Tuesday, March 12, 2013

[Movie Review] Ah Boys To Men 新兵正传 Part 1 & 2

by Daniel Chiam 


★★★★☆☆☆☆☆ 5/10


Ah Boys To Men (ABTM) is the latest big budget comedy movie by Jack Neo about the Singapore's National Service (NS) that was made compulsory for every Singaporean male that have reached the age of 18 to be apart of it. ABTM was initially planned to be release as a single movie but due to the long running time, it was then decided to be release as a 2 part movie.

ABTM mainly focuses the life of the recruits in NS; the training, the bonding and how NS actually help to change a person's life. Aside from that, of course there is also a few side stories about some of the recruits outside NS.

Jack Neo still do what he does best, and that is to bring laughter and also to captures the emotions of the audience. Both of the movie was undeniably funny and also heart warming, but my personal favorite would be part 2 of the movie where a lot more was being focus inside the training camp and also the characters growth.


★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ 6/10


Almost all of the main cast acted for the first time in ABTM, but seriously they acted so well that you would not have thought that ABTM was their first debut. Even the theme song of the movie was written and performed by one of the cast member - Tosh Zhang.

Jack Neo has brought out the most talents through ABTM if compared to any of his previous film, the movie was so good that a third installment is already been planned. ABTM is the most expensive movie ever produced by Jack Neo (estimated almost 3 million USD) and also ABTM2 marked Jack Neo's 20th movie in his career as a director.




Movie Trailer Part 1 & Part 2 | Facebook Page



"Seize the day, Caper Diem"



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Here's Some Library Etiquette

by Daniel Chiam


I am writing this post from inside the library of University Malaysia Sabah. Initially I was doing my work, when all of a sudden this group of student sitting two table away from me starting to talk loudly when some of their friends joined them.


This group of students talks loudly in the library of University Malaysia Sabah


I don't know about you but library etiquette was something that was taught or made known to me at a very young age. Unless you NEVER visited any library before, you will not know what the rules are then, but I believe even before you step into a library, there will be a few signs that will let you know how to behave inside a library.

Apparently these bunch of students are either being ignorance or just plain inconsiderate. So because of that, I will be sharing with you some of the basic library etiquette that you MUST remember when in a library.


01. KEEP YOUR VOICE DOWN
It's a freakin' library and not a night market for you to hard sell some of your cheap stuff. If you want to share your life stories with your friends or have a group discussion then I suggest you find another place where you can freely and audibly express yourself. In a library keep your voice at 0, and 1 when talking.




02. PLACE BACK THE BOOK(S) THAT YOU TOOK
Just DON'T BE LAZY! If you took a book to be use, please please please put it back to where you found the book at first. Someone might be looking for the same book and because of your laziness, they can't find that book at it's section. Don't make it hard for others, be considerate.


03. DO NOT EAT or DRINK
Mainly for cleanliness purposes, please don't create the opportunity for the place to be dirty and also the books to be stained by your food and drink. I don't wish to have any ants or cockroaches to run around while I'm trying to get my work done or reading a book that smells like freakin' KFC.




Those are the very basic library etiquette that you must know when using the library. Just remember that the library is not your personal room or a private lounge for you and your friends to hangout. There are many others who are using the library for the peace and quite that it provides to get some work done. So please, be a considerate user and don't be a distraction to others.

Do you have any experience where some bugger(s) is just so annoying in the library? What did you do when bugger(s) like that is around? Share it down at the comment box below.


Photo source 1, 2


"Seize the day, Caper Diem"


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Sunday, March 10, 2013

Meditating for Better Skin

by Marcela De Vivo






Meditation is practiced worldwide as an excellent way to reduce stress and improve mental and physical health. Did you know, however, that meditation can also help improve your appearance?

When practiced properly and consistently, meditation is one of the few natural ways to improve the quality and tone of your skin, and even combat any number of skin ailments, ranging from acne to rosacea to premature wrinkling.


How stress affects your skin

The body responds to duress by releasing cortisol, a stress hormone. Cortisol, while necessary in small quantities to help you deal with “fight or flight” situations, is not meant to be sustained at high levels for prolonged periods of time. Continued production of cortisol can result in a variety of negative health issues including fat gain around the visceral organs, blood sugar imbalance, decreased bone density, higher blood pressure and of course, skin problems. 

Cortisol can result in an increase in oil production, which can lead to acne and acne-related problems.

Additionally, when cortisol is released by the body, sugar levels in our bloodstream go up. Increased blood sugar promotes glycation in our skin, which damages collagen. Damage to collagen can lead to more lines and wrinkles.

As soon as cortisol is released by the body, sugar levels in the blood increase. We know that sugar spikes are especially bad for diabetics, but increased blood sugar also promotes a process called glycation in our skin which damages the collagen. Collagen is what makes your skin both firm and pliable. The breakdown of collagen leads to fine lines and eventually wrinkles.

Cortisol acts to dehydrate the skin by decreasing your skin’s production of hyaluronic acid, a natural moisturizer for the skin. And it compromises the skin’s barrier, which allows hydration to evaporate instead of staying in the skin.

Another byproduct of stress that works negatively on the skin is adrenaline, which decreases blood flow to your skin and leads to a pale, wan complexion.


Image courtesy of marin / FreeDigitalPhotos.net


Better skin through meditation

Research has shown that meditation is a powerful stress-reliever. When you meditate, you slow your heart rate and produce less cortisol even as your immune functions improve. While difficult to adjust to initially, a consistent practitioner of meditation reaps myriad mental and physical benefits, including reduced stress responses and improved immunity to stress.

Reduction in stress naturally leads to reduction of stress hormones like cortisol, which allows your skin to continue to regenerate normally .

People have found that after consistent meditation, they see fewer lines and wrinkles, improvement in acne, fewer dark circles or bags under the eyes (due in part to improved quality of sleep that comes with meditation), and a healthy glow.

Note: For maximum benefits to your skin, do not shower immediately after meditation. Some studies have suggested that chemicals produced during meditation can be beneficial to the skin. Showering would not only wash off those beneficial chemicals, but also produce a shock to the nervous system, increasing the stress response which is the opposite of the intended goal. If you must shower post-meditation, try to wait at least half an hour to an hour. Ideally, avoid any kind of water exposure or submersion post-meditation.


Other health benefits of meditation

Reduction in stress levels and improved skin quality are not the only benefits experienced by practitioners. Most people report increased energy, better quality sleep, improved personal awareness and mindfulness, improved response to stress, healthier circulation, and a stronger immune system.

While meditation can help your skin, remember that you must support your efforts to de-stress and improve your overall health to maintain the progress you see. Pay attention to the kind of food you are eating; make sure you drink plenty of water. By taking a complete approach to your health and incorporating meditation, your skin is sure to glow.

Photo source: 1





Marcela De Vivo is a freelance writer in the Los Angeles area. Her writing has covered everything from marketing, technology and health. She currently maintains a beauty blog



"Seize the day, Caper Diem"


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Sunday, March 03, 2013

Top 10 Men's Fashion... You Just Don't Get It

by Max Law from MaxMayo.com


We understand that not all fashion are meant to be worn on the street, but there are times when even the fashion lovers can't get what the designers are trying to express in their works.

Art and beauty is a subjective field, but when 9 out of 10 fashion lovers gave the same response on a work, you'll know that the response won't go wrong. Here are the Top 10 Most Popular Men's Fashion that fashion lovers just can't appreciate:


1. The Origami




2. Mankini

NSFW so please don't search for this word if you're in office. :)


3. Monster Shoulders




4. Big Knit


5. Men Tube Top


6. Something like 1-piece skirt


7. Garbage Monster


8. The Transformer


9. The Seeing-My-Dentist


10. Carbon/ Driftwood


Hope you enjoy the pictures. Haha!

Photo source: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9


Regards,
Max Law
Menswear Fashion Blogger



Checkout Max at MaxMayo.com and follow him on twitter @maxmayo for more updates and fashion tips!





"Seize the day, Caper Diem"


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Monday, February 25, 2013

Do I Really Need It or I Just Want It Badly?

by Anwarul Amirah Bt Zulkifli

Whenever we pass the toys or candies aisle, we would probably see a kid throwing a tantrum because they want something from the shelf. May it be a new cool toy being constantly advertised on tv or just a colorful-eye-catching-wrapped candy.  Don’t deny it. We were once that kid once upon a time and hey- may still be like that deep in our conscience. How is that, you may ask? Well.. Just like our child-self, we have a blurry and vague concept of what we want and need.




We justify the things we purchase as something we dying-ly need. Like that new-in-fashion tops or shoes. We’ll say things like, “I REALLY need this” when in actual fact, we have tons of clothes in our closet. Or another scenario, suddenly feeling this relenting guilt after buying something. Does that sound familiar?

What we need to do first when we face this ‘wants vs needs’ situation is ask ourselves, ‘Is it something I need?’ or ‘Is it something I would like to have?’. When you have that answered, further ask yourself, ‘What is the purpose of it?’, ‘Is it really necessary?’ and ‘Can I afford it?’. For instance, you need your own transport to commute to work. You have a choice of a fuel sufficient car with a low monthly commitment and another smokin’ hot car which probably will hurt your wallet. What you need would be the first choice and what you want would be the latter. This goes for almost everything. 

Always jot down the pros and cons of each choice. Measure what is the best option, then, wallah!, there’s your answer! Although, I’m not saying that wanting to have what you want is a crime. But it won’t hurt to be more alert of what you purchase and for what reasons. Not only that, save a few bucks for those rainy days you may encounter some time down the road. I do advise you to reward yourself by getting something you want once a month or so for being such a good spender.

Image source: 1



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