The Candle burnt out long ago….

They were a traditional family. Inter-marriage? A Chinese girl? The family was against the liaison. But he persisted. For him, there was no other girl. She was beautiful, sexually arousing and as far as he was concerned she was his future! Their love was so strong and enduring that nothing could come between them. But he needed his parents’ blessings!

In spite of their strong religious leaning, the family still had certain shamanic beliefs. If they were to bless the liaison and the possible marriage, their son and potential daughter-in-law would have to take a strange tribal test. The potential couple decided to take the acid test. So they went back to their home-town to prove that their liaison was indeed made in heaven.

They met up with the village shaman. After the usual mutterings and mumbo jumbo, the shaman requested that she bathed in a bath-tub of scented flower water. After dinner, she was asked to rest in an attap hut by the beach. A candle was lit in her room. The belief was the candle was to burn until the morning if the would-be marriage is an ordained one. If it was snuffed out or extinguished before the sun rises, it was a bad omen and the liaison should be called off.

Unfortunately the candle burnt out before dawn. The family could not give their blessings. Their son must leave his girlfriend. The pressure was too much for him. He went berserk! He resigned from his job, packed an overnighter and disappeared. She went back to Kuala Lumpur, hung out with some old friends and job-hopped.

The last I heard of them: He came back to Kuala Lumpur; got a new job, is less temperamental and has recently married a girl from the village whom the parents have chosen for him. As for the ex-girlfriend, she drifted from man to man and finally took her life.

Les Miserables! A sad story but it must be told.

Quote of the Day:

“Friends are kisses blown to us by angels.” Unknown

Heartsong

Why not be an English Tutor on the Side-line?

Reading Bunny’s blog does give me the impression that freelance writers are eking out a miserable existence-which represents in economics terms-a poor return to investment for your college or university education.

I was telling myself that there must be a better way of making a living even though you may chose to go freelance. You would definitely need an anchor job while you write. You will literary starve if you depend solely on writing.

It need not be a 9 to 5 kind of job. One good option - teach English at night once or twice a week. Similarly be a home English tutor to locals or expatriates. There are many Koreans and Japanese expatriates living in Mont Kiara who require tutoring services. The market fee structure is RM 70.00 to RM 90.00 per hour now. All you need is to sacrifice about one and a half to three hours per week. That is a good and fair price if you want to see a better return to investment while chasing rainbows in trying to become a John Grisham or a Dan Brown. The trade-off is that you will have to say goodbye to the totally anarchic time regime you keep now.

For those who are interested in teaching or tutoring English, you would have to attend a short TESOL course which is for five days. You will then be evaluated on your teaching performance before you can be certificated. This teaching certificate is recognized in most Commonwealth countries so you can teach overseas.

Do contact me at this blog if you are interested.

Quote of the Day:

“The wastebasket is a writer’s best friend.” Isaac Bashevis Singer

Heartsong

Camels and Schoolbags

There must surely be something wrong with the Ministry of Education. They have this imponderable sadistic grudge to torture the backs of our school-going population. No wonder more students look hunched these days!

Year in and year out, there have been numerous suggestions on how to lighten the school bags. Some have suggested we reduce the subjects to be taught. Subjects like Moral and Civics can be integrated into one while Health Science can be taught as an adjunct to Science. All these suggestions had fallen on deaf ears!

Y.B. Dato’ Hon Choon Kin, the current Deputy Minister of Education has suggested tablet computers be given to all students way back in the year 2000. All books including workbooks will be scanned into the computer or burnt into CDs or stored in flash disks. A local R&D company with the required competence had already pioneered a beta test on two schools and the pupils in the piloted schools were ecstatic about the possibility of using it. The piloted schools have sent their respective reports to the Ministry of Education but nothing has come out of it.

The R&D company has also approached the Ministry with a proposal but as usual politics got in the way. The R&D Company could not get any contract and went under. Today, tablet computers can be built very much cheaply especially with more powerful processors. However, knowing bureaucrats are not risk-takers when it comes to decision making or capable of thinking outside the box, we can best forget about this potential solution. Let us pay for the Dells and the HPs when the time comes and watch the potential foreign reserves move abroad.

So, meanwhile what can we do?

Knowing our bureaucrats; nothing. Don’t even try!

So meantime, steel yourself and continue watching as our schoolchildren are being made into dromedary camels lugging gigantic schoolbags as if they are trying to cross the impassable Nefud Desert like Lawrence of Arabia.

Quote of the Day:

Every day may not be good, but there's something good in every day. ~Author Unknown

Heartsong

Ramped from the Rear!

Murphy couldn't resist. After getting the kids down, he went for my not-so-old jalopy.

After sending my kids to the clinic to be treated, I drove to my sister's place at Taman Rasa Sayang. As I was taking the legal U-turn in the proximity of the Kelana Furniture Mall, I heard a bang. I lurched forward in my car . A sky-blue Kancil which had seen better days was behind me. I got out of the car. A man that looked like a woman or was it a woman that looked like a man came out of the Kancil.

"No damage-lah." he/she said.

"That's not the point," I retorted. "You hit me from the rear. That is an offence. "

"Can I have your driving licence?" I demanded and started to write down the details. He is a she. I took down the number of her car and also inspected my car at the same time.

"Can I have your name and hand-phone number?" she blurted out. I obliged.

I just called her just now. She is most thankful there is no need for a follow-up either with the police or the workshop.

Murphy almost got me. Got to thank God for his protection and grace!

Quote of the Day:

"The only people you should try to get even with are those who have helped you." John E. Southard

Heartsong

Murphy’s First Attack in 2007

Today is the first day of school. So what can go wrong? Plenty.

At 3 a.m., my son got up with food poisoning. At 6 a.m., my daughter, complained about the same malady. After the consecutive bouts of vomiting, we gave them the usual anti-diarrhea pill, Lomotil and they went back to bed.

We were wondering what could be the triggers. Was it the canola oil that my wife used in the spaghetti or was it the Gallo Cabernet we served to the children at lunch that has caused this?

Whatever the cause, it looks like school's out for the day. Murphy has won again!

Quote of the Day:

"Wear a smile-one size fits all.” Author Unknown

Heartsong

Attending a Book Launch

When Alex first mentioned about this event, I spoke to Mong whether he was interested in attending it. He was game, as we had been contemplating authorship or to be more precise - writing for quite some time even though we had nothing in print as yet. He has been to a function in Mid-Valley Mall about self-publishing. Last year he did mention about a convention of writers at MPH, One-Utama but I could not make it.

On 30^th December 2006, with the family and Mong, we drove to Ikano. The kids went to see “Eragon” at Cineleisure while the missus when to see “Curse of the Golden Flower”. I and Mong talked shop over teh-tarik at Kayu’s. How time flies. Grabbing a quick lunch at MacDonald’s, we went to the venue of the book launch - Popular Book Shop. We were early birds as the co-writers were trooping in and exchanging greetings. Alex was bubbling all over and in full hugging mode, I think.

The organizer of the book launch, in a yellow dress addressed us and then read her editorial. Pretty thing! I told Mong she looks a bit like Elaine Daly. We came to know that she is Carrie-Anne Theseira, a former air stewardess. A few co-writers went up and read excerpts from the short stories. They had a photograph session. Then books were bought and autographed.

I introduced Alexandra to my family members and Mong. We did speak to Carrie-Anne and about her plans to have another book project.

We then bade farewell and goodbye and headed for IKEA.

Quote of the Day:

"Write to be understood,speak to be heard,read to grow..." Lawrence Clark Powell

Heartsong

Time to Spruce up Your Image

“Let’s start at the very beginning; a very good place to start. When you speak you begin with A-B-C; when you sing, you begin with Do-Re-Mi,” so says Maria von Trapp.

We are in a brand new year-2007. Resolutions abound. Great feelings. The start of a perfect year. So what are you gonna do with this new slate of 365 days?

A good place to start. Your image. Look yourself in the mirror. Man in the mirror- woman in the mirror, what do you see? Your hairstyle. Is it time to change to a new one? What about short hair? Long hair? Go platinum blonde? Get a pair of bee-stung lips like Angelina? Hmmm…Evaluate.

Look at your face. Too much freckles, bad pimples and what you do not want to have. Consult a dermatologist. Take care of your mug - a passport to many good things in life. Too much make up; too little make-up? Time to change cosmetics? Look at your eye lids? Wanna go for “double eye-lid’? Also is it time to embroider your eyelashes like the beautiful Korean film-stars?

Dressing. For ladies - been extra boyish with avant-garde jeans and tee-shirts in 2006? Want to project the feminine you? Go back to basics. Skirts and blouse – these always win hands-down.

Body Mass Index - are you on the weighty side? Is obesity the next stop on your journey in life? “Cut down on carbohydrates and fats; have many small meals. Graze like a cow; and exercise one hour daily,” counsels my lawyer friend, a fit-looking Bok whom I met on New Year’s Eve at the One-Utama Shopping Complex.

Internal happiness is important and so is external happiness. Be happy with the changes you made. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Take it one day at a time. You can be bohemian in your cranium but don’t be a large, sloppy gypsy on the outside.

One sure-fire way to change your image for the better--- fall in love. Works every time.

And always remember – have a vision for 2007 - have the gumption and willpower to achieve it. Do the needful. Read, write and have fun. Enjoy the moments. Remember God is always at your side, providing sustenance and joy through out the year.

So let me finish with The Perfect Year by Sarah Brightman. I have taken poetic justice to rearrange the lyrics. So it does not follow the melody.

Bring out the old; bring in the new,

A midnight-wish to share with you,

Your lips are warm; my head is light,

We are alive before tonight

No need to hear the music play,

The clock is struck; the die is cast,

Let’s us take a chance; forget the past.

I don’t need a crowded ballroom,

Every thing we want is here,

With you here with me,

Face to face,

We will embrace the perfect year.

Dance one year in, kiss one good bye,

Another chance, another start,

So many dreams to tease the heart,

It’s New Year’s Eve and hopes are high,

Next year will be the perfect year.

Quote of the Day:

“Love:a temporary insanity, curable by marriage.” Ambrose Bierce

Heartsong

Farewell 2006…….Welcome 2007

While the hordes of merry-makers and cohorts of celebrants crowded the various city hot-spots to bide farewell to 2006 and to boisterously welcome the New Year, a select group chose to have communion with God as they welcomed in the New Year. They meet in the churches, temples and in other sanctuaries of worship.

I was at the Damansara Utama Methodist Church Watchnight event with my family. The celebration started at 10.30pm and the church hall was already overflowing with members by then.

I and my son had to be contented with sitting in the overflow room watching a 29 inch CCTV of the happenings. After glorious singing and fellowship we too had our countdown preceded with prayers and hopes for the new 365 days proffered to us. We wished everyone well and departed into the night to seek the comfort of our pillows.

Happy New Year, everyone!

May God Bless every day of your lives.

Quote of the Day:

"Happiness often sneaks in through a door you didn't know you left open." John Barrymore

Heartsong

Be a Better Person in 2007

Dr. John C. Maxwell’s book, “Thinking for a Change” is a practical and valuable guide to living in 2007. His book dwells on thinking that is related to values, to relationships and to experiences.

A useful handbook for effective living, it has mapped out the areas of relevance to us that we ought to pursue every day of our lives. Therefore, live each day to the fullest by following these time-tested question formats and plan each day according to the results of the previous day.

At the end of each day, before you go to sleep, open your journal and look through the check-list below and from your heart, answer the questions sincerely and write that journal page. See yourself grow positively, meaningfully and joyously from day to day; every day of 2007 and thenceforth…..

Briefly:

Thinking Related to Values

Personal Growth:

Daily ask yourself what you have learn each day that will help you grow. How does it apply to your life? When should you apply it?

Adding Value:

To whom should you add value today? How do you know you have added value to that person? Can you follow up and compound the positive benefit he or she received?

Teamwork:

What did you do with someone else that made both of you better? Would the other person agree that it was a win-win? Can you do something else together to continue your mutual success?

Leadership:

Did you lead by example today? Did you lift your people and organization to a higher level? What did you do and how did you do it?

Physical Health:

Did you exercise at your optimal heart rate of thirty-five minutes today? Have you exercised at least three times in the last seven days? Did you stay on your low fat diet today?

Thinking Related to Relationships

Marriage and Family:

Did you communicate love to your wife/husband, the children, or your loved ones today? How did you show that love? Did they feel it? Did they return it?

Friends:

Have you been a good friend this week? To whom? What did you do? Is there something else you need to do? Is there another who needs you?

Inner Circle:

Have you spent enough time with your key players? What can you do to help them be more successful? In what areas can you mentor them?

God:

Have you spent time with God today? What is He teaching you now? Are you learning? Are you obeying? Have you continually talked with Him today?

Thinking related to Experiences

Discoveries:

What did you encounter today to which you need to give more thinking time? Are there lessons to be learned? Are there things to be done?

Memories:

Did you create a good memory for someone today? Was it because of a comment, an action, or a shared experience?

Difficulties:

What went wrong? Could you have changed it? What do you need to do differently next time?

Successes:

What went right? Did you create it? Is there a principle you can learn from the experience?

People:

Whom did you meet? What were my impressions? What did you learn to do and not to do from them?

Conclusions:

Have you closed your day appropriately? Have you expressed gratitude? Have you learned something, loved someone? Have you enjoyed and lived the day to the fullest?

Quote of the Day:

“Hope is a Waking Dream.” Unknown

Heartsong:

Blessed Christmas to You!

I will be away in Penang from 22-26 December 2006. As such, I will resume blogging when I return to PJ.

So on this happy occasion, let me take this opportunity to thank all of you who have blessed me by visiting my blog since I started blogging in September 2006 - particularly Bunny, Bengster and Doc. Your comments have been uplifting and constructive. Many thanks.

Have yourself a Blessed Christmas.

Quote of the Day:

"We are, each of us, angels with only one wing and we can fly only by embracing each other." Lucien de Crescenzo

Heartsong

Overtures, Intermisssions & Exit Music

Interspersed between the overtures, the intermissions and exit music is the movie itself. The movie is of longer duration; and usually epic in proportion.

I remembered using intermissions for the required pee-breaks and also to dash out for drinks, ice-creams, groundnuts or pop-corn. When the intermission music ends; the movie continues.

The movies with such formats include Ben-Hur, Sound of Music, My Fair Lady, Lawrence of Arabia, Dr. Zhivago, Ryan’s Daughter and many more.

We no longer have such epics these days. Today, movies are better edited and they seldom bother with artistic aspects.

Except for Ben-Hur, Ten Commandments, Sound of Music and My Fair Lady, I slept through most of the other epics. I snoozed off particularly in Cleopatra, Gone with the Wind, Lawrence of Arabia, Dr. Zhivago, Spartacus and Ryan's Daughter.

It was only with the advent of DVDs with its subtitles that I rediscovered and started appreciating classics such as Dr. Zhivago, Ryan’s Daughter, Lawrence of Arabia and Gone with the Wind. These were beautifully crafted movies.

Take some afternoons off. Put on the DVD machine and enjoy these classics.

See and feel Rosy Ryan in her passionate fling with shell-shocked Randolph while spiderwebs glisten and dandelion puffballs flutter away in the soughing winds; the handsome Dr. Zhivago and the enigmatic Lara locked in warm embrace amidst the icy waste of the Siberian tundra and the love-hate relationship between Scarlett and Rhett Butler in civil war-torn America.

Immerse yourself in these movies. You won’t regret it!

Quote of the Day:

“Success depends on your backbone, not your wishbone.” Unknown

Heartsong

Lonesome No More!

Fancy Miss Saigon surreptitiously staged nightly in some remote towns of Pahang. Paraded like the opening scene of the Broadway play, it’s not the GIs’ but fellow Malaysians who are ogling, and oohing and ahhing the young and attractive Kims that lined the coffee-shops and bride agents’ homes.

Walau! You pick your fancy, pay the bride price and off you go on your honeymoon. These mail order bride agents have really reinvented themselves. No more looking at photos…they give you the real thing in the flesh. What more can you ask. Malaysia Boleh!

While Michael Choong is lamenting on this sad state of affairs, his concerns are not shared by local singles, divorcees, the old and the rich. The Vietnamese beauties are a new option. What you see is what you get. Lonesome bachelors no longer fear being rejected outright by local girls; and the process of getting hitched is as easy as doing it in Las Vegas.

So waste no time, come to Triang and Jerantut and heaven is just a decision away.

Quote of the Day:

“To love is to receive a glimpse of heaven.” Karen Sunde

Heartsong

Just be Creative!

How can you beat the competition and stay ahead of the curve? That is the $64,000 question. Believe me - only creativity plus the ingenious use of computers will spell success for you in the new future.

Computers are taking over. Don’t ever doubt that, not even for one second. If you are no good in your field, just say goodbye to your job. Right now, powerful computer software is making writing music and lyrics a breeze. With computers, post production in films and animation is fast becoming child’s play. Similarly, self–publication is slowly making inroads into the publishing industry. In the design industry particularly in architecture, computers is taking over wholesale.

The genius of software writers coupled with engineering expertise has created the magic that is mechatronics. Soon, in many parts of the globe, computer-aided manufacturing will downsize labour and many will soon be on the streets with a pink slip in their hands.

The rate of adoption of computer in industry is just unbelievable. Very soon, only the gifted and the talented will be able to stand tall in this new world. With the aid of computer hardware and software, the gifted and talented in their various fields will be able to be more creative and productive. Are you one of them?

There is only one option open to all of us. Be creative.

There are tons of books in the market on creativity. How good are they? Do they give you practical ideas or are they shooting in the dark as well, hoping to hit a target?

Most books suggest things that are run–of-the-mill. Others recommend the ridiculous and the ludicrous.

As blog writers, don’t wait for inspiration. Do. Like the Nike slogan – Just Do it! Research and write on a few issues, cross-linked ideas and premises. Get out of the ordinary and avoid the mundane. Play with ideas. Do things differently. Experiment and have fun with your blog. Read all sorts of blogs. Be carefree-take a couple of generic elements and reconfigure them to see new developments Use tested methods and formats but innovate what is before you to develop new outcomes. If need be, collaborate with others in creative workshops to give birth to novel ideas. Work with the talented.

Before going on a project, always remember the SMART advice of Peter Drucker:

• Specific: Do you understand exactly what the task entail?

• Measurable: What constitutes success or failure or ‘good value”?

• Achievable: Can this be done at all? What are the obvious barriers? (Most important)

• Realistic: Can you do this with the resources you have and is it worth doing at all?

• Time-Related: How much time will you spend on this?

The future will not favour the ordinary recording artiste. People now want a ' live in action' superstar performer. They do not want to listen to any stand-up comic. They want to listen to a great stand-up comic with lots of smart come-back lines. They do not want to read just any book. They want to read a book with a super winning formula by a great writer. The list goes on and on…

Are you in that league? No, not yet... don't know.

Do something about it.

Be creative. Start now!

Quote of the Day:

“The brain is a wonderful organ; it starts the moment you get up early in the morning and does not stop until you get to the office” Robert Frost.

Heartsong

Christmastime - The Reason to Be Jolly!

It's yuletide season again!

Let us reminisce...

I remembered fondly my yuletide of yesteryears. I know you do.

During my schooldays, yuletide meant going to church, half-asleep listening to the sermon, enjoying Christmas carols and receiving door gifts as we left the church. Without fail, these always came in the form of nicely wrapped-up new scented handkerchiefs and toothbrushes.

There was one year, I cannot remember for sure. It must be the mid-1960s. Yuletide that year reminded me of a movie news magazine particularly its cover and contents - the December issue. This issue cost a little more and it was also a wee bit thicker. The cover was adorned by a youthful and beautiful Angie Dickinson holding a red Christmas stocking. The pictures inside,among others, were of Sandra Dee, Mary Tyler Moore, Rock Hudson, Pat Boone and Troy Donahue. Some of the movies featured included Hootenany Hoot and Music Man. I remembered that year well.

As I grew older, Yuletide meant something if you were invited to a house party or if you were going on a group date to a public dance at the town hall. Presents were not that important. Adolescent fun was. To be seen with your peers, drinking and smoking was the "in thing". It was the "we thing" as well.

At the university, you must be seen at Carmen's Inn at the Penang Merlin Hotel or any of the hotel discotheques if it is Christmas Eve. Otherwise you would be labeled a certified full bloodied nerd!

These days my yuletide season is celebrated in a more sombre spirit. Early in the morning, we go to church celebration and after that we wished each other 'Blessed Christmas'. If we get invited to dinner, then it's the Christmas turkey that we will taste with cranberry sauce. If not, we enjoy a quiet evening, spending devotional time with God.

The yuletide season has been hijacked for a long time. Christmastime is the annual big-event for hotels, restaurants, resorts and superstores. 'Tis their season to be jolly as they rake in the big bucks. With Santa Clauses and Santarinas dancing and prancing and doling out sweets to children, they can practically smell dollars, happiness and gaiety in the air. Resorts are transformed into tinsel towns and winter wonderlands with revelers aplenty while hotel lounges and superstores boast of herds of reindeer and sleighs complete with jingle bells and Santa Claus. Also, christmas trees are set aglitter everywhere in toy shops, department stores and hypermarkets.

While, we enjoy Christmas and the delight it brings, let us not forget the true reason for Christmas. More than 2000 year ago, our Lord and Saviour,Jesus Christ,was born. He came and he died on the cross that we may have life eternal.

This Christmas, let us spread the message of salvation - The Word. Let us bless the many people we know that they will come to know the Lord as well and be saved.

Christmastime - 'tis the most wonderful time of the year. Let us rejoice for the Lord has come.....

So, let me wish all my blog readers, "A Blessed Christmas, everyone and do have a Happy New Year 2007 as well"

Quote of the Day:

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1

Heartsong

Jane Seymour
Solitaire no More!

This happened in 1993.

It was almost twilight in Kuala Lumpur. I was at the Istana Hotel to attend a dinner. While waiting at the lounge to kill time, something wonderful happened. I saw a beautiful and familiar figure walking down the stairs. She held the arm of a burly-looking elderly man. She looked in my direction. Our eyes locked. She knew there and then that I recognized who she was. She flashed me a beautiful multi-million dollar smile. It was a wondrous moment to savour.

It was Jane Seymour in the flesh. Beautiful and statuesque, dressed to the nines. Her beauty was bedazzling! I was stumped.

Then I saw who the companion was. It was Ghaffar Baba, our ex- Deputy Prime Minister. The equation just did not fit. Why a stunning Hollywood broad was going out with this has-been came to my mind? She definitely did not need the money. Or even worse, the attention.

Anyway, I did not bother to ponder all these questions. I just watched her as she graciously sashayed into a waiting limousine and disappeared into the KL traffic.

For me, it was a moment in time. Most gratifying. My first chance - sighting of a Hollywood beauty in the flesh. Bonanza!

Today, as I vividly recall, the scene is indeed comical, reminiscent of one from the classic Walt Disney's “Beauty and the Beast”. In the 1993 Hotel Istana episode, Seymour was the beauty alright but what about the b...........

So, anyone care for Solitaire? I do if it is Jane Seymour!

Quote of the Day:

"Beauty is truth, truth beauty." John Keats

Heartsong

All the King's Men

A remake of a 1949 movie of the same name, this movie version, stayed close to the original.

Based on a bestseller, All the King's Men by Robert Penn Warren, focuses on the lives of Willie Stark, an upstart farm boy who rises through sheer force of will to become Governor of Louisiana during the 1930s, and Jack Burden a journalist who helped Willie blackmail and control his enemies. The storyline mimics the politician Huey Long, who served Louisiana as both Governor and Senator from 1928 until his death in 1935.

The main theme of the movie is the question of political power and moral corruption. To Willie Stack, his moral philosophy is that everyone and everything is bad, and that moral action involves making goodness out of the badness.

Willie Stark uses and abuses everyone in his life while continuing to provide for his downtrodden constituents. In his ambitious quest to win the love and respect of his people, Willie loses his soul and the respect of those closest to him. And like Huey Long, he ultimately meets his demise in a most tragic fashion.

The movie is well narrated and edited and the dialogue is pretty catchy. Sean Penn’s Willie Stack, contrary to unwarranted criticism, is convincing.

Once again, Sean Penn took on his role with manic energy, transforming himself completely into a fascinating character. He is dynamic as the politico with his ranting and raving. His Machiavellian manipulator side was played with furious energy and sheer gusto.

Jude Law played a blue-blood “pretty boy” journalist. A burnt idealist, he was quietly supportive in his role as the second lead. As a confidante of Stack, Jude Law’s Jack Burden witnessed the effects of power and compromise on "All the King's Men".

However,there is some disconnect in the movie for it never did tell what wrong Willie had committed to cause impeachment proceedings to be leveled at him as Governor. Also, the relationship between Anne Stanton (the character played by Kate Winslet) and Jack was not well developed to provide useful insight into the passion of their love.

Overall, it's a good looking production steeped in place and period. The movie paces itself very well. I enjoyed it especially the witty dialogue.

For those who enjoyed Casablanca and other movies of that genre,they should enjoy this movie.

Quote of the Day:

“There is only one happiness in life, to love and be loved.” George Sand

Heartsong

Woman On Top

Fetching and sexy, Penelope Cruz exudes the same sultry appeal as the legendary Sophia Loren. That pair of seductive eyes and luscious lips can melt any man’s heart.

Nicknamed the Madonna of Madrid, Penelope Cruz is the most famous Latino actress to grace our silver screen. This Spanish enchantress has left her competitors way behind. I think Salma Hayek and Jennifer Lopez are way past their prime. Paz Vega is just a fresh face. Except for her portrayal in Sex and Lucia, Vega has not shown any break-out.

Penelope first gained recognition after acting in the film, "Belle époque” but it was the erotic film, Jamon Jamon that transformed her into a national fantasy.

I first saw Penelope Cruz in a major role in Woman on Top and fell in love with her. She was spontaneous in her acting, had an attractive bubbly nature and brings with her a wonderful screen presence. She showed a mysterious side in All the Pretty Horses and was coy and scintillating in Blow.

However, her performance was below par in Vanilla Sky (also the Spanish version, Open Your Eyes) and Captain Corelli’s Mandolin. I believe the poor scripts had something to do with this. Volver was good but a bit draggy with it's many- layered twists and turns. As usual, Cruz cruised along with her naturally attractive bubbly self.

In her private life, strangely, Penelope Cruz continues to show a consistent patent weakness of involving herself romantically with most of her co-stars - Tom Cruise, Matthew McConaughey, Matt Damon, Johnny Depp and Nicholas Cage.

Be that as it may, I think Penelope Cruz will join the fabulous Nicole Kidman in the big league of Hollywood as she has the verve and skill to up the ante on the silver screen. If things go right, she may just win herself an academy award!

Quote of the Day:

“Friendship occupies your mind. Love occupies your soul.” Author Unknown

Heartsong

Fatinah’s Wedding- Love’s Synthesis

Saturday, 9^th December 2006

We are heading towards Putrajaya. The broad boulevards looms before us. Ornate street lamp fittings and wondrous, majestic bridges fills our sights.

We are in Putrajaya to attend the wedding of my best friend’s daughter, Fatinah. Weather is fine and directions and signages are good. We got a good parking lot and proceeded to the venue at Putrajaya Holdings in Precinct 2.

It is now 12.15 pm in the afternoon. Not many guests have arrived. We greeted Nik and Noriah on arrival and congratulated them. I also met Zaiton, Nik’s sister. Could not have recognized her if she had not told me who she was. Then we were greeted by the beautiful Farah, Nik’s eldest daughter who introduced her little daughter to us. “Mari sini, ini adalah datuk’s best friend….Uncle Heng.” I hugged his daughter. I hoped it was not taboo!

The last time I saw Farah and Fatinah was about 2 decades ago. They were still kids then and yet today they could still recall me. Must have made quite an impression on them.

Her husband then led us into the main hall where I met a few friends - Mohamedshah, Alias and Sumali. Later I met Nik Hishamuddin and almost his entire clan. Next came Sharif and Sharifah Fatimah. We settled down to partake lunch. I was saddened to hear that a mutual friend, Fatimah Raya had cancer.

At 1.15 pm, the bersanding began. The bridegroom looks like an actor and Fatinah, in all her splendour, was beautiful, a splitting image of her mother in her younger days. After, the doa, everyone settled back into their conversations.

Those who came early decided to leave.I said my goodbyes to Nik, Noriah and Farah. We were given some buah tangan to bring home.

Today is a good day. Good days are rare.We must treasure every good day.

Quote of the Day:

"A good marriage is the union of two good forgivers." Ruth Bell Graham

Heartsong

An Anatomy of a Sexual Relationship

Take a budding actor and a fresh face model. Give them three days to get acquainted. To ensure ‘real sexual performance’, ensure they do not communicate once filming starts until it ends. So what was performed on screen is genuine raw sexual craving, passion plus action. Sex at the apex! Finally, hyped up the film with pulsating music and hypnotic pacing. And viola! there you have it – a naughty peep show -9 Songs. Cinematic brilliance!

After 69 minutes of viewing, I must say that 9 Songs has moved up the ratchet at least a notch higher. Like the proverbial frog being slowly cooked in a hotpot, we are made to ‘acclimatize’ pleasurably to sex voyeurism in the cinema. While there were other less successful attempts at this, 9 Songs is by far the most explicit.

Winterbottom has actually succeeded in filming the penultimate movie of cinematic voyeurism showcasing real, uncensored sex between its lead actors. For many, it should be a turn-on. Interspersing 9 un-simulated sex scenes with 9 live-concert songs, Winterbottom’s avant-garde attempt to persuade us to accept that ‘sex is beautiful’ has brought on both bouquets and brickbats.

Except for a few scenes showing the beauty of the icy Artic waste, most of the scenes were confined to the bedroom and a nightclub showcasing various bands in action.

Most found 9 Songs much akin to watching a long music video laced with toned down “hard-core pornography’. There is little dialogue; more like sex poetry in motion - a lovely real snapshot of a brief encounter between Matt and Lisa. The sex becomes kinkier as the movie progresses.

A simple storyline. After meeting at a rock concert, the lead actors ended up in bed. Together, over a period of several months, they pursue a mutual sexual passion whose inevitable stages are familiar to anyone who's ever been in love. Quietly fascinating yet moving; it is direct, touching and lovely to watch.

Those who find traditional porn too artificial should be pleased with the treatment of sex in 9 Songs. Here, Winterbottom attempts to arouse the viewers but the scenes are too brief to be satisfying.

So, is it bouquet or brickbat for 9 Songs?

I must salute Winterbottom’s daring experimentation at cinematic voyeurism. I think he has succeeded where Breathless and Last Tango in Paris has failed. Bouquets to him!

Quote of the Day:

“Life without love is like a tree without blossom and fruit.” Khalil Gibra

Heartsong