Review : Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha

It quite a short anime which contain only 13 episodes. It a mission type anime with some magical power involved. It basically tell the story of a little school going girl name Nanoha who help a animal that look like ferret (is transformed from an injured boy) to collect some crystal which land in that area. So there are some fighting with others to collect the crystal.

The storyline is quite easy to follow. The graphic is nice. It have mild nudity. But 1 thing I don't like is why this anime have to use such little girl to be the protagonist. I rather prefer a teenager than a school girl.

~ Alpha

Durian Cake [Recipe]

Upon request from my colleagues....and to fulfill their wish, I bake durian cake. This is my first time baking it. The result is fantastic....it taste good. I recommend it to those who loves cakes & durian...give it a try.

I must say this recipe I get it from Kuali Online and is workable for me.

DURIAN CAKE

Ingredients

250g butter
225g fine castor sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla essence
4 eggs
125g durian flesh, pureed

Sift:

200g self-raising flour
50g plain flour

Method
Preheat oven to 170 ºC. Grease a 20cm round cake tin. Cream butter, sugar and essence until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time and add durian puree gradually.

Fold in sifted flours and mix well to blend. Pour batter into prepared tin and bake in preheated oven for 40 to 50 minutes or until cake is done when tested with a skewer.

***Personal Note

I cut down on the sugar to 180g as the durian itself have some sweetness.
By the way, the recipe request for fine castor sugar...I can't figure out which type it refer to. I just use icing sugar.

We could put more durian flesh to enhance the flavour (try to buy strong fragrance durian), but don't put too much as the cake might not raise. I myself put 150g durian flesh.
Durian pured?....well just smash the durian flesh.

According to the comment posted in Kuali Online, the cake could not store long. So have to finish it up in 1 or 2 days.

Just drop me a message if you have successfully bake it using the above recipe.

~Alpha

Natalie Tong & Chris Lai

Bridal Ads Pictures/Wonderful Arts

Some thought for guys....

Guys...

realize that the girl holding onto u..
is PERFECT in her own special way.

The way she laughs..
The way she sleeps..
The way she loves you..
The way she tries to please you...

Always remember that.

She can always get up and walk away,
getting someone else who can love her more.

For all you know,
there is someone out there
wooing her already,
but she is rejecting,
a maybe perfect love for her..

There might also be someone out there..
who is willing to love her more than
you are loving her now,
fulfill her every need
and love her as much as
she loves you.

Understand that.

Imagine this, guys.
When you are holding her today...
and then you cheat on her by hugging
and kissing another gal.
and then you run back to her...
and u do the same....
but you see love in her eyes...
What do you think?
Do you feel the hurt?
Can you feel the guilt?

She loves you not because you are
good looking,
have money,
buy her things,
make her parents happy,
or that you have a car.

She loves you for who you are.
Your every touch, every word you say,
everything you do.

Guys,

Cherish and appreciate your girl.
Don't break her fragile heart.
She is the only one who can love you that way.
You won't wanna regret letting go
of that special girl you have.
For everything she has done for you,
the least you can do is to give her unconditional
love as she has given to you.

Girls and guys...
if you agree with this,
repost this just so that everyone
can read this and appreciate
their girls more.

What is a Pound Cake?

Being a amatuer baker myself I really don't know what is the different between a butter cake and a pound cake. Because recently I've bake a cream cheese pound cake and it taste quite exactly like butter cake.

At first, I though this cake will have heavy cheese flavour but on contrary is quite mild. Besides than the cost I invest in the cake, I found no different at all. The ingredient, cream cheese is very expensive in Malaysia. For a block of cream cheese it cost about RM8.40. With this amount I can bake a normal butter cake...haiz...

So is there any different between these two cake?

Let me quote from baking911.com

Typical butter cakes are American butter cakes and Pound cakes. Both have a fine crumb, a tender moist texture and a rich buttery taste, which makes them some of the most popular cakes. Butter cakes tend to be richer than other types of cakes and have a good volume, but Pound cakes are the richest and densest of all Butter cakes.

OMG, now I know they are the same but only different in rich and density of the butter cake!

Somewhere in the net, I've read that the Pound cake is named so because of the weight of each ingredient they use is exactly 1 pound.

Now I've learn a new thing.

~ Alpha

Philosophy from Mushi-shi

Fabian comment :

Sorry, but I don't agree at all. This is one of the most amazing anime I ever watched, it's unlike anything I've ever seen before. Yes, it does have a simple, mission-type structure, but I don't hear people complaining about Cowboy Bebop because of that.

I like Mushi-shi's style, it's so laid back and every single episode seems to reveal another amazing idea. It's a bit philosophical and I think it's deeper than a lot of the crap us anime watchers usually degrade ourselves to. (Highschool romance? COME ON ALREADY!)

I agree and disagree towards the comments.

I must say, I agree that this anime do have a bit of philosophical. In few episodes, Ginko-san say that he is not like other mushi-shi who kill mushi, he kind of live peacefully with it whenever is possible. Like him, we also should try to live peacefully with our surrounding living being by not polluting the world, use less paper, don't use equipment or spray that contain CFC compound etc...etc. Think how we could save this dying earth now. Think how we human going to live if we destroy the forest and polluted the sea and air..hmm I think I overdo it...muahaha.


For Fabian this anime is the best, but it isn't for me. I have my own taste of anime that I like and dislike. Everyone have their own reason why they like to watch certain category of anime. So we can't judge those people that like to watch the so call "crap" you've mention. You can't choose for others!

Anyway, this is my blog and this is my review. I stand by my review, this anime is bored.

~ Alpha

The Evolution of Religion

At my first glance through this article Lama's brand new approach I thought this guy is a model before become a monk. Not until I've read the content that I realise this monk work for about a month as a runaway model at a production house which own by one of his student.

Here I'm not introducing Buddhism to you all or criticising it. It is an overview of world religion. I might quote it as my example since I've read it.

After reading the article, I'm pondering...do we need the religion to be evolve so that it adapt or suit to the new generation of mankind? As I've been taught at school, the world consist of 5 major religion namely Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Judaism & Hinduism. All these religion have a very long history. I'm pretty sure their teaching is based on the society and culture at that original place and time.

It will be untrue to say that these religion didn't change at all after so many years. Yes they could have evolve in the several ways like the method of spreading the message, the ways of interpreting the holy book & etc....(well I can't think of other example...you tell me)

Nevertheless I believe their so core doctrine will endure forever and ever. It is not practical for us to apply the teachings of yesteryear literally. All we need to do is just take the principle of that particular teaching to be apply to our current situation.

But in recent year we could see that the some religion leader have openly condone the activity of gay and lesbian and even legalise their marriage. Are we that desperate to gain more worshipper/follower? Aren't these have violate the teaching of the religion that promote a union between a male and female? I think there are many more example that will prove that some of the religion have changed and slowly drift away from the main teaching.

D0 we need this kind of evolution to suit the new generation and invoke the wrath of the creator?


~ Alpha

Angora Rabbit

Have you ever see this kind of rabbit before?....or should I ask.. Are these rabbit? To me some are like dog..hahaha..

Alpha

A New Breed of Monk.....(2)

I didn't bluff at all. He really become a runway model for about a month. You still feel sceptical? Read on this excerpt from The Star Online

Lama’s brand new approach

By JAMIE KHOO

Not all monks are dull, humourless ascetics in saffron robes and here’s Tsem Tulku Rinpoche to prove it.


Tsem Rinpoche giving formal dharma teachings at his centre in Petaling Jaya.
IT’S 2am, and I am driving around Kuala Lumpur’s dark, dank Chow Kit streets with Tsem Tulku Rinpoche and some of his students. He’s making us play the “pick game” where we must choose between any two of our most feared or disliked scenarios and people.

So here we are peering out the windows to spot transvestites, prostitutes and the homeless, the people that most of the city is oblivious to, or doesn’t want to know.

Tsem Rinpoche, resident lama (teacher) and spiritual director of Kechara House Dharma centre in Petaling Jaya, often speaks candidly about wanting to bring spirituality to “the people who nobody else wants.”

Much in the spirit of new-generation lamas like the controversial Singa Rinpoche, who was recently banned from entering Taiwan, and Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, who doubled up as director of the internationally-acclaimed movie The Cup, Tsem Rinpoche kicks dharma (spirituality) out of the cave and into the much more vigorous, defiant and hedonistic 21st century world.

He promotes a “brand” of spiritual practice that doesn’t require any compromise on who we really are. His diverse mix of students is evidence enough of that. Dharma talks at Kechara House find local fashion personalities sitting on the floor next to award-winning singers, college students, high-powered business women and KL’s socialites as well as former drug addicts, gamblers, manic depressives and self-confessed bad boys from gangs. With Tsem Rinpoche, you start where you are.

Even the fact that Malaysia does not have a predominantly Buddhist mass consciousness doesn’t faze him. Instead, he actively promotes the strong inter-religious and racial harmony here.

“We are fortunate to live in a country where the Government gives us the freedom to do as we like (as long as) we follow the law.’’

Tsem Rinpoche’s gurus from Gaden Monastery in India sent him to Malaysia in 1992 to teach as they felt it would be most beneficial for people in this region. He currently lives full-time in KL. He started Kechara House in 2000.

“Dharma centres serve as places of education for Buddhists to become better citizens of a country, not to make other citizens Buddhist,” he explains.

In inspiring a younger generation, he is incredibly candid about himself: “Look! Do I look holy? Do I look disciplined? Do I look like a ‘high holy Tibetan lama’? No! I am you; I think like you and have the same problems as you.


Tsem Rinpoche instructing his students in the courtyard of Kopan Monastery in Nepal. "If you like to eat, then eat! If you like having sex, then have it! If you like nice clothes and jewellery, buy and wear them! I want the freaks, the people who can be themselves. Live with the motivation of being kind, change your minds, but also play computer games, have sex, party. What’s wrong with that? We’re not Buddhas yet,” he points out, realistically. “The important thing is to keep your motivation good, clean, straight.”

Tsem Rinpoche, 41, embodies this balance himself, and is willing to try unconventional methods of reaching out and appealing to people, especially the younger generation.

That was how he became a runway model for about a month in 2004, working with Catwalk Productions (owned by Ming Chan, who is one of his students) and singing in karaoke sessions with his students. He is also on YouTube (which has brought visitors from as far as Australia and America to him in KL).

He cites the Dalai Lama, Mother Teresa and Gandhi as among his favourite people for their outstanding messages of peace and kindness; but also Madonna, Ru Paul (which perhaps explains Tsem Rinpoche’s entertaining diva-like antics during his sermons and talks) and Bette Davis for “their determination and strength.”

Though Tibetan Buddhism is famed for exotic rituals and high tantric empowerment, Tsem Rinpoche prefers to stress on the importance of mind transformation teachings (lojong), focusing most ardently on developing “basic” qualities of compassion, kindness, generosity, patience, effort and wisdom.

His central teachings are based on The Eight Verses of Thought Transformation composed by Tibetan saint and scholar Geshe Langri Tangpa which concentrates on changing our perspectives on the world and people around us.

Tsem Rinpoche will soon be releasing Compassion Conquers All, a book of teachings

which deals specifically with the Eight Verses and how to apply it practically within our lives.

“Spiritual practice is a change of attitude,” he points out in his book of collected teachings Nothing Changes, Everything Changes, “It has everything to do with us changing – how we perceive people, how we react to people, how we talk, our emotions, happiness, anger, delusions, jealousies, successes, motivations, enthusiasm – and the beauty is that nothing around us changes.”

Often, he speaks of depression and the mental afflictions that so often plague the 21st century, and thus, the corresponding need to apply spiritual transformation and practice to turn our minds towards a more peaceful place.


Tsem Rinpoche giving a traditional greeting to Gaden Shartse Monastery Abbot, Ken Rinpoche.
“We have everything that we need – technology, comfort, convenience. Physically, we’re not suffering anymore but so much suffering now happens within our minds.”

The “suffering” he refers to is not necessarily what we commonly regard as great pain, but includes daily frustrations with family, career and relationships, our strong attachment to and expectations of things and people, and the corresponding struggles we face when there is unexpected change or disappointment.

The lojong, thus, cut across religion or cultural barriers by offering an alternative philosophy of living that can be applied variously in our lives.

By now, it’s past 3am and the “pick’’ game is over. When I ask him why he never lets us pick between nice things, he replies: “Those things and people aren’t inherently disgusting themselves. They’re only disgusting because you think they’re disgusting. And until you give up those hang-ups, I’ll keep making you pick!”

There are buttons to be pushed, and Tsem Rinpoche makes sure yours are thoroughly flattened. After all, it is only in the truly unexpected that we learn – and just as Chow Kit's roads seem an unlikely lesson, it’s actually just been yet another journey through our own untempered minds.

A New Breed of Monk.....(1)

A monk who became a runway model for about a month?

We'll explore it later...

Alpha

Review : Mushi-shi

Finally I've finish watching the anime. This anime contain 26 episode. It not up to my expectation. I don't like this kind of anime.

The story line is too straight forward, whereby the main character Ginko-san will travelling from one place to another place and he will try to solve their place caused by mushi. So the whole series is following the formula. Sometime I feel very boring watching it.

Another thing is that the character in this anime is not a bishonen type. They didn't draw a nice face for Ginko-san and same with the rest of the characters.

But I like their theme song "The Sore Feet song" by Ally Kerr.

The bright side of the anime is that it suitable to be view by children, it doesn't have nudity, spilling of blood or violent.

To know more of the anime : Mushi-shi

Alpha

Another MV recommended by Omega

Although it quite a old song....who care anyway...as long as the message of the song could reach to the whole world. Hmm...maybe could not touch everyone in the world but at least his song have touch Omega my friend!



By Michael Jackson - Earth Song



Alpha

MV recommended by Omega

By Michael Jackson - Heal The World


Alpha

Will Omega blog?

Once again I've contacted Omega to contribute on this blog. Well as usual he agree to it. Hope this time he really write something as he never blog a single words since the inception of this blog.


Alpha

Mushi-shi Theme Song

Actually I want to embed this theme song on the blog. But since I still can't figure out how to do it, I think I just put the anime theme song here from Youtube.



The name of this song is "The Sore Feet Song" by Ally Kerr.

This is the full version of the song.



Maybe you also want the lyrics...here you go

I walked ten thousand miles, ten thousand miles to see you,
And every gasp of breath i grabbed at just to find you,
I climbed up every hills to get, to you,
I wondered ancient lands to hold, just you.

And every single step of the way, of pain,
Every single night and day,
I searched for you.
Through sandstorms and hazy dawns i reached for you.

I stole ten thousand pounds, ten thousand pounds to see you,
I robbed convenient stores coz i thought they'd make it easier.
I lived off rats and toads, and i starved for you.
I fought off giants bears and i killed them too.

And every single step of the way, of pain,
Every single night and day,
I searched for you.
Through sandstorms and hazy dawns i reached for you.
I'm tired and i'm weak, but i'm strong for you.
I wanna go home, but my love gets me through.

Lalala....

Hmmm...if you google around, you will find Olsen Twins also sing "The sore feet song". But it is a totally different song. Well have a look at it....



Alpha

How I'm Going to Embed Song?

I thought want to embed song in this blog. Trying to make this blog more interesting. But i still don't know how to do it. Searching through Google also didn't help at all.

Maybe some of the good Samaritan reader could point me to correct site, so i could learn it. I'm appreciate for any help forwarded to me.

Alpha

Oops!...I Did It Again

Nope I'm not talking about the song of american singer Britney Spears. It just about my blog. I did mentioning that I'll update more and give a touch up for my blog. But it already more than 6 months I didn't do a single things....not even update it. Well today I've check thru my email and comments section. Surprise to get 32 comments.

To my horror my blog have been taken over by those online advertisement. I've no choice, I delete it all. Maybe I have to monitor closely to prevent this to happen in the future.

Well what happen to me in this 6 months of absent? Hmmm....Nothing much happen to me. Is the same old me.Working in the same old company and having the same old colleagues.

Now is 3.34am....its quite late....or should i say quite early for me to be awake to write a blog at this hour?

I better get some sleep.

Alpha