schedule on my planner. Can't believe a week of classes plus work just passed in blink.

I am looking forward to spring break. I believe the InterVasity mission trip to Arizona will be a good one. It is 30 days from now and Miles is heading the planning committee on his own, salute him. I look forward to serving the household in White Mountain Apache Indian Reservation in Cibecue. I look forward to meeting especially the children there.

Well, what's gonna happen today is basically the drum practice (we are going to the high school in Minneapolis to perform this coming Friday!) and TH 148 Class theatre going assignment - watching the Romeo and Juliet play at Paramount Theatre this evening.

Also, 3 things that I have to deal with the Govt. by the end of this month:

1. Submit Social Security Number (SSN) application form.
2. Submit Tax-return Filing form.
3. Get my Minn. Driver's License!

As for Sunday, church will be having the annual Super Bowl party, looking forward to more fun time together.

Okie-dookie. That's all the reporting from me. Like it or not, it's my life!

Hellbilly Deluxe 2: we all know how we are going to die baby, we re gonna crash and burn..

At last..after so many years as proper Rob Zombie fan i was so so so excited to hear what this looney had on his head in terms of music. After establishing a successfull carreer in Hollywood with the cult masterpiece "The devil's rejects" and the visionary images of "Halloween",, it was time for mr Sheri Moon Zombie to return to his roots.
Quite a few people were disappointed by the musical

Bernard Bear Cartoons Animations

Bernard Bear Cartoons Animations

The masculine given name Bernard has a German origin, but was early adopted in France also. The meaning of the name is from an Old German compound meaning "bear-hardy", or "brave as a bear". St Bernard of Menthon is the patron saint of mountaineers after whom the St Bernard dog used in mountain rescue work is named. It is very uncommonly used for German children[citation needed], and other languages have variants. The feminine given name from the same cognate is Bernadine. Nicknames include Barney (masculine), Bernie (unisex), and Bern (masculine). Bernard is also a common surname.

Flintstones Cartoons Animations Series

Flintstones Cartoons Animations Series

The Flintstones is an animated American television sitcom that ran from 1960 to 1966 on ABC. Produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions (H-B) and celebrating 50 years on the air in 2010, The Flintstones is about a working class Stone Age man's life with his family and his next door neighbor and best friend.

It has since been re-released on both DVD and VHS. This show played like a prehistoric Honeymooners and its popularity rested heavily on its juxtaposition of modern-day concerns in the Stone Age setting.

Tom and Jerry Cartoons Series Animation

Tom and Jerry Cartoons Series Animation

Tom and Jerry is a series of animated theatrical shorts created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer that centered on a never-ending rivalry between a housecat (Tom) and a mouse (Jerry) whose chases and battles often involved comic violence. Hanna and Barbera ultimately wrote and directed one hundred and fourteen Tom and Jerry cartoons at the MGM cartoon studio in Hollywood, California between 1940 and 1959, when the animation unit was closed. The original series is notable for having won the Academy Awards for Best Short Subject (Cartoons) seven times, tying it with Walt Disney's Silly Symphonies as the theatrical animated series with the most Oscars. In 2000 TIME named the series one of the greatest television shows of all time. Beginning in 1960, in addition to the originals MGM had new shorts produced by Rembrandt Films, led by Gene Deitch in Eastern Europe. Production of Tom and Jerry shorts returned to Hollywood under Chuck Jones's Sib-Tower 12 Productions in 1963; this series lasted until 1967, making it a total of 161 shorts. The cat and mouse stars later resurfaced in television cartoons produced by Hanna-Barbera and Filmation Studios during the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, a feature film, Tom and Jerry: The Movie, in 1992 and released domestically in 1993 and in 2000, their first made-for TV short, Tom and Jerry: The Mansion Cat for Cartoon Network. The most recent Tom and Jerry theatrical short, The Karate Guard, was written and co-directed by co-creator Joe Barbera and debuted in Los Angeles cinemas on September 27, 2005.

Today, Time Warner (via its Turner Entertainment division) owns the rights to Tom and Jerry (with Warner Bros. handling distribution). Since the merger, Turner has produced the series, Tom and Jerry Tales for The CW's Saturday morning "The CW4Kids" lineup, as well as the recent Tom and Jerry short, The Karate Guard, in 2005 and a string of Tom and Jerry direct-to-video films - all in collaboration with Warner Bros. Animation.

Killer Week

Feeling kind of frustrated today because I have not received replies on the emails that I've sent out, requesting for interviews. I hate waiting for emails, I am pretty sure on that.

Nonetheless, I am glad that the whole CA selection process is finally over. It was quite tiring during the workshops that are held in the evenings of Tuesdays and Thursdays for the last two weeks. The interview was today and I think it went quite well for me. It was a relaxing one, instead of a normally tensed environment. I will be notified by February the twelfth whether or not I will be hired as an CA for the next semester.

Looking at my fully packed schedules, I am wondering if I could split myself into many selves. So many things that I want to- and need to do at once. Covering news, attending appointments, interviewing professionals, writing assignments, reading materials, going to classes, attending fellowship meetings, not forgetting - feeding myself.

Snow falls somedays and in the other, the temperature rises. It is kinda hard to determine what "kind" of day it would be. Lovely, or ugly.

As I was tearing down the monthly calendar page of January, I'm attracted to the quote that is stated at the back of it.

Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly.

I find it true. Let's fly, enjoy every moment, for none of them are reversible in life. Good luck surviving through the killer week!

Tales of Monkey Island Cartoon Games Series

Tales of Monkey Island Cartoon Games Series

Tales of Monkey Island is a graphic adventure video game developed by Telltale Games in collaboration with LucasArts. The game is the fifth entry in the Monkey Island series, nearly a decade after the previous installment. Developed for Windows and the Wii console, the game was initially distributed online through Telltale's own website and WiiWare, with later releases through Steam and Amazon.com. Tales of Monkey Island was produced as an episodic game, split into five parts released approximately monthly from July to December 2009. In contrast to Telltale's previous episodic adventure games, each chapter forms part of an ongoing narrative as opposed to individual stories. The game was announced in June 2009 alongside LucasArts' enhanced remake of the 1990 title The Secret of Monkey Island; LucasArts oversaw production of the game, assisting in areas such as art direction.

Development of the game was led by Dave Grossman, who co-designed the original two games of the series, with Michael Stemmle contributing to writing and design. Ron Gilbert, the creator of the franchise, was involved in the planning of the project. The game's music was composed by Michael Land, while the core cast of The Curse of Monkey Island reprise their voice acting roles. Tales of Monkey Island puts players in the role of Guybrush Threepwood, a pirate whose latest attempt to destroy his nemesis, the undead pirate LeChuck, results in the release of a voodoo pox across the Gulf of Melange. With the assistance of his wife, Elaine Marley–Threepwood, Guybrush must now seek out a voodoo artifact to cure the pox.

Ipin And Upin Cartoon Funny Series

Ipin And Upin Cartoon Funny Series

Upin & Ipin
Genre Animation
Designer Les' Copaque Productions Sdn Bhd
Director Mohd Nizam bin Abd Razak
Voiced Nur Fathiah Diaz
Ezdiani Noor bt. Ahmad Fauwzi
Hjh. Aenon Bt. Ariff
Ida Rahayu bt Yusoff
Music theme maker Yuri Wong
State Flag of Malaysia.svg Malaysia
Language Bahasa Malaysia
The number of season 3
Number of episodes 50
Production
Producer bin Haji Burhanuddin Md Radzi
Hajjah Aenon bint Arifi
Running time 5 minutes per episode