Surface Book, Surface Pro 4, Lumia 950 and 950 XL and Band 2

That is Surface Book, which is advertised as ultimate laptop with all the power of laptop with dedicated GPU (dedicated video processing card). My jaw drops when I saw the screen can be detached from keyboard, which means Surface Book is also a tablet! And, the tablet needs to be light, so Microsoft keeps the dedicated GPU and secondary battery in the keyboard. Wow.. This is innovation!

But, do not expect this to be cheap:

i5 128GB 8GBRAM: USD 1499

i5 256GB 8GBRAM: USD 1699

i5 256GB 8GBRAM dGPU: USD 1,899 (This is the power of dedicated GPU)

i7 256GB 8GBRAM dGPU: USD 2,099 

i7 512GB 16GBRAM dGPU: USD 2,699 

http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US/pdp/productID.325716000?icid=en_US_SurfaceBk_cat_mod...

Surface Pro 4 has more variety of price to choose for up to 1TB SSD now, but it seems similar to Surface Pro 3 when it was launched.

Sadly, Lumia 950 and 950 XL does not have enough spotlight, as the guy seems rushing the announcement of this flagship. With such a bombshell announcement of Surface Book, Microsoft should hold another event altogether of Lumia flagship.

And, yes, Band 2, this is more like an upgrade to Band 1, and I guess Microsoft will not advertise so heavily. 

But, I really hope all will be available in Singapore with interesting bundled pricing. Finger crossed.

Shopback

I just recently find this site shopback quite interesting. The idea is that you need to click the link to go to few online sites (e.g. Groupon, Zalora, Courts, etc), and it will give you some cashback vouchers for your purchase, which can be ranged from 1% to 10% or even more for promotion or events.

You can also use this site to find current voucher code or promotion that you will miss out before your purchase. So, it is simple to use, just visit shopback first, search the online merchant you want to go, look for any promo there, and click the link to the merchant website to purchase. For most cases, you will be able to see the cashback under Pending status, which should be redeemable after 1-2 weeks. So far so good although I have not reached minimum amount to redeem yet ($10).

Link: https://www.shopback.sg/r/3PQFRY

Guilty and Sorry

Thing happen to me recently which made me feel sorrow and sorry for what I have done. It's even worse because this will certainly affect the relationship that we had built for quite some times. Recently, I like to throw my emotion when something is not right or up to what I have expected, and the easy target is usually the one that is closed to me. I know it is wrong thing to do, but when thing happens, it's just difficult not to show the feeling. Up to one time, it is just a quite session while we are on the long way back to home. I could not help to break the ice, but the stupid pride took me back every time I tried to say something. In the end, I was back at home, felt so bad that I have misbehaved again. Hope that thing will be better tomorrow. Meredith in Grey Anatomy once said "Feeling is messy", and how true it is..

Pump 71

Just you think Pump 70 is just arrived and it is currently still in the gym till this weekend, several information for Pump 71 has been in the internet. Although I don't really like release 70 especially that awful shoulder track, but it's really tiring and good workout. Anyway, several track has been leaked out for Pump 71, and interesting abs track Circus by Britney Spears, and my all time favorite Linkin Park, What I've Done. And the new logo for this release will use water effect, quite cool though.

Squats: Summer of 69 – Mega-mania

Chest: Right Round – Flo Rider

Back: When love becomes a lie – Liz Kay (I think that’s right?)

Triceps: Black Fingernails, Red Wine – Eskimo Joe

Biceps: What I’ve Done – Linkin Park

Shoulders: Operation Blade – Public Domain

Abs: Circus – Britney Spears

Cooldown: Sober – Pink

I am a fan of pump, but wonder why my body doesn't reflect that.. Haha..

Pump 70

Just felt that Pump 69 was just released recently, I have read someone posted the upcoming released of Body Pump 70, here are several tracks that are mentioned:

Chest: Infinity 2008
Back: True Believer
Tricep: Christina Aguilera Keeps Gettin' Better
Bicep: Nickelback - Gotta be Somebody
Shoulder: Thunderstruck
Abs: Love Lockdown

I think Back and Chest track with little more remix will be awesome. As I am not big fans of rock, Shoulder track might needs heavy remix. However, look forward to this release.

Amazed

This lady voice, that just performed in one of the audition for Britains Got Talent, caught youtube and internet by storm. It's so funny to see the judges' face when they realize that this old lady can sings very well. Well, I admit that sometimes I like to judge people by appearance, and later surprised by how different people from the look. This is a wake up call. :)

Just now did body pump in the gym, it's good to feel the muscle is tighten, but it's quite discouraging to see my tummy never shrink a millimeter.. Sigh..

Pump 69

After addicted to Step Class for past few months, now I get more and more addicted to Body Pump. First time attending launch of Body Pump 69 about two weeks ago, I didn't think I will like this release so much, but having done this release for 4-5 times, I think several tracks are really awesome, particularly squads with super bottom-halves made me burning until sweat drop, and killing shoulder tracks with great music from Bass Hunter. I almost never able to do full push up, but the last pump 69 by Tim on Monday, made me feel high and I managed to do full push up (ok2, admit I missed 2 last counts :p). I think it's the music, familiarity to the moves and of course, the encouragement voice from favorite Pump instructor. From all the tracks in Pump, I am still particularly weak in bicep and triceps, guess I need to practice a lot on my hand.

Just attended Collin's level 2 step class, I found his moves doesn't really change much. Several of my friends found his class is a bit boring nowadays. I prefer the dynamic moves by Daniel, which getting better and better.. Love it..


If you like the music from this release, you can listen here. Below is video for shoulder tracks (weird video though)

Departures

A lot of buzz about this movie as this movie just won one of the highest award for non-english movie, academy awards for best foreign language. I try to drag my friends to watch this movie, but none really want to give this try, because of the theme and japanese movie. I usually do not prefer Japanese movie either, even the high-rated "Death Note", I am not interested to watch at all. However, with all the so good review of this movie, I went alone (how sad..) to watch with quite high expectation that this movie will be able to squeeze my heart and tear. 

This movie is about Daigo Kobayashi, desperate to find a job after his orchestra group is dissolved, landed himself a job to take care of the "departed", which is mispelled as departures in the job ads. The story revolves how he learns to appreciate the job that most people look down, including his wife that leaves him after she found out the job. It shows in detail, how the corpse is taken care in such precision, graceful, and sense of art, to show last respect to the deceased. The acting is good, especially the main actor, Masahiro Motoki. In short, this movie is beautifully done and touching. Although I don't really found myself with tear, I can hear some people sobbing at the back. I don't think it's a very heart-wrenching movie, but meaningful. Given running time of more than 2 hours, it is not really a boring movie, although I think it can be shorter. 3.5 of 5.

Super Hero Movie

There are suddenly several super-hero theme movies in the cinema now, judging from the trailer, I think Watchmen, Push and Dragon Ball will be a good entertaining super hero movie, but, all has failed me.

Being one of the best rated super hero movie so far, Watchmen has received a lot of good reviews. So with such a high expectation, unfortunately, I found this movie is such a long boring movie and totally lost in the conversation, although the art and comic-style is nicely done. I keep looking at the watch, how long more I need to stare at blue big penis. Haha, I can feel a lot of people laugh and smile when Dr Manhattan thing is shown. Push is another disappointing movie this year, the story is really slow and keep dragging. I found this movie is like a spin-off from TV series "Heroes".

Being a big fan reader of Dragon Ball, I am a bit disappointed that the character of goku and setting will be in western country. Overall story is still pretty the same with the original comics, however it's been summarized and packed into about 1.5 hours movie, which I think it's too short, and makes the story too shallow.

If you think that advertisement sometimes can be annoying, I found this advertisement in AsiaOne is totally disturbing and inappropriate. Once the page is loaded, there'll be flying ugly handphone or car or whatever thing, covering the whole main section. Once you want to click the news behind, it will popup the advertiser website. Sigh.. hope there'll better control to put such advertisement in local news.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

I have watched this movie about two weeks ago, but I really enjoy watching this movie and want to put this on my blog. Apart from all the award and praise for this movie, it does not mean that this movie is difficult to enjoy, like some boring artistic movie. It tells the story of a guy name Benjamin, which starts aging backward, and all the story around him from his birth until death. Although it's a quite long movie, but the story just flows through smoothly, and without realizing, it's already Brad Pitt without any make up. It's an interesting story to tell about people aging backward, but that's not the whole point of the movie. It's about his love story, just like normal people, how he fell in love with at least 2 women, found his true love, took some consequences and responsibility of his abnormal life, and how the true love found him back, and died.

This is one of the movie that I can feel very pleased to sit through almost entire 3 hours. One of the very nice last sentence by daisy at the end of the movie: "And in the spring, 2003, he looked at me. And I knew, that he knew, who I was. And then he closed his eyes, as if to go to sleep."

Last week was a totally hectic week for me, there are several proposal that have almost the same deadline. It costs my sleeping time for several night. So, after the bizarre week passed, I just want to enjoy my weekend with more catching-up sleep (needs more than 10 hours in 2 days to recover, haha) and cut down a bit accumulated weight in the gym. And, not as usual, I found a bit refreshing to go back to work this Monday. :)

Slumdog Millionaire

After all the good review and awards for this movie, I decided to ask some of my friends to watch this movie. Some of my friends felt hesitant to watch this movie, and they are the type that only want to watch action, drama comedy, and all the easy to understand movies, which I equally enjoy too.

With some level of expectation but doubt the story line about Indian teen that wins the Indian version of "Who wants to be a millionaire", but later is arrested under suspicion of cheating, which during investigation, the puzzle of his live is revealed piece by piece, I am overall satisfied with the whole movie. The direction and picture, about poor and booming indian,is superb, with some scenes that are felt very realistic, provocative, and surprising to people that live in advanced country, like the raid of Muslims population and the beggar "dirty business". The whole movie still follows Hollywood style movie, and half of the movie is delivered in English, although they try to follow indian accent, but it just felt not realistic. Although the romance involved seems like too imaginative, but it actually try to follow some bollywood way of movie, which does not omit the mass-dance-bollywood-style at the end of the movie.

Whether it will win or not in the academy award, I think this movie deserves all the praise and award. 4.5 of 5.

I never really celebrate Valentine Day, and this year is no exceptional. I always ask myself if I can find people that I can truly love and treasure the most. Haha, anyway, wish you all a lovely Valentine Day. :)

After CNY

I have spent a good time with my parents and brother's family to different places in Singapore during CNY, like Zoo, Botanical Garden, Sentosa, etc. I have avoided this places for quite some times because I find them quite boring to visit more than 2-3 times. It's quite refreshing to visit these places again after 1-3 years.

So, good thing never lasts forever and today is the first day to go back to work. And as the first working day, it's quiet a hectic day, reaching client place very early in the morning to fix some application bugs before users start to use it at 10AM. It's supposed to be an easy fix, but as the clock ticks to 930AM, I haven't found the root cause, panic. Luckily by 955AM, the problem is fixed and all can breathe normally again. After that I need to rush for buffet lunch with group of ex-colleagues, and not surprisingly, I am the last person to arrive there, and need to rush to finish the meal. After lunch, there are 2 more meetings to attend at two different client's office. As instructed by my senior in office day before to prepare the material, it turns out that it's he himself did not prepare with any material. Sigh.. The hectic day completes with nice stretch at Waihan's Body Balance, so relaxing until I almost fell asleep at the end of the class.

Happy Niu Year..

It's a happy chinese new year again. As the rat year closes its curtain with a lot of uncertainties and gloomy times ahead, I wish everyone a happy chinese new year, gong xi fa cai. Wish that the earth ox will bring us a brighter year ahead.

I will celebrate this new year mostly with my parents and brother's family. It's been a blessing to have family around during reunion dinner and chinese new year, but it also means that I have to reduce times spent in gym or friends for several weeks. For the past 5 years, I have mostly celebrated chinese new year with friends or alone in a city which not much celebration and festive mood for Chinese New Year.

TV Series

After 2 years since the end of season 6, "24" will be aired tonight (11/01) in US. This is still one of my favorite TV series, although no other season can be compared to the feeling of watching Season 1, yet. The adrenaline and anxiety to watch hour by hour non-stop action by Jack Bauer, although this show can become like impossible and too coincidental. Beware not to watch this show at the weekday's night as it might be difficult to stop. I look forward to Season 7. The trailers look promising so far.

Other than 24, I am also currently watching Heroes, Desperate Housewives, and Brothers and Sisters. Any other TV Series to recommend?

Cheated

I have spent a fruitful week at my hometown, mostly went out with my family, as most of my friends at my hometown have been busy with their own business or family or whatever. I always look forward to meet my old friends once a year, but as year goes by, most of them either get married or busy with work or own business. Bad sign of getting old..

As the new year comes, the spirit is high to renew commitment to my health and my body, so I decided to renew contract at the gym with the longer 3 years, and of course, with the cheaper rate. However, after signing, I just realized that my previous regular membership had been charged the night before, which means that I had paid twice for this month membership with my previous contract and new contract. I thought that this was just a pure mistake from California Fitness. I hoped that they either could refund my previous payment or defer my contract start date to next month. But, to my biggest surprise, the rude receptionist just said that "nothing can be changed. The contract has been signed and payment has been drawn, no refund and no change of contract". I feel damn angry with the way she showed bo-chap (unfriendly) attitude.. Luckily after I confronted the sales guy that attended to my contract before, he is agree to add another one month to the end of the contract. Grr.. So please beware when you renew your contract and pay attention to any pay overlapped.

Amusing

I found this website has a bit sense of humour: http://www.worldsgreatestbusinessmind.com/20081215-Vincent-@NothingMuch-create.html&WT.mc_id=WGBM%7CCreate. Funny... :)

I can't believe I will watch movie like Cloverfield again.. I had a bad headache after watching it, which shows jerky motion, as if it was taken by handycam. This new one is called Quarantine. It's about group of people trapped in the apartment that has been quarantined because of zombie virus. The movie itself is good, but it also made me feel headache and bad stomach..

It's already christmas season again. And it's time for me to go back to my home town again. So for all of you, MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR.. :)

Preview: Circus

Britney Spears new album "Circus" will be launched in several days (Dec 2), the review so far seems to be on positive, and it sets to be another big hit. In the meantime, if you cannot wait to listen to the songs, imee provides a nice preview, which suprisingly provides a reasonably quality audio. Check it here: http://www.imeem.com/britneyspears. Not really sure if this is legitimate site. Let me know if it is not.

Below is 30 seconds preview of song titled "Circus":

Green?

Nowadays, "being green" has been a good marketing topic for some companies. I think it's good that big company starts to show some level of awareness and try to educate people the importance of saving mother earth. However, I have been bothered by marketing ploy to use this sacred "green" thing, but at the end the main concern is just cutting cost, rather than care for environment.

The place that I work now is located quite far from anywhere, so the management of the office buildings provide number of bus services to reach MRT or any nearby public places. Recently, they just announced that they will totally cut off all of this bus service, except peak hour in the morning and afternoon. And the reason for this annoyance is "being green". Although it's true that cutting bus transport can save environment, but there is no other "green" effort shown, rather than clearly cutting cost. The same thing happens now at California Fitness, which they don't allow member to get or exchange more than the complimentary one big and sport towel, and all for the sake of "being green". It's very disgusting that they use this reason, but there's no other effort shown to save environment, rather than cutting cost. Ugh..

Recession, job cut, and economic downturn have become main topic everywhere, the situation seems to get worse from day to day. Saturday Strait Times newspaper, that usually contains thick part of Recruitment, only have several pages of recruitment, and mainly, it's the government's agencies that still do recruitment. I hope that we can sail through this without so much destruction recorded.

Welcome Back

It's very interesting to see a bizarre years that Britney had in these recent years, from the bald depression and irresponsible act as mother. But, I cannot wipe off the pity feeling for Britney Spears. Now, she is preparing a come back album, titled 'Circus'. Her first single 'Womanizer' is just her material, same excitement as one the during her good year, like 'Toxic'. This song break another record in Billboard Hot 100, from 80+ position in first week to number 1 in the second weak. I cannot help but to repeat this song numerously in my walkman, along with her other recent songs, Piece of Me and Gimme More. And, she is just so sexy in the video clip, far from her 'pui pui' appearance last year. Attached in this post is her new album cover, hmm.. not bad, but can be better.

Back to the gym, I have been fans of Step Class for 4-5 months, but sadly, it's been difficult to conquer level 3 class by Colin or Jeremy. But jia you, I'll keep trying :).

Re: Hard-Sell

As mentioned in my previous post, I am quite happy with my current gym membership, although it's a result of hard sell too, which I am growing to hate the practice. Since my gym membership contract almost comes to an end, I am always offered with new contract which is longer and cheaper. Although I am interested, I always decline to it, as I am not sure I can commit to such period and it's a one time off payment. But, I think I will just sign one day to the contract.

When I read one post in one discussion forum offering cali membership, I just asked how much he would charge for the same contract offered to me before. The reply asks me to PM him for more detail, so I PM him with the detail, and his reply was to ask me to give him my phone number(wtf). I declined to do so, and I asked him if he can provide cheaper rate. Since I was quite busy, I only checked my PM 2-3 days later, I saw two replies in inbox that span between 1 day. One to answer me that the rate is about the same + useless bonus, and the other reply:

"Urgent Request: For those that i've shared with you the rates and promotions, pls reply either by PM or SMS if ur interested or NOT. As if u don't i will take it as ur only wasting my time and in future of any awesome promo package, i will not inform or shared it with you. If ur not interested i will really appreciate if u cld TELL ME SO... so that i'll know that it's not within your budget and.. i will inform u of any new promo package in the coming future.. I'm really hope that u'll understand wher i'm coming from as i've saved u the trouble to come to the club and enquire. least u cld do is to let me know if ur keen or not.

Thank you for your kind understanding.

Have a good day to all."

I found that reply was kind of rude ("wasting my time, etc"). Come on, you're the sales people, and you already lose your patient by no reply to your message in 1 day??. Since I believe that he only took about 3-4 minutes to reply my message and he already lost his patience by wasting his 3-4 minutes, I don't know how he handled real people in the gym that just want to use free visit which can waste the sales people time for hours for hard sale.

I am very happy that this weekend will be a long one, but I don't have anything on plan. So, I planned to chiong all the way in gym by attending multiple classed this Saturday (step, zumba, step again, and pump), but the night before, I found a bit pain in my back, not sure if it's result of the thursday's jacelyn pump. So, I think it's better not to do so many classes, and in the end, I only did Daniel's step and Colin's combat in orchard. There's long time in between, we go shopping with gym buddies, and eat so much sinful food. So, in spite of we plan to pump out all the calories, we pump in more. Haha..