Lovers' Chrissie cakes

AFTER ONE and a half MONTHS!!!! My blog is literally dead isn't it?? I have been totally ignoring it! Anyway, it turns out that my computer really need a clean up which means lots of burning and storing.

I can't believe that I have been ignoring this blog for soooo long!! Its unusual for me to not update frequently anymore :( You can probably guess why though. I have been preoccuppied with Team fortress 2!! I will actually run an update of it later. There is more exciting news in store because..........its XMAS!

MERRY Christmas!! Here I bring to you a very special XMAS food special from Arashi!! Boy I love their food segments. This is totally mouth-watering.

Homework: Present delicious Christmas cake which let us taste the feeling of being lovers. There are 3 types of delicious cakes. Here is a sneak peak of my favourite!! Its the most captivating one ever~

introduction to team fortress 2

HEY!!! I am back!! Everything is finished and I am now on break! Yes I love this freedom! Although having nothing to do has been a little strange. What filled up my time was games...hehe totally lagged but what the heck, just played for the fun of it.

I have totally been avoiding my blog. I can't believe how engrossed I am in Team Fortress 2!! Hopefully I will have time to bring up an overview of what TF2 is all about. Its an awesome multiplayer online shooter game where there are 9 classes to play. Its by the same creators of Left 4 Dead and Counter Strike. Awesome ideas coming out from none other than the best.

Good fun and a way to connect with game mates online~



Have a look (Click to enlarge):

This is the original concept. From L-R: Pyro, Engineer, Spy, Heavy, Scout, Sniper (back), Soldier (back), Demoman and Medic.

And the rest of the pictures are a parody of it :P

Source: http://xspblog.com/

Source: http://www.unigamesity.com/

Source: http://tf2.digitaljedi.com

Tis the season to be cunning!! My game mate showed me these seasonal cards available for order. There are some clever ideas looming about.

 

Source: http://www.tomshardware.com/

Now if you excuse me, I think I need to engage in some demolition!

Deliciously deliteful Dumplings!!

It has been a while since I have posted on this blog! (rips off hiatus into shreds). Yumm! I so want to eat fried dumplings right now.....craving for it really!!! In dumpling season mood!

Well I will be organising a dumplings evening with my church buddies so it will be a good time to catch up. Hopefully we can find people to actually make the skin as well. Gyoza is the Japanese term for dumplings 餃子。 Another Arashi food segment here we go!!

Who's Boss?

Just a quick update before I actually go into a 3-week hiatus, I have seriously been too busy trying to juggle my responsibilities in general that I do not have time to blog anymore! Unfortunately, the world spins faster than I can actually keep up, which is why I may be a bit behind on my dramas.I really do think that the first episode was really enticing! I can't say the same for the next few episodes....though I am still not half way into the series!!

The crime investigation detective show "Boss" is one of the highest rating show in Japan 2009 Spring season; second to Mr Brain (Need to remind myself to watch Mr Brain as well next time).

Synopsis
This series revolves around a group of peculiar detectives in a new division created to fight against an increase in atrocious crimes. Osawa Eriko is a beautiful career woman who has just returned from training in the U.S. and is appointed as the "boss" of this division. But despite her intelligence and capabilities, she can never understand a man's heart, so she remains unable to find a husband. Even though the detectives are talented, they all have some kind of issue or flaw - Tokyograph

Chuck 1st season!

oh man oh man oh man!!! After finishing the 1st season of "Chuck", I am so hyped up about this show! I don't know why! Maybe it is because of the fact that Chuck is a geek or nerd and he accidentally got caught up in the world of spy agencies and dangerous missions. It is just soooooo funny!! I really want to get season 2 now!!! Can't believe that my dvd inventory now holds "nerds"...haha they are so cool.


Chuck Bartowski (Zachary Levi) is a socially awkward twenty-something who works as a computer expert at the Nerd Herd at his local Buy More (a parody of "Best Buy"), with his best friend, Morgan Grimes.

On the night of his birthday party, Chuck receives an e-mail from his former Stanford University roommate, Bryce Larkin, who is now a "rogue" CIA agent. When he opens it, an entire server of sensitive data — once only available to the United States government — is subliminally embedded into his brain by way of a long series of images.

Both the National Security Agency and the Central Intelligence Agency want the intelligence returned to them and dispatch agents of their own — Major Sarah Walker and John Casey — to retrieve that data.

Since the disk with the government information was stolen by Bryce and destroyed in his attempted escape, and since Chuck experiences flashes of information from the database activated by certain subliminal triggers, he must use the knowledge he now possesses to help the government thwart assassins and international terrorists — upending his previously uneventful life.


Chuck's decision to keep his newfound occupation a secret from his family and friends and to live his life as normally as possible forces Casey and Walker to establish an uneasy alliance and secret identities (Walker poses as Chuck's girlfriend and takes a cover job at a local restaurant, Wienerlicious while Casey gets a job at Buy More), with the shared goal of protecting Chuck at all costs.

Here are some website links worth checking out and it is related to the series in every way! It is all good fun!! Obviously some parts are under construction because it is a new series and these websites have been newly launched. WHOO!! Chuck even has facebook and myspace etc. so cool! Chuckssecret is the best website haha

http://www.chuckssecret.com
http://www.nerdherdhelp.com/
http://www.buy-more.net/
http://www.chuckmeout.com/


Can't wait for the next episode!!! Zachary Levi is really funny in this series!!! Loads of crack ups!

Chuck's chart!! You should go on the website and have a look at it!! But there are major spoilers! Its a really interactive widget! http://www.nbc.com/Chuck/exclusives/chucks-chart/

Due to tough competition against other tv programs such as House, Big Bang Theory, How I met your mother and dancing with the stars during the 8pm Monday time slot in USA, Chuck was on the verge of not picking up for 3rd season! Not to mention the Writer's Guild of America strike. Even though many critics praised the show for its commendable job, where domestic ratings and the number of viewers are heavily .

However, in other parts of the world such as the UK, ratings are coming in top!! So I think that NBC would be disappointing a lot of people if they are unable to broadcast it. People...always in it for money eh? Well that is the real world my friends. In any case, Chuck just picked up for Season 3 and NBC will be releasing it beginning of 2010. It was a huge save thanks to the many Chuck fans out there who dedicated their time and efforts to ensure its restoration.

Please come and support Chuck!! Its a show not to be missed. Even the critics themselves said so~

More info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_%28TV_series%29

Current Mood: Laughing Hard!

Disney bought over Marvel!

Full post here with my ramblings of course.

But can you believe it! I guess this would be old news to some people....but I thought I should blog about this because it does raise questions. I mean I grew up with Marvel characters and Disney characters to know that both are 2 completely different genres....

Brief explanation:
Disney is buying Marvel Comics for $4billion.

Is it because of gaining company shares? Or market shares? Does this mean that they want to expand their business by appealing to many demographics and market segments in order to become the most successful business? Perhaps we might see Warner brothers buying over DC to balance out competition yea?? (jokes) In any case, I am really keen to know what Disney's main strategy is and how they will continue on with Marvel as the branded item. Hope that there will be no name changing or a fusion of newly created happy/gay characters and tough super heroes. Image will be ruined for both - its better to keep it separate.

While I was reading the 2nd article, it came across to me that the reason why many Marvel adaptations such as the most recent movies are a big hit yet many will die down soon is that most adaptations are not from the original story line or the story line is just shrunk to 3 hours max!

For Marvel, I guess that watching a live-action cartoon is more preferable than real life actors due to the fact that it was meant to draw people away from reality and that the incorporation of real actors/actresses as awesome fictional characters don't really sit well with me.....never have actually...I was so reluctant to watch any Marvel movies....except for Spider man (gotta admit that the action was real good).

X-men was not interesting at all because it turned out to be a love story in the end....Fantastic 4 was a real waste....I don't really see the point in Ghost Rider. Elecktra and Daredevil was alright. It was interesting although it was because I am not familiar with those characters.
I had not seen Iron man, the Hulk, or Blade. And the upcoming Thor movie?!

Sorry to those fans out there new and old...I cannot bring myself to like them....sigh....

Sources
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/aug/31/disney-marvel-buy-out
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/filmblog/2009/sep/01/disney-marvel-takeover

Golden Sun 2: The Lost Age - game review

LONG overdue!~ I can't believe I have not been updating this blog for a while enjoy!

Game play
Role playing game
Action/Adventure, Fantasy with puzzles
Sequel to Golden Sun 1
Maximum level reached: 40-45
Duration: Approx. 40 hours

The game is rather easy to follow and it is not difficult, though if you are a serious gamer, you may like backtracking. Personally, if you don't spend consecutive days playing, you may forget the map or your challenges quite easily. Its a long-winded story that requires the obtaining of certain powers to get you through different puzzle courses; not to mention upgrading of equipment and collecting monsters etc. This is one of the best role-playing series that I have played with a good story plot divided into 2 sections. SO you will need to play Golden Sun 1 before 2 and not the other way around. Click to reveal more!

Shabu Shabu Meat Udon + Japanese/Italian Udon

Now that life is busy and is charging full speed ahead, I can only set aside my "heavy" reviews (which requires a lot of thought) and work steadily on them. The period that it takes to release them will get longer and longer!! Nooooo but there will be lots of light/fun topics to look at...this blog should turn out interesting in the next couple of months haha.

More food talk from Arashi no Shukudai kun!

Homework segment: Report on rare and delicious Udon recipes

Yum! The thin beef is laid on top of the Udon and the boiling soup is poured over it...it starts to brown and it is ready to eat! The key part of this dish is the flavoursome soup! I want to get my hands on it!

Close up!!! Looks good~ though I am not sure if mixing two distinctive flavours such as miso (fermented bean soup) and tomato & cheese will clash. East meets West....どうも！

Foot notes:
Shabu Shabu - literal translation for 'swish swish' is just like a hot pot and raw thinly sliced meat/vegetables are dipped into the hot pot to cook and then dipped into sauces to be eaten.

Fun texture desserts!!

I totally envy all the delicious food that Japan has! From stalls to cafes and restaurants, they always have something interesting to offer. Since I am a sweet tooth, here is another post on Arashi no Shukudai kun's desserts with different textures.

Homework: To investigate sweets with a fun texture!


Get ready for interesting layers! Read more to find out.

On/Off openings - Vampire Knight

Oh the lack of updates~ What a busy world. However, I bring you a personal music analysis of both Vampire Knight opening themes! Read it at your leisure.

On/Off is a pop duo consisting of twin brothers who is well-known for singing the opening songs of Vampire Knight + Guilty.

Naoya Sakamoto and Kazuya Sakamoto debuted in 2007.

1st opening of Vampire Knight - Futatsu no Kodou to Akai Tsumi (Two beats and a red sin)
2nd opening of Vampire Knight Guilty - Rinne: Rondo (Cycle: Rondo)

This is a review based off both opening themes of Vampire Knight and Guilty. It comparatively looks at the differences in song composition and the blend between both singers.

• People who aren't musicians can still understand it!!
  
• I am not concerned about the lyrics.
  
• Sorry if I sound too meticulous in picking up details and in no way do I want to criticise the effort gone into producing these songs, I just want to be able to practice my musicianship and keep those skills up~

Full lyrics, music and summary are provided under the cut :D

Kami no Shizuku 神の雫

The translation of Kami no Shizuku - God's drops.

Synopsis
The story revolves around Kanzuki Shizuku, a young man who was estranged from his father, a world-famous wine critic with assets worth billions of dollars. When his father passed away, he left behind a wine collection worth a fortune, but in order to inherit it, Shizuku must solve a series of puzzles left by his father to identify 6 wines. His competitor was Tomine Issei, a prominent wine critic, whom his father adopted before his death.

In the father's house, the competition begins!

This show has won Best Drama, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor and Actress at Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix - magazine readers of which the majority of voters are women in their twenties.

Reveal under the cut....

Ghost Friends

Ghost friends is a comedy, fantasy and slightly romantic drama.

Synopsis
A traffic accident occurred where both of her best friends died and she was the only survivor. Asuka discovered her her supernatural ability when she was able to interact with her deceased friends. This is a comedy story about a teenage girl who runs into mysterious happenings through her communication with ghosts. While trying to help make ghosts' wishes come true, she falls in love with a guy named Kaito who also has the ability to see ghosts. He turns out to be an incarnate ghost granted with the power to be in the real world to serve a certain purpose.

Reveal the post to read more!

Majo Saiban - Witch trial

Majo Saiban - Majo means witch and Saiban means trial. This fictional story is based off the new jury system that is now being introduced and implemented into Japan.

I am just over half way watching this series and I have to say, what a brilliant drama! I am so glad that I started to watch this~ Bloody Monday was not so interesting and after the 2nd episode...I stopped watching that. So I took it off my list. The way that the drama is shot....makes it soooo dramatic haha....its new and exciting! It gives off the eerie and mind-twisting vibes!!


Anyway, Majo Saiban is a mind-twisting drama. I love that feeling of not knowing what is going to happen and then suddenly all is revealed in the end. WHOO! It keeps you guessing and its captivating as well, not like those really poorly written dramas where they string you along and it gets really tiring as well....Read under the cut for more information :D

Nodame Cantabile Cafe!!!!

This Nodame Cantabile Cafe is inspired by the anime/drama/manga and is opened to public!!!!!!! How neat! I want to go there! I wonder what sort of background music they will use? Probably those that are used in the anime and drama hehe

I am not the best person to translate Japanese since it is quite poor but from what I can make out with the little skills I have ~~ see below XP

Interesting features are:
Puri Gorota's large lounge area
Interesting menu items
(can be hired for parties)

Menu Items such as:
Nodame's Cream Stew 1000 Yen
Meringue a la panna con i broccoli 1300 Yen
Mushroom and Cheese Risotto 1200 Yen

~with drink or mini salad during lunch

Drinks 330 Yen:
Hot Coffee, Iced Coffee, Iced Tea, Cola, Ginger Ale

Desserts:
Nodame's Styled Cake 800 Yen
Nodame's Cream & Sorbet 550 Yen

CUTE!!! I wonder what the menu tastes like!! Hopefully the cream stew is not black like this:

Credits to the original website and the images:
http://www.nodame-anime.com/cafe/cafe.html

Mode is here!

I am expressing my gladness for I bought Ugly betty season 1 at a bargain!!! Oh I am stoked! I will watch it when I have nothing else better to do! haha...that is like....never or (ever if you know how lazy I get). This is one of my most favourite television series. The quirks, the snotty brats, the schemes, the silly spasms and lovely camera footage + cinematography is invigorating haha. America Ferrera (Betty Surez) has always been playing those stereotype strong-willed and good-hearted women roles that always perseveres no matter what. She's making a statement! She's a fighter and a champion! You do what you do best~


MODE at my front screen and just a click of the button away. Technology and fashion cannot get any more advanced than that~

Differences in Vampire Knight anime + manga

This review is based on the 'title'. These are my thoughts and opinions. This post is Highly DANGEROUS and infectious! Its updated with the latest gossip~ It took a lot of effort to write this, I appreciate your comments when you have had a look at it :)

The voice actors/actress of Vampire Knight really suit the style of characters that the author is trying to convey in the manga. The person who does Zero is really versatile too...especially when much is demanded of Zero's character.

With the anime in actual fact, it is enhanced with the mystery of music whereas manga uses definitive shading and angles to convey the storyline and to depict the characters' moods effectively. There are pros and cons to using colour or just black and white.


Colours are more visible and it is easier for us to distinguish objects clearly since we can see colour. However, with the manga using black/white/grey shades, the use of angles to enhance the setting is needed to create a more dramatic atmosphere and sometimes, it can confuse the brain. That was how I felt....which was why I decided to watch the anime because I sometimes cannot tell the difference between Hanabusa Aidou and Akatsuki Cain (plus they use different names at times and its not clear to who is speaking to whom..so that confuses me even more).

MAJOR major Spoilers!!!! Do not reveal if you haven't seen the full anime series or that you have not read up to Chapter 51 of VK manga, you are warned~ As far as I am concerned, I am pretty sure that Chap 45 of VK manga is released before the last episode of Vampire Knight Guilty is made. However, the last 2 episodes of Guilty is actually made up by the producers/directors. Things that I will share are the final battle, love relationships, Kaien Cross, Bloody rose etc.

仙剑奇侠传(三) Chinese paladin 3

After I had a look at my previous review for Chinese Paladin, yeesh! I needed to touch it up...spelling errors, uncomplete sentences and unwanted titles...haha.


Anyway! I am here to introduce Chinese Paladin 3!! Broadcasting in China would have been over by now. I wish to get my hands on the drama!!! The directors decided that Chinese Paladin 3 had a more appealing story plot therefore, they skipped 2 (which is the sequel to the first drama) and based the drama on the 3rd game - the prequel which occurs 50 years before the first Chinese Paladin drama.

HOWEVER! I have yet to find out how much both series are interrelated or not. Although according to the game, it has minor relations to the original. The only connection made that I know of are the symbolic jaded halves where if in the correct possession of a man and woman, the jaded-halves confirms it by combining into one; thus it cannot be separated. Regardless of what happens, nothing can separate the man and woman who are fated to be together.

The jaded-halves as one.

Continue on...

Castlevania - Harmony of Dissonance

I am back from my semi-hiatus!! Just finished my exam today~ oh boy am I happy. Here is a game review for Castlevania only from my viewpoint. Reveal under the cut to check it out~ Appreciate any comments or feedback about this game.

Godhand Teru drama

Finished the whole series of Godhand Teru!! Hmm...after the first episode, I was thinking that this has got to be adapted from the manga.

Synopsis:
The story revolves around a young man named Mahigashi Teru. When he was young, his father, a brilliant surgeon, died in an accident, but not before saving Teru's life. As a result, Teru also aims to become a great surgeon like his father, devoted to never letting a patient die. As a clumsy newcomer at his hospital, he seems to be an unlikely savior. But whenever a patient's life is in danger, his true powers emerge in the form of his "god hands," allowing him to successfully perform even the most difficult operations.

The imprint of CPR left by his father on Teru's chest

Clumsy Teru

Cast
Hiraoka Yuta as Mahigashi Teru
Mizukawa Asami as Shinomiya Kozue
Kobayashi Takashi as Kataoka Mitsugu
Bessho Tetsuya as Kitami Shuichi
Watabe Atsuro as Yasuda Junji
Murakawa Eri as Sakura Ayano
Araki Hirofumi as Nishimura Manabu
Nakabayashi Taiki as Hayashi Naoyuki
Hasegawa Tomoharu as Iwanaga Osamu

Source - http://wiki.d-addicts.com/Godhand_Teru

It was absolutely delightful! I have grown accustomed to the characters as well haha I think that the combination of cast members was brilliant and not just the usual famous actors/actresses reprising in similar roles. Seeing as I don't know most of the cast members in this drama, it was also a good change.

In the drama, most of the operations performed uses medical jargon but there are also a few diagrams to explain it. Though I am pretty sure that you will need to look up some of these terms if you are not a medical student.


The only downside to it is that there is not enough historic explanation of the development of the characters covered in the 6 episodes. But because this is a tremendous effort requiring a lot of money and time, they decided to focus on the fact that it is a medical/surgical drama.

Reveal under the cut only if you have watched the complete series. Appreciate your comments :D

5 flavour wild-party hot pot!!!

**Sizzle sizzle**~ HOT POT!! Yum yum really craving for it now because it is winter at the moment! So cold~ NABE!!!

Introduction first.

Arashi no Shukudai-kun (translation: Arashi's Homework) is just the best show that Arashi members are hosting! They always have guest stars appearing in their shows and the best part about it, is that the guest gets to request the audience to help them in their homework. This time, the homework for the audience was to report on their best household's "hot pot dishes" (every episode with different guests has different homework involving food).

A viewer turned in this recipe that just amazes me so much I just have to post it up! Its called the 5 flavour wild party hot pot!

1st - normal consomme-based soup with chicken, carrots, broccoli, celery, onions and pot-au-feu style. Its delicious if you eat it with mayonnaise.

2nd - Add in fresh cream and it becomes...

...Cream Stew! Add in a bit of salt to heighten the flavour.

3rd - Add in Tomato puree and ketchup + cheese slices and it becomes...

....Italian-style hot pot! Figured it out? You must be good haha

4th - Add in curry roux and stir it to become....

...Curry hot pot! This one is a little easy to figure out hehe.

Lastly, add in rice gruel and voila! The best household hot pot that anyone has ever come up with!

Even Ogura-san, Jun and Aiba are so delighted!

If you have the time and the pot to do this, its definitely worthwhile!!!! You have to keep it cooking on the stove though...so this means that the ingredients will get overcooked. So pay attention to those that cooks very quickly! Particularly chicken!

Footnotes:
Pot-au-feu: is french meaning "pot on the fire" - French beef stew.
Consonmme: flavourful clear soup such as vegetable/chicken/beef stock