Hot yoga

Two muffins were in an oven. One muffin said to the other, "Is it me, or is it hot in here?"

The other muffin said, "Holy shit! A talking muffin!"

I can really connect with the muffins. Or cupcakes. Or any other delicious food left heating up in the oven, or microwave. Because last night, I was sitting in an oven. Figuratively, of course.

There were 8 of us, including the hot (pun not intended) instructor, in the oven, I mean, in the studio. The temperature was slowly rising, until it reached 40 degrees Celsius. By then, I was basically losing water like a morning drizzle, slow at first, and it got heavier as we went on. There were 26 postures and each of them requires a certain degree of flexibility and strength. And balance.

I have to say, it was a good session. At the end of the session, every muscle in my body was screaming curses at me. But it does feel great. It isn't like doing weights, where you pushed your body to the limits, and your muscles ache and get sore for two days after the workout. This is more like, a relaxed work-out, but almost with the same results. It's a total body workout, and at the same time, you get the health benefits thrown in. Well, that was what the instructor said anyway. But it's believable. If not, I'm sure the founder of this particular yoga won't still be alive and healthy as a fiddle at 62.

I am so tempted to sign in for the classes, but I know I can't afford to pay another RM200 per month for a gym membership. And it's not like I have the time to spare three times a week to attend the classes, since the weekdays classes start at 6.30pm while I'm always not around during weekends. But those two free sessions were really worth it. If anyone of you interested to try it out, you can just drop by at the center, act interested, and ask for the 7 days free pass.

Make sure you wear minimum clothing (preferably just your underwear) since you're going to be wet all over.

A typical lazy Sunday

Every now and then, it's nice to have some time to yourself to just chill out at home, doing particularly nothing and achieving nothing at the same time. I think the correct term for it is time wasting. You can either nap, surf the web, watch TV, or even read. Or you can just laze around in bed, with minimum clothings, and fantasize about anything in random. Which is what I did just now. But my imagination is a bit dull, I think I have a condition called the lazy mind. You normally get it by watching too many porns at one go, which at the same time numb your mind to any feelings whatsoever.

Which is exactly what I am feeling right now. Nothing.

Which is great, because I don't want to feel anything. My shoulders are aching for constantly thinking and feeling. Weird how the shoulders are involved in this, but when you really think about it, it's like the weight of the world is on my shoulders, hence the aching shoulders. and it's not a good feeling.

But wait, I'm not supposed to feel anything.

I rarely get to spend time on my own now, what with work, and other commitments and friends who need babysitting. Which is great, because a busy life means a meaningful life, isn't it? Don't get me wrong, I do love my life. I love my friends, and I love my job (maybe not wholeheartedly, but there is some love in there). Period. No buts, no regrets.

And it's great to have things to do all the time. Even if it's only running to the shop to get today's newspaper. Or feeding the cat and terrorizing the kitten, clearing the junks under the bed while listening to the music, or fixing the air-con fuse for the car. Sometimes, it's the little things you do in life that makes it meaningful, and fulfilling. Yet, some of us crave for something bigger, on a worldly scale, to be truly satisfied and self-fulfilled.

I guess I'm just the typical lazy guy who just wishes that the world can move at a crawling pace.

The Dinosaurs are back

This video made me laugh for a good 10 minutes (courtesy from ClutchFans Forum). 4 rockets players, Battier, Novak, Mutombo and Francis did their best dinosaur impersonations in a commercial for "Walking with Dinosours", the live theatrical adaptation.

I think J.E. Skeets summed it up pretty well. Rockets players impersonate Dikembe, Dikembe and the Rockets players impersonate dinosaurs, and dinosaurs knew Dikembe personally, most likely impersonated him behind his back. There. Circle of life complete.

(You have to be a fan to get the joke)

Anger management

I'm an angry man. I have never dealt with anger properly before. Most of the time, it will just get suppressed deep down my bowels, with the hope that it will exited my system with the rest of my waste products every morning when I go to the toilet.

I just did (went to the toilet), yet the anger still remains. So I guess that did not work anymore.

Come to think of it, it never worked before.

So I did what I normally do when I'm angry. I watch porn. Lots of porns. At least, instead of boiling mad with anger, I'll be boiling mad with desires. And it helped, in a way.

Albeit only temporary.

So I blasted my stereo and listened to songs from TV/Movie themes. Knight Rider, Airwolf, Superman, Charmed, Indiana Jones, Mission Impossible and many more. That helped a bit, keeping my mind occupied for a while. And the mad dancing, in front of the mirror. Naked.

But then I remembered, that was what started it all. No, not the dancing or being naked. The TV. The cold and curt reply. The hurt and anger.

This is not helping at all.

Four hours to my yoga class. If that doesn't work, I don't know what will.

Bella

I know I'm a slave to TV, but never have I thought that I would leave work early everyday just so that I could catch Bella on TV3 at 6.30pm. The show airs everyday from Monday to Thursday, and I'm counting the days for the final episode, because truth to be said, I'm glued to it just because I want to know the ending.

Not that I can't imagine what's the ending going to be like. Knowing Malay dramas, and knowing TV3 very well, there can only be one typical ending to everything. Good will always prevail over evil.

Bella is about a young girl by the same name who has a filthy rich father who owns a huge company called Paradine. The company has several hotel chains, and is run by the family itself. Bella's father is the CEO, while her uncle and cousins also work there. Things started to get ugly when Shah (Bella's cousin), plotted for the demise of Bella and the ownership of the company.

Shah is aided by his evil mother, and with the two of them plotting and scheming, they managed to kill Bella's father. Now that the father is out of the way, they plotted for Bella's downfall. And this is achieved with the aid of Zahar, Shah's buddy from his college days, who infiltrate himself into a relationship with Bella.

To cut it short, he ended up marrying Bella. Now everything is in place. But wait, Zahar ended up falling in love with Bella, and was a bit reluctant to follow through on Shah's plans. Shah took drastic action by killing Bella, and now he can own the company.

But there is Bella's mother, Datin Mariah, who still holds the bigger share of the company. She needed to be taken care off, so Shah attempted to kill her, but fail. Instead, she was admitted to a mental institution, and left to rot and tell anybody who cared to listen about her evil nephew and how her daughter is still alive.

And lo and behold! Bella is still alive! (well duh! How can you kill the main character in the middle of the series?) Unbeknown to the killers, Pak Hassan, Bella's loyal servant and bodyguard, managed to save her and bring her to safety. With the aid of Dr. Rayyan, Bella's childhood friend, they nursed Bella back to health.

Shah is now the CEO of Paradine. Datin Mariah is in a nuthouse, and Bella is still in a long and deep coma. Zahar is nowhere to be seen, Dr. Rayyan is getting engaged to Dr. Mia and is torn between Bella and his fiancee, and the series don't seem to be ending soon.

So that can only mean one thing. I will be the first one to leave the office indefinitely.

From this moment

You're the reason I believe in love
And you're the answer to my prayers from up above
All we need is just the two of us

My dreams came true because of you...

Above and below

Do you want to travel the world? Do you want to be a diver for pearls? Or climb up mountains and touch the clouds above?

I have climbed numerous mountains, and have always enjoy the jungles and the mountains. I started way back when I was in school, and have never looked back since. And I hope my love for it will never die.

Come tomorrow, I will embark on a new adventure, and this time, it will be heading down. Into the ocean, to be specific. I have always wanted to dive, but have never found the time and means to do so. But thanks to the friends that I've made this past few months, I am just a step away from logging in my first dive.

I had the chance of testing the water, so to speak, last November when I went on a diving trip to Pulau Sembilan. Although I wasn't a diver back then, I had the chance of going under for an hour. And I know from that moment on that it is something that I want to do regularly. I wish I had done it sooner, but I guess it's never late than never.

Diving is an expensive hobby. The trips themselves will cost you quite a sum, not to mention the equipments and the boat charter. And it is not something that you can simply pick up, like mountain climbing. You need to attend classes, sit for exams, and finally be certified by a professional trainer. And there are levels that you can attain for if you wish. But each step will cost you more money.

That's why you need to do so sparingly. Unless of course, if you're filthy rich and have nothing else better to do.

At times, I do wish I'm filthy rich and have nothing else better to do.

But then again, I prefer what I have now, even if it's not a lot.

Three times a charm

Fernando Torres is on fire. But can he fire up Liverpool pass Manchester United this weekend?

After the embarrassing lost to Barnsley that knocked them out of the FA Cup, Liverpool have been winning all their games. That is 7 games in a row. They are up against the leader this weekend, and the weekend after that, their Merseyside rival - Everton.

Beating Manchester United is important, not because they have any chance of displacing the Red Devils at the top, but because every point counts nowadays. They are hanging tightly onto 4th spot, the last spot to the Champions League's millions. They were neck to neck with Everton, until last week when Everton was undone by the brilliance of Brian McBride of Fulham.

So it is important to win the next two games, and consolidate 4th place.

Because after that, it's going to be Arsenal, Arsenal, and more Arsenal. 3 games in a row.

Twice in the Champions League, and another one a league game. 3 consecutive games in a row. If you get it wrong in the first try, you get another chance. But getting to the semifinals of the Champions League is extremely important for Liverpool. It's their only chance of a silverware this season.

And it might save Rafa Benitez from looking for another job this summer.

So where does Torres fit in all this?

Torres, will be the one scoring the goals.

The real test

The Rockets have won 21 consecutive games, the second most in the league history, rivaled only by the 1971/72 Lakers team which won 33 straight with the help of their center, Wilt Chamberlain. They went and beat the Knicks in the finals to lift the trophy.

Now, Rockets are without their center, and also the star player of the team. Yao Ming leads in scoring and rebound for the team, and when he went for surgery a few weeks ago, a lot of people wrote down their chances. No way they can continue the streak without Yao.

But 9 games later, they are still winning. Now they sit at the top of the Western Conference, sharing the lead with the Lakers. Lakers have been revitalized with the arrival of Pau Gasol, climbing their way up the table and becoming yet again a force to be reckon with.

Of course, there is also the Kobe factor.

Tomorrow, it's going to be Rockets vs Lakers. Clash of the top two teams. It's going to be an important game for the Rockets, because this is where their mettle will be tested. This is when their championship credentials will be proven. This is The Game.

And after the Lakers, it's going to be the Celtics, who have the best record in the NBA now, then another encounter with the Hornets. Then it's going to be the Warriors and the Suns.

These are going to be tough games for them. Their shooting percentage has been dropping lately, and they've been relying a lot on their defense. And also unexpected heroes. McGrady has been tanking for the team, but in every game, there have always been the unlikely heroes. Landry and Scola did his part, and so did Novak and Mutombo. And in yesterday's win against the Bobcats, it was Michael Harris, who was one of Rockets' final training camp cuts. And I haven't even heard of him until yesterday.

I will be watching the game closely tomorrow, from the net. And hopefully, at the end of it, I'll be jumping up and down and grinning wildly.

33 in a row? Sounds impossible, but with some luck and hustle play, it can happen again.

And the Rockets might just rewrite history.

Intense moments

It was the day where the nation decides. The votes have all been cast, they're now being counted. And everywhere in the nation, everyone is glued in front of the TV watching the results as they are being announced live.

So far, it has been a bloodbath, so to speak.

As suspected, BN has won Sabah and Malacca. And PAS has retain Kelantan. And surprisingly, BN has won Perlis easily too. While the upsets would definitely be the lost of Penang to the opposition. Kedah and Perak are very close at the moment, and it's very hard to predict the winner for these two states. While everywhere else, the battle is tensed and heated. One thing for sure, BNs majorities have been significantly reduced.

If there is a time to be worried, now would be a good time.

And if there is a time to be rejoiced, now would be a good time too.

It's no surprise that it's going to be a very close fight. And it's no surprise that there will be plenty of upsets too. I think everyone is sick of watching the BN's commercial which keeps on appearing on TV every 5 minutes or so. And for someone who spends most of the nights in front of the TV, I was brainwashed by the commercial. Brainwashed into hating and loathing the frequency of the commercials.

My vote was based on that, simply for that reason alone.

Well, maybe there is another factor, come to think of it. I am also a sucker to cute Chinese Politicians.

But I digress.

From a landslide victory in 2004 for BN, it is now a different story for them. I think the people are getting sick and tired of the things that have been going on for the past 4 years, and it shows in the results. One thing I notice also is the number of spoilt votes which have increased too. This must be the ones who decided that both parties are incapable of running the country, and they want their voices to be heard.

One thing for sure, people is hoping for change.

And I think, in a few hours more, we might see some big changes.

15 points blowout

17 in a row. Now if that is not impressive, I don't know what is. Oh, I know. 18 in a row. Now that would be something.

But up next would be the surprise-of-the-season team - the Hornets. Chris Paul and his rag-a-tag band might have a different ball game up their sleeve, what with Peja Stojakovic finding his range again beyond the arc, and Tyson Chandler making himself present in the paint. The hornets are clinging to the second spot in the tough Southwest Division, but it won't be for long now. But I believe the Rockets are not interested in second spot, they are looking for the top spot, and with that, the Western Conference title. Wouldn't that be something?

But a lot has been said about this streak. Will they have what it takes to sustain until the playoffs? With Yao Ming out for the season, what will happen when they are up against the top teams with the big man? The Suns have Shaquile O'Neal and Amare Stoudamire. The Lakers are prospering with Pau Gasol and the soon to be fit Andrew Bynum. And Spurs can always rely on Tim Duncan. And in the playoffs, it's another ball game. You choke, you lose. And Rockets are well aware of this. Numerous first round exits must be painful for veteran players like Tracy McGrady, who never seem to be able to carry his team past the first round. Last year they did well to take the first two games against the Jazz, but in the end they lost the 7th game. And three years ago, it was the Mavericks who dispatched them in 6 games.

Speaking about the Mavericks, they got trashed yesterday morning by an energetic Rockets team. Dirk Nowitzki was suspended for the game, for the flagrant foul he committed on Andrei Kirilenko. The game was close until the third quarter, when the Rockets pulled away and the Mavs struggling with their shots. In the end, it was a huge win, something that they've been getting quite often nowadays.

With 21 games more to go, a lot of things can happen. And that includes a record breaking 30 games winning streak. Hey, it is possible!

All they need is to believe in themselves. Which they are, at the moment.

Looney Toons

There's something definitely wrong with Newcastle United. They have not won in a very long time. Their last league win was in December last year, and that was a one nil scoreline away at Fulham. They did beat Stoke City sometime in January, but that was an FA Cup tie, which they played twice because the first game ended in a draw.

They have only scored 30 goals while letting in a whooping 53 goals in 28 games. Basically, their goal difference is second worst after Derby. But Derby County is going down, that's a fact. The other two teams with the same goal difference with Newcastle are languishing at the bottom of the league.

So does this mean Newcastle might join in the fray?

Can you imagine Michael Owen, or Mark Viduka, or even Damien Duff playing in the League Championship (the equivalent to the First Division)? Well, they might have better sense and pack their bags to head to a greener pasture before that happens. But what about the rest of the team? Shay Given is a world class goalkeeper. And there's Obafemi Martins, Alan Smith, Joey Barton and Geremi. Imagine Barton playing in the lower leagues? He's already in enough trouble surviving the Premier League, what's with his off-field antics, his drinking and brawling. I think he's still in jail somewhere, but I might be wrong.

And talking about Shay Given, he used to be a very good goalkeeper. There was a time when a lot of big clubs were interested in him, but he remained loyal to the Toons. He's getting old, but he's a goalkeeper! And I thought goalkeeper gets better with age. I mean, look at David James. He was Calamity James when he was with Liverpool, now his Steady James at Portsmouth. And he still dons England number 1, but that is because there's simply nobody else. Heck, they're even thinking of promoting Ben Foster to No. 1. I mean, if that can't be desperate, I don't know what can!

Kevin Keegan must be having sleepless nights thinking about his predicament. He is doing everything he thinks right, motivating and pushing his players to get the results, yet everytime when the final whistle blows, he is left covering his face and avoiding the cameras. Sooner or later, he will get his first win. He knows it. They won't sack him. Not yet. Not now. Maybe not for a very long time yet. Simply because nobody else is interested in the job. So Keegan is stuck with the team, stuck with a bunch of talents who are so demotivated that they can barely keep their head high after each game.

So the question now is, when will he gets his first win?

You want to know what I think? Definitely not this weekend.

Because they are playing Liverpool!

Cabs from hell

Cabdrivers are assholes. I do not know how they passed their road exams, but they definitely do not know the first thing when it comes to the laws of the road. It's either that, or they just simply don't care, disregarding everyone and everything like they are the king of the roads. Or maybe they have a different set of exams, where they learn how to cheat and break traffic laws.

How often have you been blindsided by cabs who suddenly stopped at the roadside to pick or drop passengers? It can be in the middle of a busy stretch, or a one-way street. Then there are cabs who cut queues, use the emergency lanes, and tailgate others.

And don't get me started on cabdrivers who simply refuse to use the meter, and charge you as they see fit. Have you try to take a cab from Subang Jaya (commuter station and also Carrefoure)? They have a system there, where anywhere around the vicinity is charged a flat rate of RM10. Doesn't matter if it's only 10 minutes away, or just a few blocks away. And try to haggle, and they'll tell you to take the bus.

They really don't care. If you're not going to take their cab, some other sucker will. And they will still get their Rm10. And how much do they charge to get you to KL Sentral? It can be up to Rm40. If you're lucky, you might get away with Rm30 fare. But definitely no meter. They might as well yank out the meter and toss it out in the drain.

Of course, the prices are seasonal. Come the rain, charges can go up by 20%. Come the peak hours, another slight rise. And after midnight, a significant hike. When you think of it, it's amazing how some of them were complaining about how poor they are, and how hard it is being a taxi driver. But I guess those must be the few honest ones, who use the meter and abide traffic laws.

Yes, there are honest cabdrivers out there. And I've encountered them before. Very rarely. They are like an endangered species. You're lucky if you can find one. And if you do, make sure you get their number. Chances are, you might need to get to KLIA one of these days and the number might come in handy.

But for now, I'll stick to the bus.

Webtag

Another tag by Naiza.

The Linking Tag Rules

1. List out five favourite links - the links can be of business sites, affiliate links or whatever that suits the blogger.

2. Tag five more people to share their links, so hopefully, at the end of the tag, we would be able to share good links with each other.

3. The links MUST be clean. No X-rated sites.

4. List out only FIVE links.

5. You MUST tell the FIVE people you chose.

6. Provide the link back to the person who tagged you.

7. Obviously, it should be an active link.

Well then, my five links would be:

1. Soccernet - Football related, results and news. And more news (I'm dreading the day when the headlines would read: Benitez sacked!)

2. NBA.com - NBA basketball related, results, videos and news. And statistics! I'm a stat person.

3. Yahoo! Sports - For other sporting results, including tennis, F1 and more NBA.

4. Facebook - A no brainer, since lately I've been hooked to it. Seriously hooked. Favourite application at the moment is Superheroes, Hobowars and Friends for Sale.

5. My blog - Well, it's easier to get around from there. I normally read the blogs listed on the sidebar.

Now let see, who should I tag?

1. Spena
2. Najib
3. Hazyr
4. Bakawali
5. Guile

Streaking Rockets

14 straight win. The longest in the NBA so far this year. And one short of tying the franchise record. And that was an unbeaten February for them, going through the whole month unbeaten.

With Yao Ming out injured for the rest of the season, it looks like a daunting task for the Rockets to keep up with their winning ways. But with Tracy McGrady back to full health, and the Rockets rosters providing ample support, they might just have the chance of progressing far in the playoffs this time around. The West has not been won yet, and any 9 teams at the moment have the chance of winning it. The Rockets are sitting way down on 7th place, but only 2 games separate them from the Spurs who are at the top of the Conference.

The thing is, the lead has been changing for the past few days. The surprising Hornets have been on top, Suns and Lakers alternated a few times, and the rest of the pack are keeping close to them. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Rockets making it to the top, if they keep on playing like they did in February.

I have been particularly impressed with rookie Carl Landry. The power forward has been performing well, averaging 7.9 points and 5.0 rebounds per game with an average of 16 minutes each game. He is also shooting really well, averaging 64.2% from the floor. Other than him, Luis Scola is also doing well, pumping in good numbers for the team, and for the first time in many years, the Rockets finally have a good supporting cast. The recent trade also landed them Bobby Jackson, a 10 years veteran who can provide enough experience and some offense from the bench.

Up next, it's Allen Iverson and the Nuggets at home tomorrow. Then it's the Pacers, and then the Mavericks, which could be the pivotal game that determines which team will finish above the other. But with 24 more games to go, a lot of things can happen. They still have to play the Hornets twice, and Spurs one more time. These might be the games that might shake the standings in the tough Southwest Division.

But if the Rockets keep on playing the way they do right now, with superb defense and workable offense, it could be a good season for them.

And I'm counting on that.