Among The Stars

6 months have passed since my last posting. Much has changed. Jobs have changed. People in my circle have changed. The re-imagining of Star Trek was outstanding. Christian Bale and Michael Bay fcuked up their summer movies, the unthinkable happened...Michael Owen is now a Manchester United player.


My name is Brian J. Chong, and I send this message to any surviving Autobots taking refuge among the stars. We are here. We are waiting.

Those Harsh Words.

Coming from someone I hold close to my heart for over half a decade.. someone whom I've spoken to on a daily basis, those words that were spoken were the harshest ones I've ever heard. It breaks my heart every time I hear it over and over again in my head.

Sir Issac said "For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction". I must've done something real bad that I wished and hoped and tried not to do. I wish I could disappear to another time and place where I could just be with myself and contemplate life.

The 2008 Bry Choice Awards! Movie Edition

And the winner for 2008's Bry Choice Motion Picture...

THE DARK KNIGHT

Movie log: Tropic Thunder

Tropic Thunder (2008) - 3.25 stars

Good effects, good sounds, entertaining leads

Movie log: Beverly Hills Chihuahua

Beverly Hills Chihuahua (2008) - 2.75 stars

Not as bad as I thought it would be. Drew Barrymore is irritating but Andy Garcia steals the show.

PicPost: Cousin Anna's Wedding Dinner

~ Bring on the liquor!

adui.

PicPost: Cousin Anna Gets Hitched - 081208

~

The bridesmaids Helen & Debbie with rival photographer Gary C

Sleepy Uncle George

A grandmother's wondering thought

Duncan snaps his mom the bride as she stands at the entrance of the church

See the resemblance?

Away she goes

With this ring, I thee wed.

Movie log: Twilight / Pathology

Twilight (2008) - 3 stars

A teenage vampire love story that suffers from over draggy-ness and lack of star power and plot execution









Pathology (2008) - 2 stars

Another excuse to make a lame 'gore' movie

Movie log: Transporter 3

Transporter 3 (2008) - 2.5 stars

Weakest entry but Statham is still a top notch action hero

Movie log: Vacancy

Vacancy (2007) - 3 stars

Fast paced and excitingly suspenseful

Movie log: Deception

Deception (2008) - 3.5 stars

The weak plot dampens it a little, but it's entertaining throughout.

The Ethan Yap Project Does The 3R Circle Back To Nature Relay

7 days. That was the last time I trained. Damn on and off flu kept 'bugging' me the entire week before I succumbed to a medium-to-high fever on Thursday.

The 3R Circle Back To Nature Relay 2008 was upon us. 3.92kms of uphills and downhills. Ian, Ashraf, and I formed "The Ethan Yap Project", a tribute to our migrated comrade in Melbourne, AU. Our captain, Ian Yap budgeted that each of us could complete the course in 20 mins. Oh how wrong he was. We finished the track in about 26-29 mins.

Ashraf & Captain Yap prepping up the race bibs

Our time card

The starting line. Note the cool electronic time mat thingy. We had to tap our batons there as we start our run

To tell you the truth, after running approximately 2 minute on the uphill start, I began to feel fatigued. I blamed it on me recovering from my illness just 2 days prior but I don't think that was totally the case. My cardio training is only based on flat ground. Well, more like flat treadmill ground. Looks like this is something I should work on. As our captain told me, "Running outside is not the same as running on the treadmill in the gym." Hmm.

Undoubtedly, this run was the smallest one in terms of participation. I think it was because it wasn't a publicly publicized one. About 33 teams of 3 showed up to run the grueling track of Bukit Kiara.

I guess the best part of the run is that we were awarded with medals in the end. =) My first ever medal of any kind!!! It took me 27 years. Better late than never.

23 November 2008 - 'The Ethan Yap Project' finishes 11th

Movie log: American History X

American History X (1998) - 4 stars

Edward Norton's brilliant performance while depicting the backing of serious social issues make this one a winner.

Movie log: Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay

Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay (2008) - 3.75 stars

Hilarious and entertaining. Some scenes may get a little overboard though. Can't wait for a third!

Movie log: Camp Rock / Step Up 2 The Streets / In Bruges

Camp Rock (2008) - 2 stars

Haven't we seen all this before? Who cares as long as it brings in money right? Way to go Disney.








Step Up 2 The Streets (2008) - 2.75 stars

Momentum only kicks in the halfway mark of the movie. Watch only if you're into hip hop and dance








In Bruges (2008) - 3 stars

Slow moving but an interesting look at the humanization of hitmen

Movie log: Madagascar - Escape 2 Africa / Forgetting Sarah Marshall

Madagascar - Escape 2 Africa (2008) - 3 stars

Better than expected









Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008) - 3.5 stars

An enjoyable movie to watch on a lazy Satturday afternoon

Movie log: The Accidental Husband / Run Fatboy Run

The Accidental Husband (2008) - 1.5 star

Rehashed, boring, and uber lack of chemistry on all leads









Run Fatboy Run (2007) - 3.75 stars

A funny and motivational tale that shows that all it takes is a little bit of determination and ambition to get you where you want to be

Note: Directed by David Schwimmer of FRIENDS!

IOI Community Run '08

At the break of dawn

The target was 48 minutes. The result was 44.

I only had just over 2 hours of sleep the night before and that goes to show that if you're mentally prepared, all it takes is to get your two feet moving to finish the course, even at better speeds.

MS & Team DiGi before the race

By the start point...

A big thank you to Ian whom I ran with the whole way through without stopping. If it wasn't for you by my side and Bill Conti on my headphones, I wouldn't have finished the course in 'Bry record' time.

Post race photo-op

Next up..the 3km x 3 relay run; Nov 23 2008. 'The Ethan Yap Project' begins.

Movie log: Quantum Of Solace

Quantum Of Solace (2008) - 3.5 stars

It's biggest weakness and strength lies in it being a continuation of 'Casino Royale'. Steers further from usual Bond elements but maintains the Daniel Craig style of Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.

For Terry

The Terry Fox Run is an annual non-competitive charity event held in numerous regions across the globe in commemoration of Canadian cancer activist Terry Fox, and his Marathon Of Hope, and to raise money for cancer research.

The event was founded in 1981 by Isadore Sharp, who contacted Terry in-hospital by telegram and expressed his wishes to hold an annual run in Terry's name to raise funds for cancer research. The run itself is informal which means that the distance often varies, usually between 5 and 15 kilometres; participation is considered to be more important than completing the set distance.

The wonderful drivers of Malaysia. Double parking is one thing. At least they have the courtesy to leave the 'BUS ONLY' area vacant.

Pre run wait

Despite having a faulted start and lack of signages that show the 'Advance' and 'Family' courses (where some people took a wrong turn..), the run was a great way to spend a Sunday morning. Waking up at 6 and heading to KL while the Sun rises felt great. I finished the 6.5km course in 43 minutes. Damn. Was targeting 39. Ian beat me to the finish line during the final 1km due to me slowing down and not hitting my NOS on my N95 in time. Sigh. Nvm. Next week its the IOI Community Run, which is 7.5km. My target? 48 mins.

Post run water stop

--

On another note, congratulations to my former college mate Abdul Azim on his blessed day!~