advertorial

sixthseal.com presents: A New, New Hope

by

….a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away.

jedi 1

Two Sith Lords decide to mount an operation to kidnap the beautiful Princess Teya, who has been traveling throughout the Imperial galaxy, sowing seeds of discord with her preposterous speeches with absurd ideas about freedom and democracy. Unfortunately, only one managed to infiltrate the Jedi Academy where the princess was speaking. The other one lost his way coz he couldn’t find SMK Jedi on Google Maps. However, Princess Teya was tougher than she looks and a showdown ensued… 

jedi 2

It was ugly. Light sabers were rendered useless by a glitch in The Matrix and they had to fight…with broomsticks and mops. Hey, it’s my movie and I can write the storyline however I want. :p 

chipster promo

Chipster is running the Chipster Superstar Contest where you use their online contest engine to make a movie. The winner will get the opportunity to appear on national TV! 

jedi 3

OMG! Appearing on TV3? Bayang pun tak nampak, I rushed out to the nearest Giant and immediately got a pack of Chipster. You need to get the Chipster Promo Pack to get the unique code for submitting your video. 

chipster

I must have accidentally eaten the unique code in the first pack that I got in my haste to eat all the potato chips to find the piece of cardboard. You know how it goes, once you start, you can’t really stop. I had to make a second trip to buy another pack of Chipster, which is all good, coz crisps is a bit like nuts. You just can’t stop with one. 

sachet

Anyway, this time I was super careful and managed to find the promo code. It looks like the photo above – it’s sealed inside a paper sachet (it’s not powdered flavor so don’t eat it). I’ve already made my movie (it’s real easy, I’ll explain later) so I just entered my unique code and wallah – it’s done!

The online contest engine allows you to easily produce your own movie. To enter the Chipster Superstar Contest, just do the following:

1. Upload pictures of yourself and your friends to be actors in any of the Chipster Superstar movies.

2. Create your own movie (it’s really easy – you can adjust the faces of the people you upload and just add captions to any of the movies inside for your own customized version) and submit with the unique code that can only be found in your bag of Chipster with a “Chipster Superstar Contest” strip attached to it. 

code

The contest runs from 13th April 2009 to 8th June 2009 and you can create up to 5 movies using the pre-recorded movies in there. Submit your movie during this time period and you’ll be in the running for the prizes. It’s fantabulously fun!

The prizes are:

Grand Prize X 1
MacBook Air + Winner will be featured in the finale movie on TV3
1st Prize X 3
iPod Touch + Winner will be featured in the finale movie on TV3
Consolation Prize X 16
iPod Nano

Get your friends to vote for your movie as the best from the 9th – 19th of July 2009.

Check out my video masterpiece – SMK Jedi Hijinks. Can I haz a vote? 🙂

Yearning for your shot at fame? Here’s your chance! Go to Chipster and start putting together your video now! 

jedi 4

14:59 – tick tock, tick tock. 😉

The Quest for the McValue Lunch

by

lunch

Lunch has always been a particularly bothersome time – there are not a lot of food outlets near my office so it’s either the mamak (which tends to slaughter me, running up a bill in excess of RM 10 is not uncommon if I eat nasi kandar) or the Chinese shops (very crowded, and the food isn’t exactly cheap either).

Thus, there is always a constant debate over where to go for lunch. I don’t take the heat very well so I always vote against the Chinese shops. We usually end up eating at some quiet café – the average amount I spend on lunch is about RM 10-14. One fine day, I heard some of my co-workers ordering McDonald’s for lunch – that was the first I’ve heard of the McValue Lunch. It starts from just RM 5.95! 

enter

I was traumatized. I used to review McDonald’s stuff and was the first to know about their latest and greatest, from their Crispy Prawn Burger to their Salads Plus menu in Australia. I even ate McDonald’s in Thailand just coz I was passionate about trying everything on their menu! I was appalled that I wasn’t the first to know about the McValue Lunch and was determined to undo this affront to my pride. 

mcvalue_4

Thus, I checked McDonald’s FaceBook diligently and am proud to report that I was one of the first to find out about the new McValue Lunch menu. They now have the Big Mac (RM 7.95) and the Spicy Chicken McDeluxe (RM 7.95) in addition to their existing RM 5.95 McValue Lunch portfolio – McChicken and Filet-O-Fish. 

time

The best thing about the McValue Lunch? It’s available from 12 pm – 3 pm every single day. Check out the clock at this outlet. It’s even available on the weekends. Monday to Sunday, they’ve got it covered. You don’t even have to go there personally – the McValue Lunch is valid for Dine-in, Drive-Thru and even McDelivery with no minimum order. Best, kan? 

mcvalue

…and with our lunch problems sorted, we proceeded to dine in air-conditioned comfort at a very, very reasonable price. It’s cheaper than the places we usually hit for lunch and it’s just 5 minutes away from where I work. I went for the Spicy Chicken McDeluxe coz eating a Big Mac is very likely to induce a post-lunch coma.

spicy 

It came up to just RM 8.35 inclusive of tax. I can honestly say that it’s one of the best deals for lunch in town… 

me

…and to top it off, McDonald’s is running a blogger contest in conjunction with the McValue Lunch. The contest tagline is “Have you McValue LUNCH-ed this week?” and you’ll need to squeeze the grey matter to produce some creative juice for your post. Just write about your experience with the McValue Lunch and post photos or create a video from 27th April to 31st May 2009 to stand a chance to win the Apple iPhone 3G complete with a 6-month contract with Maxis!

This is my submission – I think I scared the customers (and the staff gave me disapproving looks) when I waltzed into the outlet shouting (screaming?) a greeting in Japanese and ordering before I even got to the counter. I must have looked somewhat deranged. 😉tagline_logo

Well, have you?

Rise as knights!

by

start

I’ve always been very accident prone. I have run down a pedestrian, crashed into various static road signs, and recently drove my car into a ditch. The repairs on the car alone set me back more than 1k due to the messed up suspension, shock absorbers and miscellaneous stuff down under. Thus, I was left car-less for about three days while it was at the workshop.

go

Thanks to Roslina, I was given the new Proton Satria Neo CPS to commute to work while my car was in the workshop. One interesting anecdote about the origin of the word Satria – it’s Sanskrit for knight. Be without fear in the face of your enemies. Safeguard the helpless. Never lie, even if it leads to your death; that is your oath. :p

keys

I had the Proton Satria Neo CPS on loan until my car got out of the workshop – my eternal gratitude to Roslina and Proton for providing me with a backup car…especially given my less-than-stellar (dubious?) driving safety record. 😉

roslina

Heck, I was surprised Roslina even agreed to lend me the car since she reads my blog and probably have witnessed the multiple accidents I have gotten into. Heh! Well, thankfully, I did not crash the car or give it so much as a scratch, and thus, to show my appreciation for her kind gesture, I shall write about my experience with the Proton Satria Neo CPS.

driving

I drive a Toyota Vios 1.5G which I purchased in late 2006. I chose Toyota for just one primary reason – it’s a family tradition. My dad used to drive a Toyota Corolla before he switched to a Lexus (which is also under Toyota) and my mom drives a Toyota as well. My sister in NZ also drives a Toyota – she owns a Toyota Celica (but then again she’s a cardiologist so she can afford it). Thus, I got a Toyota as well, just not to depart from our family tradition.

satria

There are a lot of people who has misconceptions about our fine local automobile industry. Build quality and performance are some of the most common gripes.

back

I have been doing some research on the topic and found some very interesting facts. The Proton Saga is based on the exact same engine as the Mitsubishi Lancer and Proton has grown by leaps and bounds since then. The acquisition of Lotus (say what you will, but it definitely helped in the aesthetic department of the cars) is another feather in the cap of Proton.

interior

Proton had this huge banner at a prime location on Elizabeth Street in Melbourne when I was doing my university there. I overheard an Aussie couple commenting on it. The conversation was pretty funny – they were debating whether it’s a German or European car manufacturer. I was just beside them, waiting for the pedestrian crossing to turn green and I told them (with no small amount of pride, I must admit) that it’s a MALAYSIAN brand. 🙂

rims

The Proton Satria Neo CPS looks good – check out the aggressive front grill, the spoiler at the back and the awesome rims. I love the nifty emergency brake, the canggih window winder below the stick shift, and the two-door design. It’s built for speed…and the volume controls on the steering wheel would get you out of a lot of vehicular mishaps too. 😉

montage 1

My fellow coworker (who parks beside me) commented on the aesthetics of the car – his exact words were “Nice car!”.

montage 2

Unfortunately, I had to reply “It’s not mine”. 🙁

compare

The Proton Satria Neo CPS was launched on February 2009 to replace the top H-line version of the Proton Satria Neo. It has been given a facelift – the aggressive body kit looks much better than the previous versions. Check out the side by side comparison with the old Proton Satria Neo (the new one is on the left at my condo parking lot) – it just so happens that my neighbor drives the older version of the Proton Satria Neo.

jam

The changes for the Proton Satria Neo CPS are not merely cosmetic – it also features a 1.6 liter Campro CPS engine with 125 bhp and 150 Nm of torque. It is zhng-ified for a more aggressive driving style (suits me just fine ;)) – the CPS mechanism in the Proton Satria Neo CPS switches to high cam at 4,400 rpm compared to 3,800 rpm as in the other CPS-equipped models such as the Proton Waja and Proton Gen-2.

debz

I took Deb out for a mamak session the night I got the car.

night

It was fun, she lives about 10 minutes away and I kinda abducted her and forced her to take a video of me test driving the car. LOL!

This is the nighttime driving video on the LDP.

Check out my speed test of the car too – managed to get it up to a decent velocity in a short time, thanks to the excellent acceleration.

tzia

The next day, I met up with Tzia at Kelana Jaya LRT for lunch.

lunch

I managed to drive from SS6 (where I work) to Kelana Jaya LRT, had lunch, and drove back again in less than 45 minutes.

I wanted a daylight video as well as a night video for the test drive of the car and I am pleased to report that any car that can get me to lunch and back within an hour gets the thumbs up from me. 😉

tzia me

The Proton Satria Neo CPS is a dream to drive. It goes up to 160 kmph on 4th gear before redlining and I managed to push it up to 170 kmph on the 5th gear. I probably shouldn’t say this, Roslina will kill me if she knew I was driving that fast. 😉

open

Oh well, in my defense, it was on the PLUS highway and I got very, very lost on Saturday morning while returning the car. I spent over 3 hours (!) on the road and pumped petrol 3 times, but the silver lining about the fiasco is that I managed to give the Proton Satria Neo CPS a proper test drive.

showroom 

Everyone at arms…or is capable of bearing: Kneel! On your knees! Be without fear in the face of your enemies. Safeguard the helpless. Never lie, even if it leads to your death; that is your oath. Rise a knight…rise as knights! Thanks Roslina, for letting me loan the car while my car is in the workshop!

gas

…and like a good citizen, I filled it up with gas before returning it. 😉

Sheeple

by

sheeple

Sheeple is a concatenation of the words “sheep” and “people”. It’s used derogatorily to describe people who follow without questioning. Are you a person or are you sheeple? Do you lead, or do you follow? Are you a trendsetter or a trend follower?

customize

I always do my own thing coz I don’t like following. I would rather get lost leading than follow blindly. Lao-tzu once said “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step“. I am no guru (Pitka), but I am here to help you take that first step to reclaim your identity and find your true self…

montage

…by showing you how I snack on Corntoz. 😉

It requires one (1) Ramly burger, one (1) 60g pack of Corntoz and a lot of tissues (coz eating Ramly burgers is messy business). This heretical act to the great Malaysian institution of Ramly burger might be frowned upon by the orthodox community, but hey, who cares? 😉

express

The Corntoz Express Yourself campaign is giving you the opportunity to share with the world how you snack on Corntoz in your own unique way. It may be ugly, but hey, it’s who you are!

corntoz mini

Joining the contest is fun and easy. It’s also your ticket to the two tempting T’s – Fame and Fortune! Got your attention? Good. I shall break it down to two simple steps:

1. Get a pack of Corntoz 60g from any hypermarket or convenience store.
2. Go to www.corntoz.com.my and record/upload your own video of how you snack on Corntoz.

webcam

You can record your own video right on the website if you have a webcam – it auto detects your gear and you can even add layers and other fun stuff to your video to pimp it up. You can also opt to upload it to YouTube and submit it on the Corntoz website.

upload

The top video will snag the grand prize of RM 8,000 and your homemade video will also be aired on nationwide television (!). The second prize will bag RM 5,000 and the third prize walks away with a cool RM 2,000. Not too shabby eh?

Also, check out the celebrity videos on the Corntoz site:

Jaclyn Victor – Malaysian Idol winner (First Season)
Faizal Tahir – Runner up of One in a Million and a famous singer in his own right
Stacy – Akademi Fantasia Season 6 winner
Nabil – Raja Lawak Astro Season 2
Ajieb – Host on Murai, Editor of Murai
Huai Bin – Blogger on sixthseal.com
(I’m kidding about the last one, but my video is inside :p)

You like snacking on Corntoz while reading a good book in the toilet? Hey, no problem. I’ve got nothing against enhancing the flavor of Corntoz with some olfactory stimulation. Just remember to flush after you’re done.

plethora

There’s a plethora of snacks on the supermarket shelves vying for your attention, but only one gives you the Golden Ticket to fame and fortune!

The Corntoz Express Yourself campaign gives you artistic liberty – just be yourself and eat Corntoz the way you enjoy it. Be you and nothing else. Express yourself in the way that only you can. I’m particularly interested in getting my video aired on national TV so I made several videos. Check out the Corntoz website to participate.

Just get your entries in before 30th June 2009.

You are a unique and beautiful snowflake. Don’t follow the crowd, let the crowd follow you! 🙂

Boss! Secondhand Rolex, mahu?

by

rolex

I have been loitering around various places during my lunch hour, dodging security and soliciting strangers in an attempt to sell off my Rolex (looks like the one here for your reference: https://www.luxewatches.co.uk/brand/rolex/). It’s harder than it sounds, most people look at me with a mixture of apprehension and disdain when I approach them. It wasn’t a very successful experiment. People are very skeptical when selling in this kind of an environment, if you know what you are doing and have read a guide to the Rolex Daytona or any other watch for the matter, then you will have more confidence when buying from sketchy dudes like me in that situation.

…perhaps a lot of it had to do with the fact that I accidentally let slip about the Rolex being stolen goods while attempting to hock it to a couple of women walking out of their office. My friend was there to film me coz I bet I could sell it (the watch is hers) and my less-than-successful attempts cracked her up.

There’s gotta be a better way to go about this. I mean seriously, who does this anymore in the Internet generation? I want an easier way to sell stuff I don’t need – easy being the keyword here. I’m not going to stand around looking dodgy and approach random people. There’s got to be an easier way.

Mudah is the BM word for easy. I’m a bit low on cash so I tried to…er, make my services available on this online marketplace. I advertised under Services – 27 year old for sale, reasonably sane, overseas educated, available for the low, low price of RM 20,000 a night.

It didn’t get listed. 🙁

I’m not giving up though. I have a lot of stuff lying around at home that I can sell on Mudah.my to help tide me through the month. I’m testing what does and does not contravene their Terms & Conditions to maximize the wares I can sell. 🙂

breakfast

I have a slanting breakfast bar which requires a plastic container to prop it up to a reasonable angle. I’m willing to let it go for RM 300. Installation and dismantling charges not included. I’ll throw in the garbage bags for free if you come and pick it up yourself.

ck

This is a bottle of CK Eternity purchased in 1997. I’m serious. It has undergone an aging process for more than a decade and I’ve barely used it. I’ll let it go for RM 400. My rationale for the higher price is that alcohol is more expensive when it’s been aged. Eau de toilette has alcohol. 🙂

dslr

All kidding aside, I got a call from Sony Malaysia telling me that I’ve won a TV. I’m serious. I bought a Sony alpha 350 dSLR earlier this year and the people at Sony Style filled up a contest form for me with proof of purchase. Well, I was informed that I won a Sony TV from that contest and I’ll have to pick it up from Sony Style. I don’t need a TV but I need the cash so I’m going to list that on Mudah.my as soon as I pick it up. No, I’m not selling my dSLR. :p

mudah

You can conveniently buy and sell on Mudah.my anytime, anywhere. Property, cars, cell phones, computers, and more can be found listed on the site. It’s a Malaysian online marketplace too so you don’t have to worry about customs and expensive postal charges. The possibilities are endless!

It’s particularly useful for those of us who works long hours. I can buy stuff and get it delivered right to the office.

giving

The convenience of getting gifts for your loved ones online nullifies the effort and time required to go browsing about traditional brick and mortar establishments. Mudah.my facilitates this – I can order a gift online, get the seller to deliver it to my office and pass it right after work.

cacing

It didn’t go down too well though. Perhaps cacing merah (red worms) wasn’t the best choice. I just thought it would be useful for fishing. *shrugs*

vios

The Toyota Vios 1.5G was a hit though. Spoil your loved ones (or yourself) by browsing through the “marketplace of Malaysia” and pick an item at rock bottom prices.

Mudah.my – the possibilities are endless! 🙂

The Real Slim Shandy

by

anglia shandy

I remember Anglia Shandy as my very first “adult” drink. I used to watch with no small amount of envy at my older cousins drinking beer and eating peanuts during our large extended family reunions. This was back when my paternal grandfather was still six feet instead of six feet under.  😉

My dad never allowed me to partake in the amber fluid although he conceded a can of the distinctive Anglia Shandy one fine day. I was ecstatic! I can finally sit down with my cousins and uncles and drink an “adult drink” while eating peanuts.

I have a secret though…

I never liked peanuts. I still don’t.

anglia

However, I loved Anglia Shandy. It wasn’t bitter to my virgin taste buds due to the lemonade mixture and the ultra low alcohol content. I can still remember with fond nostalgia the day I became a man (at least in my youthful mind).

I also remember reasoning with my dad the following year that drinking beer (5%) and Anglia Shandy (less than 1%) is similar. I wanted to drink real beer with my cousins. The logic I offered was that drinking 1/5 of a can of beer real slow is equivalent to a can of shandy. I picked up that a shandy is a combination of beer and lemonade from the can and put forth my argument, but that’s a story for another day.

anglia apple

I’ve grown to prefer the taste of malt and hops in regular beer but just like how you never forget your first love, I’ve never forgotten about Anglia Shandy. I heard they came out with a new flavor, which I have yet to check out so I went to the nearest 7Eleven and got a couple of cans of my rite-of-passage drink.

foam

I wanted to get reacquainted with my first taste of the original Anglia Shandy before that though. It was just as I remembered it. It foams with a head like beer but it’s refreshing like lemonade.

The new Anglia Apple is infused with a hint of apple to give this classic drink a twist. I like the taste, and the nifty new packaging wouldn’t look out of place in Shinjuku.

(cue segue)

website

Anglia is having a tie-in with The Shinjuku Incident starring Jackie Chan and Daniel Wu. The movie is set for a special premiere on the 1st of April. Anglia is also offering you (yes, you, quit staring at the guy behind) a chance to win movie passes, premiere tickets and up-close-and-personal invites to meet Jackie Chan and Daniel Wu!

No, this is not an April Fool’s joke!

There is a game on the Anglia site called Escape the Yakuza (the Japanese Mafia, for the uninitiated). You need to cabut from the well-dressed and suited up thugs with missing pinky fingers and generally avoid capture. Oh, and you need to dodge projectiles and weapons thrown by the good people who follow the Bushido code too.

beat

The longer you outrun the Yakuza, the more points you will accumulate. Jackie Chan will open up a can of whoop ass if the obstacles slow you down. You need to watch out for the Anglia Love icon too. Jump up and grab it to gain additional points. The player with the highest point wins!

It’s quite easy really, but I’ll give you some pointless pointers anyway coz I love doing that. 😉

good

Good

bad

Bad

scores

You need to score higher than these people to win.

Prizes:

Top 10 Winners
Each winner gets 5x premier tickets + 2x up close and personal passes to meet the cast (!).

50 Consolation Winners
2x movie passes

If you’re a fan of Jackie Chan or Daniel Wu (or both) I bet you’ll be interested in the up-close-and-personal “Meet the Cast” pass, so get your gaming gloves on and snag the Grand Prize! This is for the PRIVATE session where only winners can attend.

If you did not win, fear not, there is also a public “Meet the Fans” session where you get the chance to see the cast live on the 31st of March 2009. It’s going to be held at Pavilion KL (Bukit Bintang entrance) at 7 pm so be there or be square (or oval)!

drink work

On a separate (foot)note, you can’t actually drink beer or even the classic Anglia Shandy (due to the distinctive color) at work. However, the new Anglia Apple is a whole different shade (pardon the pun) altogether. It’s relatively new so no one knows you’re partaking in the office…

…er, until now that is.

Oh well, if you get fired, you’ll have more time to concentrate on winning the game. Surf over to the Anglia website to play. 🙂

Who’s going to Sunburst KL09?

by

korn_2009

Who’s going to Sunburst? I’m particularly interested in this music festival coz Korn is headlining it. I’ve always been a big fan of Korn and the first ever korncert (pardon the pun) I went to was their show in Christchurch, New Zealand when I was 15. I was in the mosh pit. It was awesome – they had gigantic replica blow up genitalia hanging from the ceiling and the crowd was super energetic. I love their music, even though they kinda fit the term “sell-out” after the second album.

…but that’s digressing. I still love them (don’t know why, it’s just like how I still love Green Day and Offspring – they’re the bands I grew up with).

office

We’re very passionate about music in the office – we even have a resident DJ (who’s actually a designer) playing music all day long. Naturally, all of us at the office are looking forward to Sunburst KL09 – we have a couple of Korn fans (literally a couple, there are only two Korn fans in the office, I’m sad to report), a legion of Erykah Badu admirers and a sprinkling of people into the local music scene. I guess that says a lot about the demographics of our office…mainstream. 🙂

Sunburst KL09 is the annual music festival held on the grounds of Bukit Kiara Equestrian Club with the biggest names in international music playing alongside regional and local talent. It’s a source of great discussion at my workplace (usually centered on whether Korn is coming). It’s also home to the iconic Sun and Sky stage:

fest

The Sun and Sky stage will be the main platforms though there are 6 different stages in total. This one day 12-hour music festival features names like Korn (I like!), Erykah Badu, Skye, and Butterfingers. There is also a beer garden, so you won’t have to worry about liquid refreshment. 😉

I’ve gotten myself a ticket to Sunburst KL09 early on but relinquished it to a coworker coz I’m kinda broke this month. I’ve been saving up for the tickets when I saw the U.O.X. Sunburst promotion. There are a lot of people under 25 in my office and some of them are U.O.X. members so I persuaded one of my coworkers to join and pass me one of the tickets if she wins.

It’s just two simple steps to win 2 FREE tickets worth RM 203 each if you’re a U.O.X. member:

1. Type REGFREETIX and send to 28881
2. Upon receiving confirmation via SMS, just reload RM 30 before 17 March 2009 for a chance to win

MeTV is also running a promotion where you can win a pair of exclusive Meet & Greet passes plus 2 FREE tickets worth RM 203 each.

I like the idea of submitting fan videos so I decided to shoot a video using one of Korn’s tracks. Plus, I figured joining both would increase my chances of winning. 😉

Here’s what you need to do:

1. Record your best “I want to be at Sunburst KL09” video or picture.
2. Send your video or picture via MMS to 26388

Meanwhile, if you want to watch, rate & download Sunburst videos on MeTV:

Step 1: Log on to http://wap.channelx.com.my from your mobile
Step 2: Go to Fun Stuff and select MeTV
Step 3: Click on the Sunburst category.
Step 4: Watch, rate (my video) or download any of the listed videos.

masthead

This is my interpretation of Korn’s a.d.i.d.a.s. – the video took a rather long time to shoot due to some of the cast not being able to make it on a weekend night. I like how it turned out though – it’s remarkably similar to my vision despite having to make some last minute changes to the script.

My Sunburst submission is a departure from my recent videos and a return to the old sixthseal.com videos – dark, gritty, and realistic. I feel it kinda gels with the mood in the first and second album Korn produced. I wanted to pay homage to my favorite band and do something extra for the MeTV Sunburst promotion.

bored

I really hope I win. *fingers crossed* I want to go to Sunburst KL09! Just look at my mundane and boring existence in the video! It’s all work, surfing the net at home, and casual se…er, searching for meaning in life. 😉 I need to get out more.

…more than anything, I want to win the Meet & Greet passes to see Korn! =D

The need for speed

by

I’ve always wondered how fast I can push my car. I know it can go above 170 km/h on the PLUS highway but how do I get it to leave a trail of fire?

flaming

The short answer is, in the real world that is scientifically improbable. I use the word improbable coz I don’t want to look back at the sixthseal.com archives 20 years later and kick myself when they invent really fast cars which can actually leave a blazing trail behind. 😉

flames

Thus, I tried unorthodox methods of making a “blazing fast” car. Turpentine doesn’t burn, gasoline burns with a yellow flame and so does kerosene. I want a hot blue flame that doesn’t extinguish easily, so after much experimentation (much to the chagrin of the hardware shop, as I was using his premises to do the burn tests) I settled on methanol spirits.

pyros

Thus armed, I enlisted two of my friends and went to a secluded back alley near my condo – one was the driver, one was the spotter (to stop cars from driving into the flaming mess) cum camera(wo)man and I was the videographer. I used two bottles of methanol spirits to create a “trail of flame” effect behind the car and created this video in all of its unedited glory:

Okay, the video is an epic FAIL. Teng Loo wasn’t familiar with my car and she didn’t manage to put it in gear when I shouted GO! However, the effect is rather nice.

making

It got me thinking though, why would I go through all that trouble, risking arrest when I can just boost up my car performance the proper way? I could have just gotten some Castrol EDGE Sport engine oil.

While it won’t make your car leave a blazing trail of fire – it will boost your engine performance. The Castrol EDGE Sport is a race proven oil to give you that extra EDGE (no pun intended) in power and performance and protects your engine to boot!

castrol

Castrol is running an online contest called the Castrol EDGE Sport Speed Challenge that I thought is pretty original. Four teams are pitted against each other to see which group can change engine oil the fastest. The four vastly different teams are:

1. Hot Chics
2. The Geeks
3. Sweet Young Things
4. The Pros

One video will be released each week over a four-week period and you get to guess the time used by the four groups to change the engine oil. The person who enters the closest time to the actual time used by the group will be the winner. Guess & Win!

There will be one weekly winner and a grand prize winner for the Castrol EDGE Sport Speed Challenge.

Exclusive for bloggers:

Bloggers won’t miss out on this coz Castrol is kind enough to run another concurrent contest, especially for you! Exclusively for bloggers, the Blog & Win contest requires you to blog about and embed the video of the Castrol EDGE Sport Speed Challenge contest in your blog.

You can get the videos from the Castrol website. Give it your best shot! The six (6) most creative posts will win!

Win what, says you? Okay, here are the prizes for the Castrol EDGE Sport Speed Challenge contest:

GRAND PRIZE
1 unit Sony Bravia 37″ LCD TV
User with the closest overall answers for total 4 weeks.

2nd PRIZE
1 unit Sony PS3
User with the 3nd closest overall answers for total 4 weeks.
 
3rd PRIZE
1 unit iPod Touch 8GB
User with the 3nd closest overall answers for total 4 weeks.
 
5 X CONSOLATION PRIZES
1 unit WALKMAN(r) MP3 Player
 
4 X Weekly Prizes for Guess & Win
1 unit WALKMAN(r) MP3 Player
Users with the first accurate or closest answer for weekly videos.
 
6 X Prizes for Blog & Win
1 unit WALKMAN(r) MP3 Player
For bloggers who write the most creative post about the Castrol EDGE Speed Challenge.
 
Plus exclusive Castrol premiums for all winners!
1 unit WRC Car Model
1 unit Castrol EDGE Sport Umbrella
1 unit Castrol EDGE Sport T-shirt

Do watch the videos on the Castrol site – it’s much better than my FAIL attempt. 😉

go

You feel the need for speed?

Please don’t stop the music

by

intro

I’ve always been a big fan of the song, not leaving the club until it plays at least twice. I also like Umbrella, the track that introduced me to Rihanna’s music. Rihanna has this knack of churning out songs that you can’t seem to get out of your head. It’s excellent club music but also brilliant for prancing around cross-dressed with an umbrella in the hotel lobby in.

Like this:

lobby

Unless you’ve been hiding in a cave for the past few weeks, you’ll know that Rihanna is coming to Malaysia. Yes, the R&B star will be performing February 13th at Sadium Putra in Bukit Jalil. No, that’s not her in the picture above, that would be me, but thank you for the kind comments.

People (well “normal people” anyway) don’t cross-dress and take incriminating…er, I mean creative videos of themselves without a very good reason. I’ll give you a great reason:

MeTV is having a Rihanna contest where you record and upload videos of yourself being a Rihanna fan to win prizes, which includes meeting Rihanna in person!

rihanna-lunch

You’ll get the chance to see her doing every day things, like…er, eating Freedom Fries. The Grand Winner will get the full Monty – VVIP passes, meeting and sending Rihanna off at KLIA, invites to the post-party and more! Get more details at Unleash the Rihanna in U with MeTV.

Here’s what you need to do:

1. Record your best Rihanna video from your mobile.
2. Send your video via MMS to 26388 with RIHANNA typed in your message or subject box

Simple, right?

Meanwhile, if you want to watch, rate & download videos on MeTV from your mobile:

Step 1 : Log on to http://wap.channelx.com.my (from your mobile)
Step 2 : Go to Fun Stuff and select MeTV
Step 3 : Click on the Rihanna category.
Step 4 : Watch, rate (my video) or download any of the listed videos.

Check out the video I did – it’s a very liberal interpretation of Rihanna’s Umbrella. I managed to secure an umbrella from the hotel staff and wore a purple dress inside the hotel lobby while prancing around with an umbrella.

making

I think the only reason I wasn’t kicked out of the hotel is coz I’m staying there. 😉

shower

It also features a shower scene, which was actually done after the lobby scene since it involved wetting the dress. I casually strolled down with my entourage in tow and took my shower robe off in the lounge before dancing to Rihanna’s music. It took 3 people to get it done – one to film, one to provide the music, and one to take photos. I think it’s my best video work to date. 🙂

ezy

Thanks to the EZY sisters (Eiling, Ziling, Yiling) I shall hereby dub this Umbrella feat. The EZY sisters (instead of Jay-Z, whom I would have serious reservations about having in the bathroom with me).

Got Rihanna Mania?

FIFA Online 2: Football. MMO style.

by

football

Football is practically the national sport of Malaysia. It’s like dengue, just more insidious. Football fever hits most red-blooded males every four years (World Cup) and we have seasonal outbreaks during the major leagues as well. Symptoms of the infection include a zombie-like appearance at work (due to lack of sleep) and the sports section of the office newspaper mysteriously disappearing.

‘Tis the season again, where football fans gather at mamaks all around Malaysia. I know coz (very) loud cheering can be heard when goals are scored by the punters favorite teams. It’s the EPL 2008/2009 season and things can get so loud and raucous that a mamak 200 meters down the road can wake you up with their boisterous celebration! If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em, I say.

I’m sure a lot of gamers out there have heard of the FIFA series. I have a friend who was obsessed with the game back in high school. Of course, we didn’t have broadband back then (think 33.6 k modems) but now with the massive broadband penetration, the latest iteration of the FIFA football game franchise has gone online! 

fifa

Think of an online football MMO (!). It’s just something that hasn’t been done before. 

dvdkit

I managed to get my hands on the EA SportsTM FIFA Online 2 DVD kit before it was launched. There is a bonus code in each DVD pack that gives you a special item. The Open Beta Test (OBT) is going on now so you can also download the game client at the official site. 

medikit

There is a Bonus Game Item in the DVD kit, which can either give you LP (not the vinyl, or the Hokkien phrase – League Points, the in-game currency), Uniform Cards (which awards a mystery player to your team), or a Medical Kit (heals injured players). I got the medical kit with my code. 

tutorial

The game guides you with tutorials to familiarize yourself with the game, which would be useful for those who haven’t played a football game before. The tutorials covers the basics, attacking, defending, passing – it’s good enough for you to try your luck in a real match…preferably with a similarly ranked player so you won’t get thrashed too badly. 😉 

start

EA SportsTM FIFA Online 2 plays like a football game with RPG elements. You start out with (next to) nothing, a bottom feeder, and work your way up through the leagues. You win points by winning matches and your players “level up” throughout the matches. It’s a persistent game world so all your stats are retained the next time you log on! Nifty.

chat

The interface allows you to chat with other players on the server and arrange for matches. I’ve been talking to some of the people in the pre-game chat room and found out that a lot of them are from KL too. 

match

I started my first match with someone who also happens to live in Kelana Jaya (imagine the coincidence) and got thoroughly trashed by him. I blame multitasking for my defeat, my phone rang while I was playing and he didn’t stop attacking despite the fact that I’m AFK. :p 

mamak

The best part about EA SportsTM FIFA Online 2 is the social interaction. After my defeat, he asked if I would be interested in catching the EPL game tonight at the mamak near my place. A couple of his friends are going as well, so I’m going to drop by too and watch the game.

You can get the EA SPORTSTM FIFA Online 2 CD from 7-Eleven and Popular Bookstores starting 23rd January 2009. It’s an official licensed product of FIFA!

In conjunction with the nationwide launch, a special tournament will be held at selected Internet Cafes. Check with your friendly neighborhood cyber café to see if they’re organizing this event.

Do you think you have what it takes? There’s also the ASEAN Championships scheduled in September 2009 with real life prizes to be won, so get your player lineup ready to beat the best of the best in our part of the world!

You’ll be playing against people from Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Taiwan in the ASEAN Championships and the winner of each country will be flown down to Singapore for an on-site match with a total prize bounty of USD 100,000. (!)

My only beef with EA SportsTM FIFA Online 2 is that I’m used to playing FPS games like Quake (ranked #42 in PGL too, back in the days) and my favorite line was “Death from above!”. Well, there’s no “above” on a football field so I can’t use my trademark taunt anymore. Oh well. Perhaps I shall resort to taking a football with me and dropping it on my new EA SportsTM FIFA Online 2 buddy’s head later.

Except I don’t know him IRL and he might not be amused. 😉

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...