Enchanted by Walt Disney

Today I sold so many items in eBay, and by the time I finished and out of the Post Office, it was already almost 5pm. This is terrible, but I haven't had the first meal yet, i.e. didn't have anything to eat for the whole day. Well, after I eat at Sunnybank Market Square, did a bit of window shopping at Garden City shopping mall mainly for the walking exercises, and went back to Sunnybank Plaza, I watched a movie. This is because I didn't have anything to do for the rest of the day. And my sister is still in Noosa until now, she will be back tomorrow before 12pm, so she said.
The movie I chose to watch was Enchanted. I didn't really expect so much from the beginning, because the preview was not that good. The preview only showed a little bit of the music played in the movie and when there were singing, they were stopped, because it is supposed to be funny that In the Real World, it is not that much musical. In a way, it is good because it saved the music for the movie itself, and most of the music not being shown in the preview.
Anyway, I wouldn't be here if the movie was not good. The movie was very good.
The leading lady, Amy Adams, playing as Giselle, is very good and she just makes the movie come to life almost every time she is around in a funny way, in animated way. As most of the things happen there usually is done in animated way, they are hilarious when done with the real people. My favorite scenes were when there were musical and many many dancers in the classical Walt Disney dancing, and the animals doing what Giselle instruct them to do. One of the character also did a very funny scene when it was trying to let the Prince know about the poisoned apple. I couldn't stop laughing most of the time. And I haven't laughed for a Long time. Today, and yesterday with movie The Golden Compass were the best days I've spent. And I am very glad because of that.
The music and songs were very good, and I think they are mostly the work of Alan Menken, if I am not mistaken. His music and songs have been very entertaining to me which include the music and songs for Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast, the movies.
I hope you will enjoy this movie.

The Golden Compass

Intel Pentium Dual Core E2180 2.0GHz and NVidia GeForce 8600GT

Computer is my world. As I mentioned in other titles, I sell on eBay. I use my camera to view and edit photos and videos, listen to music, play DVDs, chat to my friends in Brisbane and overseas, e-mailing, blogging, playing games, getting flight information, finding out exchange rates, read news, find a particular topic, do banking and the list goes on and on. I can't live without my computer, and now, the initial reason for getting a computer is, for Computer video games :)
I have always enjoyed computer games since Sierra produced its King's Quest graphic adventure games, King's Quest VI. During my days at university here in Australia, I played a lot of computer games and followed on Computer games for a while.
Only during my last days of University, somehow I stopped following up on Computers games. But now I am starting to play Computer games again. Oh boy, it's a lot I have to catch up in the world of Computer games. I didn't know that Warhammer 40k Dawn of War Game of the Year (GotY), Titan Quest and Age of Empires 3 were good.
I bought the computer on 10 October 2007. It's a 2.0GHz Intel Pentium Dual Core, which is not the most up to date Intel chip, only because the price is low now, and works well for playing any games available in the market.
If you want to play games, you will need Graphics card. I bought the slightly overclocked MSI GeForce 8600GT 256MB which is a slightly better than average graphics card , now at AUD$116 at Umart in Brisbane. So far, it has been playing games superbly. I am so happy with my new computer.
Around this time I also bought Logitech X-540 5.1 channel Speakers for $99 from EB Games in Sunnybank Plaza. I now have a Home Theatre system in my own room. I can play great DVD Video.
At this time, I also bought a TV card, now I can view TV and play PS2 in my room. Nothing is better than this.
On 25 November 2007 I also replaced my old Acer 19" non-widescreen monitor with an Acer 24" AL2423W Widescreen monitor. It has 3 year warranty, from Officeworks for $549. I think I should be happy. And I can watch DVD much better too with this widescreen monitor.
During my business in eBay, I hope I can enjoy my time with my Computer System as I have lots and lots of free time at the moment.

Canon IXY 810IS Digital Camera

My not so long ago purchased camera was broken and I bought a new one on 8 October 2007. Well, it's a mixed feeling not sure if I can describe it clearly because I am still not sure what it is even now. First, the old point-and-shoot camera had a little defect on the LCD screen. There is a quite noticeable crescent shaped mark on the LCD screen, you can't miss that defect and there is no light from behind that mark. Plus, the model is a little old then, however the camera still works without a flaw in terms of creating flawlessly beautiful photo (the defect is only on the LCD screen, but not in the digital photos produced). So far, it is still OK for me to use that camera. However, one day suddenly my lens camera stopped coming outside, i.e. it is stuck, cannot pop out, with an error code. I looked it up on the Internet how to fix it, but although I followed the instructions, which are quite brutal instructions actually, by making the lens come out and goes in with force, it made the camera to become worse. I was very worried even to hand it to the camera repairer (Anderson camera repairer in Capalaba), because I believe the camera is beyond repairs, I may have damaged the lens also, which is, I think, worth most of the camera value.
So, during this vulnerable and confused moments, I ordered another camera from a Chinese seller in Japan, in eBay. The product has ok price, about AUD$370 including shipping, which another person might find this is a small price compared to the shops here in Brisbane, RRP AUD$499-AUD$549. This camera is with Canon Japan Manufacturer warranty, so if it breaks, I will need to send it back to Japan or I can repair it by the repairer in Brisbane paying out of my own pocket, whichever is cheaper.
Here is another, somewhat disappointed and confused moment. I felt that the Canon IXY 810IS is inferior to the IXY 700, in that the picture 810IS is grainier than IXY 700. This could be caused by possible numerous cause. The lowest ISO setting is now 80, instead of 50 in IXY 700. There are many more automated features in 810IS that would compromise/cause the lower quality 810IS, including the face detection, smaller build which means the sensors packed is smaller too and the Image Stabilization feature would probably cause the grainier pictures too. It could also be caused by the contrast setting that results brighter grainy dark places.
But whatever the cause of this is, I am pretty sure I don't have the ability to make this camera perform any better. If caused by hardware I am hopeless, if caused by software I am pretty much hopeless too. All I can do is download the software from the Internet and update, because I don't have the facilities to build the software (or hardware) from scratch, let alone to come with another solution (it would be quite impossible, otherwise I might just build my own company making better cameras than Canon and be a millionaire, hehe).
At points in time, I found also, that I wouldn't want to go back to use my old IXY 700 because of the defect and plastic protected LCD screen. My new camera has a glass protected LCD screen which is much more protective to the behind screen.
In brief moments, I thought also the quality of the picture is almost the same.
Depending on lighting conditions. I found that too much sunlight would result the dark places look darker and therefore grainier, as my friend Steven Wong would probably refer it to me.
Plus, I saw the old photos of IXY 700 again, and they do have grainy dark places too! Now I don't really know anymore. Is this camera better, or worse?
One thing for sure, the video recording of IXY810IS is better, because it has larger area (640x480), has Image Stabilization and Face detection. Why haven't I been happy I wonder? Is it the shock or... my lack of money for spending for a product that I already have... I am not sure and probably both, and probably not too. What a confusing time.
Anyways, this camera works superbly for my selling in eBay, in fact, too good for the photos of the products I sell. I definitely need this camera for selling on eBay. I need excellent quality. This is the only thing that I do most of these days. And I need a camera anyway.
Amongst this totally confusing and a possibly (because I don't really know even now) disappointing time, I hope I can find this camera useful.
I hope I can find the courage one day to go to Anderson Camera Repairer and fix my IXY 700, because I am pretty sure that it costs about the same as buying a new IXY 810IS. How sad.

It is impossible for Jesus be an ideal example for us all

Jesus was crucified, which is much much worse than being put to jail. He was a criminal, one of the reasons was he made the people of the old school like a total joke. He completely looked down on the old justice such as 'an eye for an eye', which has been around for so long to keep the justice and the law. Instead, he came up with 'give your right cheek when someone slapped your left cheek'. Which is much worse than an 'eye for an eye' in substantial degree.

Why 'give your right cheek when someone slapped your left cheek' is much worse.
When you are being robbed and your house almost totally eradicated, it would be a total disaster to, in addition, give your wife and daughters to the robbers to become prostitutes and your sons to become slaves, willingly and helpfully. If someone is about the slap your left cheek, your response would be to avoid, or to prevent the slapping to happen at all, in the first place. This could be done by not doing anything that offend other people, by doing charity in most of your days, or for a robbery, by installing security in your house. If your left cheek is given willingly, or if your house is surrendered willingly, there will be a lot more slappers and a lot more robbers and injustice will be everywhere. At least 'an eye for an eye' make people afraid of doing injustice and people get what they deserve, instead of total chaos.

A lot of what Jesus taught us, although he was older than 30 years old, were not special and his intelligence not that great to reside in our thoughts for significant amount of time. Most of the teachings have been repeated again and again in the church, however, everytime we hear it, we always doubt the effectiveness and the necessity of the teachings. This is different from the phrases and words that come from other great thinkers, visionaries, leaders, etc such as Nietzsche and Confucius, from where we know instantly that those are deep thoughts from great people.

Jesus lived only for 3 years since his ministry started, which means he died when he was only 33 years old. That is a very short period, and in my opinion, it didn't get very far, as I mentioned above. In fact, his ministry, which is against so many people from the old school, costed him his life, very quickly. And worse than, for example, Hitler who was able to get his country moving to do substantially much greater in degree. Hitler was able to live much longer, despite by doing much greater damage, and getting much more hatred from people all around the world.

Because of these, I am against the believe strongly that Jesus was the Son of God. Also when he can't even save his own life during his ministry, how can he save the whole world with these, and only by believe, not by a more balanced effort by using his skills?

To believe that Jesus is the Son of God, without anything that support that believe, and call it faith, which is something you cannot see. And depend on that something that we cannot see, greatly. I think that is a bit much. In the real world, this would cause disasters. This would result in failed products, buildings, great structures and most of other things also.

Beef Rendang

In this section, I will talk about how to make beef rendang before I forget!

1.8 kg of beef, budget beef ribs.
3 teaspoonful of fried sliced red onion.
1 teaspoonful of fried minted garlic.
2 sachet of Bamboe Rendang spice.
3 teaspoonful of coconut powder.

1. Wash beef with running cold water in a basin with holes for the water to run down of.
2. Prepare the pan with one teaspoonful of oil, put some fried red onion and fried garlic. Stir until boil. Put fire not too hot and not too cold, about 5 or 4.5 (and 3 for tenderising gently, or 2 for already cooked tenderising).
3. Once the beef's surface has been cooked, rearrange the beef to make other surface cooked. This goes on until all the surface does not show blood.
4. Once the beef's surface is done, we put hot water until the beef is covered. It helps if the beef is already diced small portions so that the beef will distributed most of the pan and require only little water to cover all the beef.
5. We set the fire to 5 at the beginning and then 4.5 (to cook slower), and rearrange after a short while to make sure that the beef is all cooked in the inside. Rearranging in this part takes longer time compared to no. 3 above because this time most of the beef is covered in water while in no. 3 the surface is hotter than when there is water.
6. We cook like this, beef under water, until there is no fishy smell. And then add 5-10 minutes to make sure all the beef is really cooked. We can also use fork to see whether the beef is tender.
7. Once the beef is cooked, pressure cooker the beef for 30 minutes on LOW to tenderise beautifully.
8. After 30 minutes, open the pressure cooker and put 2 sachet of beef spices and half of 3 teaspoonful of coconut powder in water, and another half after 5-10 minutes later.
9. Simmer for 10-20 minutes at 2 and it is ready.

Mother in heaven as part of image of God

Today I met 3 Korean students preaching about the image of God. Which is said, supposed to be 2 images: Father of God, and Mother of God.

Genesis 1:26-27

26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, ^[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground."

27 So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.

It is written there that the bible uses plural when referring to himself (or themselves), using the word us and our. So the image of God consists of 2 images. That is the Father of God and also the Mother of God, just like how everything else is created.

Gal 4:26

26But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother.

Rev 21:9-10

9One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb." 10And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.

From here it is said that the mother of God or the mother of heaven is actually Jerusalem, who is the wife of the Lamb. And Jesus is the Lamb.

Rev 22:17

17The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.

So you should go to Jerusalem and take the free gift of the water of life.

Initial D

I recently have my Dad around to stay in Brisbane and we've been borrowing DVDs whenever we have the chance. It is possible because my business with eBay (as I am not working at the moment) is not so busy. We've been trying to watch all kinds of movies. And I came across this Japanese TV Series mentioned by my friend.

I enjoy watching the series very much and I am currently downloading the Third and Fourth Stage from the Internet, as they are not available in Australia.

Initial D is a TV Series about son (Takumi) of a Tofu shop owner who drives an Eight-Six Toyota car. The Eight-Six car is not a fancy car, it looks like a regular car. But as Takumi's Dad, Bunta, knows about engine, he tune up the car to the max. Bunta is a very good racer, and he has been teaching Takumi to drive as well (so that when driving will not spoil the tofu).

Takumi was found to be the best downhill specialist and he keeps winning because he is probably the best (I can't spoil your enjoyment to watch the show).

One thing that I really like about this is the technique called Drifting. By drifting, you can maintain high speed at the corner/curve, by directing the upper part of the car inward to the inner curve.

I am very happy with the series and it keeps myself occupied. Hopefully there will be more series with this quality.

Windows Vista and Microsoft Office 2007

A few days ago I received my Windows Vista and Microsoft Office 2007 from my sister who went for a holiday to Indonesia.
I installed both of them, and for Windows Vista, it does make a difference in the look and operational. But as a new Operating System, the same as previous versions, there are software compatibility problems with other third party softwares. I am lucky that all my softwares are working (not 100%, but it was enough to get things running).
As for the look of Windows Vista, I am really glad that Microsoft made this OS to be really nice looking. I guess this is a quite significant improvement to Windows OS. It does look somewhat like Linux and maybe it is because Linux is now contributing to build Windows?
It is easier to find files now with Vista, and although just recently using it, I can find files easier with Vista already. I am really glad with the addition of clock, weather report, calendar and slide show (also other items that I didn't include) at the right side of the desktop. I thought it was quite original.
As for Microsoft Office 2007, it seems there are some additional functionalities to Office. And it does look nicer too. I am glad that they are both working well with my rather outdated laptop, and other peripherals that I have here.