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Project 365 - Photo #90

Nice T-shirt. Colleague wore it again today. :)

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New Domain for My Blog

Pretty straightforward, right?

Now, it's http://www.joycescapade.com/

I'm still testing out my FeedBurner, Google Analytics, and StatCounter accounts. Let's see if this post appears in my Google Reader. :)

Wish me luck!

P.S.: Thanks dear for buying this domain name. Really appreciate it. :)
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Project 365 - Photo #89

SMCkl #5: Government in the Age of Social Media

Amazing #smckl session with (from left to right): @Khairykj, @kamraslan, @tonypua, Tina Malone & @Asohan

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Some thoughts...

Note: Original articles can be found here and here.

I read, I understand, and I write about things that I find interesting and informative. I always believe: If I put forth sincere, honest effort to make things work, things will work out. Same goes to the matter of cultivating a healthy and loving relationship. Most importantly, I do not impose. I practice and I learn fast. :)

#1: Trusts

 
- A relationship without trust is doomed from the start. A relationship that abounds with trust lays the foundation for real and lasting love.
- Built over time, trust is based on the simple belief system that your partner has your best interests at heart and will never intentionally hurt you (and vice versa).
- You have the assurance that you can count on your partner for almost anything and everything, always (and vice versa).

- If and when you discover that your partner is 100% trustworthy, you will have no trouble giving your heart. In return, your partner will most likely give you their heart and thus, paving the way for a lasting, loving relationship to unfold.


#2: Listens

 
- Listening is the best way to be genuinely concern and emotionally supportive of your partner in an honest and thoughtful way.

#3: Laughs

 
- Laughter is the best medicine and the primary ingredient in a relationship.
- You may not be born with an abundant sense of humor but somehow, you will be able to spike your partner's days with a dose of laughter in one way or another.


#4: Connects

 
- When a relationship works, you and your partner can communicate and collaborate with comfort, compatibility, and undeniable chemistry. If and when you experience this kind of interaction, you are on to something really special.
- When you are apart from your partner for a few hours or a few weeks, for no pinpoint-able reason, reconnection ought to give you the warm-and-fuzzies, even after countless kisses, unlimited hand-holds, and hugs galore.
- Maintaining this kind of "butterfly effects" is a proof that you are putting forth the effort to keep romance alive.


#5: Wants the real you!

 
- There is no need to hide, tone down, or apologize for any aspect of you or your life. With the right person, you are able to be yourself or even better.
- From complimenting you on an outfit to noticing a new haircut to a for-no-reason-at-all "you are so beautiful or handsome" reminder message, your partner should make you feel proud and appreciated. Inside and out, every quirk, every "flaw", everything about you should be understood and adored.
- Never should you feel the tendency to be a chameleon, adapting to what you think your partner wants you to be. A good partner will go the extra mile to make you feel great about your insecurities.


#6: Enriches

 
- A healthy relationship begins with you and your partner coming together in a mature way and ready for the great responsibilities that come with love.
- In the wrong relationship, your partner tears you to emotional shreds, brings you down, and in general drains your energy.
- In the right relationship, your partner enriches your life, inspires you to be your best self, and brings a sense of peace and possibility to you.


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Movie: Alice in Wonderland (2010)

You've got a very important date.

I watched Alice in Wonderland twice - 2D & 3D. :)

I think... it's rather pointless to write about its synopsis.

Everyone should know what Alice in Wonderland is about unless you're from another planet, perhaps. :)


So, let me tell you what I really like about this movie.

1) Alice's thick, wavy hair. How I wish my hair is like hers. :)

2) Helena Bonham Carter as The Bloody Red Queen a.k.a. The Bloody Big Head. I love watching her face turning crimson in anger moments before she yelled: "Off with their heads!"

3) Alice, staring at the Jabberwocky: "This is impossible." The Mad Hatter: "Only if you believe it is."

4) The Red Queen, with a stunned look: "You're right, Stayne. It's far better to be feared than loved."

5) Stayne: "Alice has escaped. On the Bandersnatch. With the Vorpal Sword." He was slapped 3 times by The Red Queen. Poor fella.

6) The Mad Hatter, Dormouse, The March Hare sang: "Twinkle twinkle little bat, how I wonder where you're at. Up above the world you fly, like a tea tray in the sky."

7) Alice, reciting the 6 impossible things to herself as she prepared to fight the Jabberwocky: "One, there's a drink that makes you shrink. Two, there are cakes that make you grow. Three, cats can disappear. Four, animals can talk. Five, there's a place called Wonderland. Six, I can slay the Jabberwocky."
 


8) Finally, this is my favorite conversation between The Mad Hatter and Alice. The Mad Hatter: "Have I gone mad?" Alice: "I'm afraid so. You're entirely bonkers. But I'll tell you a secret. All the best people are."

That's it. I love this movie. It's dreamy and it challenges my intellectual mind. :)


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Project 365 - Photo #88

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Project 365 - Photo #87

My R2-D2 becomes my toothpick holder. :P

More about my fascination with astromech droids.

More photos on my Facebook album.

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My R2-D2 & Family

Toy shops are my favorite hangout/dating spot. I suppose David will agree whole-heartedly. :P

Anyway, I got this R2-D2 figurine (The Clone Wars) for only RM20!

This is really a good deal. Nice paint job and it's the only one on the rack.

R2-D2 without battle gears.

R2-D2 with battle gears.

Oh yeah, welcome to the family of astromech droids.

Disclaimer: Only the R2-D2 is mine, the rest are David's. XD

More photos on my Facebook album.
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Project 365 - Photo #86

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Project 365 - Photo #85


Telltale signs of stressed-out colleagues at work. :P


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Love Affair with Renault Megane

My previous post presents the frontal view of the Renault Megane. In this post, let's feast upon this French beauty's different angles.

This is Megane's rear view with attached roof.

Now, let's also take a look as its roof retracts and/or extends. As the motion or retracting & extending takes place, it really looks as if it's an Autobot transforming to roll out! :D


Handsome!

This is the sun-shade for the rooftop.

David ^^

Me & my first ride in a convertible. ^^

Thanks dear!


Follow my love for cars!
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Project 365 - Photo #84

Megane means "pearl" or "leader". The Renault Megane is a helluva handsome convertible! RM200K++. Anyone? :)

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Movie: The Butterfly Effect 2 (2006)

Can you change your past without destroying your future?

The Butterfly Effect 2 is a 2006 psychological thriller movie. After watching it on DVD, my deepest impression is that it's like an extended version of those 1-hour superhero drama, e.g. Heroes, Prison Break, etc.

Let's read its synopsis.

Nick is celebrating his girlfriend Julie's birthday with their best buddies Trevor and Amanda out of town. Life is good for the young couples. Nick is expecting a promotion at the company where he works while Julie is planning to move in and stay with Nick instead of going to New York to pursue her education.

Unfortunately, on the same day, Nick receives a phone call from a colleague who's disputing over his promotion and wants him to be back to work. On their way back to town, they met with an accident. Everyone's dead except Nick. A year later, Nick realizes that he can travel through time by looking at photographs. By doing so, he tries to fix the past, but sadly, with tragic consequences for the future. Thus the tagline: Can you change your past without destroying your future?

Sounds good? Yes, the plot is simple and the storyline is interesting - time-traveling to change your future. However, it's a pity that the acting is so-so only and certain scenes drag on without much weight and can be quite confusing if you don't pay much attention.

Overall, it's another short movie to kill the night. :)
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Project 365 - Photo #83


Beary Fishy from Dooodolls.

A "surplies" gift for boyfriend. :)


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Project 365 - Photo #82

Sid's "Ben Nevis" Burger @ Sid's, Bangsar South.

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Project 365 - Photo #81

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My R2-D2!!!

R2-D2 Speaker in a box @ XL-Shop, Mid Valley. At the moment, it's sold for RM69.90 each, RM128 for a pair.

Unboxed! It's now my MSN avie photo. :)

Ready to serve.

Connected to a laptop to test its sound quality.

Next target: Remote Control R2-D2. Found at Toys 'r' us, RM129.90. XD

More photos on my Facebook album.
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CarAds - Test Driven Cars - March 2010

CarAds Magazine's March 2010 Issue

This is Hyundai i30. White and sportish, it resembles Volkswagen's Golf at the first glance. :)

This is KIA Picanto, the little compact black car that was driven all the way to Cherating. I drove it for about 200KM from Cherating back to KL. Not too bad.

More to come. Follow this label - CarAds. :)
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CarAds - Test Driven Cars - February 2010

CarAds Magazine's February 2010 Issue

KIA Forte is the first car that I've the chance to test-drive, apart from being driven around by the editor. :P

Hyundai Starex Royale is the second car. I guess so far, this is the whitest and largest car that I've ever sat in. It's an 11-seater MPV. Oh yeah, this is also the first MPV in which I finished watching a 2-hour movie on DVD!

Nissan Sylphy by Impul is the third car. I like its young punk and sporty look-n-build plus the look on other drivers' faces as we zoomed past them. Nyahahahaha!

More to come. Follow this label - CarAds.
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Alice in Wonderland Dance Show @ Mid Valley

Aiyak. I haven't watched Alice in Wonderland yet. But, I've the chance to watch Alice in Wonderland's Dance Show at Center Court, Mid Valley yesterday. :)

Let's have a look at the props, stage, and dancers. The props are quite impressive with elaborate and colorful set-up of giant mushrooms, flowers, and even a tall gate! Mid Valley's Center Court is magically transformed into a Wonderland!


Flowers with human faces and a lot of greens surrounding this jam-packed "Wonderland"! Kids and their parents, couples and groupies, well in fact everybody is excited as they strolled and camwhored! Cool beans! I watched everything from the first floor while sipping San Francisco's Iced Blended Coffee Latte.

Ah... such bliss. I love weekends. :P


I guess we all are familiar with Alice, Mad Hatter, the Red Queen, the White Rabbit, the White Queen, Knave of Hearts. Too bad Tweedledee & Tweedledum and the Cheshire Cat aren't performing with them.

I'm not sure whether this dance show will still be featured this coming weekend. You might want to check it out if you happen to drop by Mid Valley. :)

P.S.: David, when will we watch Alice in Wonderland? :P
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Project 365 - Photo #80

Good copywriting on a T-shirt.

Posted via email from joycescapade :: posterous

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Project 365 - Photo #79

The entrance arch at Alicia Mok & Cheng Wei's wedding @ Eastin Hotel, Ballroom.

Posted via email from joycescapade :: posterous

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Project 365 - Photo #78

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10 Signs to Tell If He's Mr. Right

Note: Extracted from original article.

Is He the One?

1. Your friends approve
You'll know he's the right guy for you if your friends feel the same way. If your man hasn't earned your friends' stamp of approval, he might as well be waving a big red flag.

2. He gets along with your family
Introducing someone to your family can be awkward and tense — we can thank Ben Stiller for his excellent portrayal of all the worst-case scenarios. However, if he does mesh with the fam and becomes an instant member of your Dad's "circle of trust," then you'll know he's a keeper.

3. He listens to you
Communication is the foundation to any good relationship. If you're trying to build a life with a guy who doesn't think that what you have to say is important, your relationship will inevitably come crashing down. You need a man who truly listens to you.

4. You share the same values
You may say "tomay-to" while he says "tomah-to," but there is no need to call the whole thing off. Just be certain that you both agree on what matters most in life. Finding a man who shares your ideals will make for a smooth ride.

5. He's the type of person you would be friends with
You should have the same standards in your love life as you do socially. If you're dating a guy who you would never be friends with, you might not be a good fit long-term.

6. You trust him
Without trust, your relationship is doomed to fail. If you can honestly say that you trust your man, you may have just found Mr. Right.

7. He makes you feel special
We all know that new-relationship high a little too well, but those feelings tend to dwindle as the days and months progress. If your man is still able to give you butterflies well into the relationship, then you've hit the jackpot.

8. He talks about the future
In your search for Mr. Right, you've to remember that he's also looking for a Mrs. Right. If your significant other verbalizes his thoughts on your future together, then it's likely that he's also considering you to be that special someone.

9. You feel secure
A man who's financially unfit may not be a good life partner. If your significant other can't even take care of himself, how will he be able to take care of others? While we don't recommend gold digging your way to your next boyfriend, we do think it's important to feel secure in your relationship and in your financial future together.

10. He loves you for you
Surprisingly, this part has to come from you, not him. If you aren't being true to yourself in a relationship, then he isn't falling for the real you. Although we all want to be seen as perfect, the facade will eventually crumble. Be yourself and if he still loves you, you know he's here to stay.
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Project 365 - Photo #77

Here's CarAds Mag March 2010 issue.

Test Driven: KIA Picanto, Hyundai i30.

Feb 2010 issue

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Project 365 - Photo #76

I went to Sid's @ Bangsar South with my boyfriend on Wednesday to meet up with fellow tweeples while celebrating St. Patrick's Day. Here, we saw Ija (@SpicyGuy) with a nice Twitter T-shirt. :D

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Movie: The Lovely Bones (2010)

The story of a life and everything that came after...

The Lovely Bones is adapted from Alice Sebold's novel of the same name. This lovely yet serenely sad movie is directed by Peter Jackson, best known for The Lord of the Rings trilogy and District 9. The name Peter Jackson gives me 100% assurance that this will be another meaningful movie. And yes, I'm right.

Saoirse Ronan, a 16-year old Irish actress is Susie Salmon, the main character of the movie. Mark Wahlberg and Rachel Weisz are Susie's parents; Susan Sarandon is Susie's grandmother.

Note:
Saoirse means freedom in Irish.

In a nutshell, Susie's narration summarizes the whole story.

"My name is Salmon, like the fish. First name, Susie. I was fourteen years old when I was murdered on December 6th, 1973. I wasn't gone. I was alive in my own perfect world. But in my heart, I knew it wasn't perfect. My murderer still haunted me. My father had the pieces but he couldn't make them fit. I waited for justice but justice did not come."

Saoirse Ronan is a very lovely young actress. Her clear, sky blue eyes are hypnotic and you can't help but be drawn into her character and feel Susie's love*, happiness, agony, and hatred throughout the entire movie. Lovely.

*A love poem:
"If I had but an hour of love,
If that be all that is given me,
An hour of love upon this earth,
I would give my love to thee."


About the murderer, Mr. Harvey (Stanley Tucci), he gives me the "skivvies" (quoting Ruth, another character). Pay attention to his facial expression and you'll get goosebumps in seconds. Perfect.

As human beings, we believe in "a tooth for a tooth, an eye for an eye". No. This movie chooses a peaceful closure, an ending so sad that I've to believe that justice is served even if we don't see it with our own eyes.

Susie's closing narration explains all.

"Nobody notices when we leave. I mean, the moment when we really choose to go. At best you might feel, a whisper or the wave of a whisper, undulating down. My name is Salmon, like the fish. First name: Susie. I was 14 years old, when I was murdered on December 6th 1973. I was here for a moment, and then I was gone. I wish you all, a long, and happy life."

Highly recommended. Watch it and dream about the world of "the in-between". :)
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Project 365 - Photo #75

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