Space Cadet BLing

Wow, what a wide new world I’ve discovered. (took me a while tho) Podcasts! These must have singlehandedly cut down the hours I listen to music which is one of my most primal loves. Just on Monday morning while doing my extremely early jog/walk about the town, I was listening to Stephen Fry’s Podgrams & NPR’s Culturetopia & Fresh Air podcasts (and even Mugglecast, a Harry Potter themed podcast just at random and just for kicks) and heck, I didn’t even tune into a single track of my music on my Ipod. Amazing!

Anyway, I’m still into it, morning at work, no one in the office yet with Ricky Gervais playing through the speakers. Well, I haven’t felt this obsessed over some new application since bittorrents. Nice. Anyway, some quick thoughts/reviews on the podcasts I’ve listened to:

1. Stephen Fry’s Podgrams: Can come off as hoity toity, snooty and smartypants, but actually, I quite like him even though I don’t follow his obsession of Oscar Wilde, his loathing for dancing and penchant for poetry and wine. But the thing is, he’s pretty open minded enough to not hold that against you.

2. Ricky Gervais: Man, he has a really shrilly laugh. He and Stephen Merchant really go well together with their ridiculous banter. Ironically, even though considered more of an “everyman” and somewhat more accessible than Stephen Fry for example, his podcasts are a little too brief, since basically, they’re considered free samples from his audiobooks. (Half the time filled up with that shrilly laugh)

3. NPR: It’s like a window to different worlds. I’ve always been a fan of NPR since listening to them on radio in the US, and now I can get them here! Wonderful!

4. Stuff You Should Know: Pretty educational podcast, with Josh & Chuck talking about things that you don’t really learn in the classroom but we talk or hear about in everyday life, stuff like whether the world will end in 2012, how face transplants work, how long can you live without food or water, things like that. Really interesting…

5. This American Life: It’s kinda like Reader’s Digest in audio form, with anecdotes and spectacular stories from everyday people. Not as academically educational as it is philosophically insightful and spiritually uplifting.

6. Wizards of the Coast Penny Arcade & PVP: Quite interesting delve into the world of Dungeons and Dragons with a 3 hour recording of one of their role-play gaming sessions, which sadly, even as a self-confessed geek, I’ve never had the chance to do. This one’s “stars” Wil Wheaton from Star Trek fame! Some parts are quite hilarious, really, makes me realise that there are some parts to roleplaying that you can’t replace with computer roleplaying.

7. World Soccer Daily Podcast: A couple of British guys on American soil talking about EPL-centric soccer. Moments on this show can get pretty crass, as with quite a lot of podcasts actually. They can get pretty obnoxious and  opinionated, so I suspect that these guys either get a lot of fans or a lot of hate mail.

8. The Official LOST Podcast: Was a bit afraid to listen to this since I like my viewing experience of LOST to be untarnished by spoilers or obsessed fans’ rumours and speculations about episodes I’ve not seen yet. But in the end, actually quite insightful with retrospective analyses and observations of things you may have not noticed about the show.

9. MTGCast: another geek podcast listen for me. This one’s for the game Magic: The Gathering card game which I admit, I dabble in once in a while. (OK! I HAVE AN EXTENSIVE COLLECTION OF CARDS, OK?) Not really interested in talk about tournaments and more competitive aspects to the game, but more towards informal stuff like rumours of new upcoming cards, fun interesting ideas of gameplay, etc.

10. The GeekBox: yet another geekcast, but a little more mainstream, with topics ranging from Watchmen, Streetfighter, computer games, BSG, Lost… rather eclectic mix and I think the most interesting of all the geekcasts.

11. Best of Youtube: Great fun! Basically picks the most interesting uploads on Youtube and highlights them through this podcast channel. Better than sifting through Youtube, checking on the popularity count and clicking on download.

12. Mugglecast: Aforementioned Harry Potter podcast. I thought this was rather blase, or maybe it’s because of the episode I listened to, with rather tepid talk on Harry Potter’s new movie poster release and a dull interview with Patrick Doyle, the composer of the most recent and the upcoming Potter movie.

13. Beautiful Places in HD: Video podcast of beautiful places to visit. So far, it’s still very America centric with vid captures of Yosemite, Lake Tahoe, Mt Rainier (which I really love and profess that it’s the most beautiful place I’ve ever been to so far in my middle-aged life) etc… Still, a very relaxing view and one of my faves.

That’s about it for now… There’s a few more podcasts for me to check out. Tons out there, really. Anyway, back to the grind. I’ve got to start getting my sleep pattern in order! Ben, out.

Driving to work today, got caught in a pretty bad crawl on the Sprint Highway. Turns out there’s a pretty bad accident involving a Chakri Palace catering truck. Now, this would’ve been a pretty regular accident, but just realised how rather bizarre this particular accident seemed to be. Take a look at the photo:

Click to enlarge

The thing that struck me was how odd, and rather “convenient” the whole situation looked. Truck flips over (hope driver is okay), but conveniently flips over at a certain angle, proudly displaying ad for Chakri Palace Catering Service, with phone number and all to rubbernecking motorists curious what happened.

What a novel way to advertise your product this way!

What I’m amazed is that someone actually took the effort of printing an ad or message at the TOP of a van where only folks on helicopters and the 2nd – 5th floor of buildings can make out the message.

This seems like a conspiracy I tellz ya! Hmmm… I could probably cater the food from there for my birthday Murder Mystery party… What’s that number again?

Okay, so I’m back from my Kinabalu Trek. A few things that maybe made this journey harder than I thought.

Firstly, lack of training: Haven’t been hitting the gym in the whole month prior to the climb. Very bad idea!

Secondly, didn’t pack right: Ended up carrying almost twice the weight as I did in Nepal, thinking about 4-5kgs. Pretty much had to carry everything with me in this 3 day trek. The only time I was able to leave my stuff behind was the climb from Laban Rata, to the peak, then back to Laban Rata again.

Thirdly, should have gotten a walking stick: The trek seems more intense. Lots of climbing up steep stairs and rocks, then coming down, your knees take an extra pounding. I should have gotten one of those walking sticks which I sorta got away not using in Nepal.

Fourthly, they really rush your schedule: Get this, you’re walking from 9am to 5pm from Mesilau to Laban Rata. This is maybe around 8km. Then you barely get enough sleep before you wake up again at 2 in the morn the next day, reach the peak at about 5-6am. Then come back down again at about 10am. You barely get enough rest before you go and walk again at 11am because you want to reach the HQ by 5 so you can have lunch and get your certificate. This is a solid15 hour walk in the last day! Jeeezus Christ!

Anyway, the climb was well worth it. Surely, one of the most beautiful and unique experiences I’ve ever had, and right in my own country! Awesom-O! The climb was terrifying, especially if you’ve issues with heights (just like I have). Many cases I felt a sense of vertigo. Some areas, all that’s preventing you from a certain plunge to your death is you grabbing onto a rope. Not even harnessed… you’re just grabbing on rope and hoping you don’t slip. Then when you’re at the peak, it’s such a small area, and a pretty steep drop off everywhere else, that I could barely stand. Basically freezing and hugging rock. Anyway, in the end, I’m glad I did it. I think if I knew how freaky this “World’s Highest Via Ferrata” trek would be, I wouldn’t have done it, but I think now, I felt I’ve conquered my fears and don’t mind doing it again. This time, with more preparation, and maybe I can actually appreciate the view this time instead of hugging rock.

So anyway, some random thoughts:

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Thanks to Mel n’ John for putting up with us. Dang it was hot last night and I was basically out of it with only 1 hrs sleep in 2 days. Shouldn’t make it a habit of rushing out deadlines before holidays, pretty much screwed up my first day here. Had massive headache and must’ve acted like a drugged out buffoon throughout, but just had a good night’s sleep and seem okay now. Hope my climb won’t be affected by this recent disregard of health. So we’re off to Mesilau taking a taxi in a bit. RM150 was the best price we could get around Gaya. Coming back, the price Mun Kitt got was about the same so I think that’s pretty much the standard rate here. Waiting till 11 for Kitt & Louise to do their 30 min massage… I’ve 6 min left on the comp here, charging my Ipod, writing my blog, going to CNN, Slate, Goonernews… (don’t dare surf porn on a public comp :O) Well… some thoughts so far:
1. Deep Sea fish is great, especially the one cooked by Anon (cool name), Mel’s cook at her Mango restaurant. Lovely in Thai Red curry n’ coconut sauce…
2. Basil leaves are ok, HOLY Basil leaves rock!
3. Man, I don’t know how Ron Moss can stand it anymore giving advice to people who obviously are on a different planet than the rest of the world on that “One In A Million” talent show. What he said was spot on about that Esther chick being too show offy n’ arrogant, but Malaysians are too polite, easily impressed or just plain obtuse… I think that’s why we’re stuck in the mire in talent. Because we’re too afraid of criticism and too afraid to give it.

4. If I have a dog, I’ll name it Mutt Williams. And he’ll buddy up with Cat Stevens, and I’ll post those cute photos that people can caption to on Icanhascheezburger.com.

5. Oh, and if I’ve another pair, will name them Yipster (goggie) and Nomster (kitteh). Just love the “ster” names. Just sooooo cute.

6. I miss the backpacking life. Poor, living like cockroaches on some far flung part of the world with only the bag on your shoulders and Ipod on your hip… learnin new cultures, seeing new wonders of the world and meetin’ new people. They’re the nomads, the gypsies, the bedouins of not a nation or a region, but of the Earth.
Whoops, five minutes left. Don’t want to leave it too late before I get cut off here. Well, Benjamin Ling, out!

Some thoughts… I’d better organize my travel times a little better. Perth at the end of March, KK at the middle of this month… tiring especially with work in full swing. Anyway, at least work is picking up pace and getting progress. Next bit of biz, I wanna get my own place. Some apartment somewhere first, with a tennis court, pool, good cozy gym and a cute neighbour you can fantasize over. Ha… some thoughts go to Ritz Perdana. Pretty good location, but it’s just a studio. Well, might be good for me, since I live rather simply, though I’d be lacking a space where I can do up as my A/V soundproof room… OK…

Called up this taxi guy named Rahman, who’s picking the 3 of us up at Kitt’s place, then to LCCT. Not sure if I can get any sleep at least until tomorrow evening.

Oh, and thanks to Maya for helpin out with the party planning through facebook. Heh, and to the rest of me pals, Nooo I’m not being antisocial… I’m just not really social, in an online way, that’s all… face to face, that’s what more precious in this day n’ age. Right?

What else?

Hmmm… not much. If I don’t update from KK, well, catch you guys Wednesday.

Here’s my first quickie review of this fledgling blog along with my unique style of reviewing. Kicking it off with Armin van Buuren’s State of Trance, episode 381, a rather anonymous number to start, and somewhat old, but what the hey, anyplace is a good place to start. Just give it a read and find me crazy. :O By the way, the track timing doesn’t really depict the start of the track, only the time I start noticing the track changed and I made a mental note to write it down, ooh, and forgive me if I forget to write some of these down. Trance is all about the seamless experience, right? And it kills it if I start rewinding the track just to find out where it starts and then go back to where I left off, and then, the mood’s gone.

OK. So here we go…

* By the way, this is a second version. I’d earlier typed my review but lost it all when trying to install the “read more” function, and basically replaced the code wrongly… which really sucks! OK, so here’s a trimmed down version of what I remembered typing…

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… got disconnected from my Streamyx connection. Didn’t pay the bills. Yeah, I’m po. Well, maybe not that bad, just procrastinatin’. Anyway, the connection should be back on again.

On other news, Mt. Kinabalu trip starts tomorrow! Should I or should I not bring my laptop? Hmmm…

Also, having a murder mystery theme birthday with something Maya n’ I planned. Keep a look out here for more info! Who wanna come?

Just received my first spam by this appapapf fella, car warrantly bullshit. Nuked his mothaeffin post. If I keep getting more, I’m just gonna have to install Akismet or some other plugin… right now, have been too busy with the Mt. Kinabalu trip to learn how to use it, but then again, I’m a pretty lazy learner.

… overtaking Star Trek.

Inspired. Got heads up on this from Kevin Smith’s twitter feed and I agree, this may be the best trailer I’ve seen. I vaguely remembered Maurice Sendak’s cartoon, but not much, n’ didn’t think it really had a story. I love the song (Wake Me, by the Arcade Fire), and apparently the version in this movie is a newer version (and much improved) than the original which I took a listen to and thought was generic indie rock and rather forgettable. But man, everything about this trailer brings out the dreamer kid in me. I hope this doesn’t raise my hopes too much for the movie like a trailer did for M Night’s The Lady in the Water (the version with Josh Groban’s Mi Mancherai).

So now my list of must-see movies this year (post Watchmen) goes like:

1. Where The Wild Things Are

2. Star Trek (Man, I have goosebumps thinking about how good it can be. Props to Hans Zimmer whose inspiring Batman score really is the perfect scifi trailer music)

3. Avatar (The one by James Cameron scheduled for December release, trailer not out yet. So far, no word on how’s this gonna be like, but knowing Cameron, this is most likely gonna be mindblowing. It would’ve been top if it had a trailer by now)

4. Terminator Salvation (what’s with rock songs in trailers lately? not to complain tho coz it works! Oh, by the way, song is The Day the Earth Went Away by Nine Inch Nails)

5. Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen (I’m kinda ‘ngeeeeeeh’ with the movie and the trailer, seems like generic scifi fare n’ not a fan of Michael Bay who’s the king of Hollywoody. I repeat. Hollywoody. Not Hollywood. Still, can’t wait to watch it.)

That dude can sing, play guitar, piano and arrange music – love his rendition of Ain’t No Sunshine – , and he’s sporting a bit of Brad Pitt confidence this week. That dude’s cool. *bats eyes, swoons*

Heh kidding aside, (-me no homo-*whispershout*, I could go back and edit this to Krista Allen who’s hot stuff too…) was thinking how this season’s Idol really could make a good ensemble Apatow comedy. I mean you’ve regulars Seth Rogen as Danny Gokey…

Seth Rogen & Danny Gokey

Jason Segel as Matt Giraud (and both can do the piano too!)

Matt Giraud & Jason Segel

then get other funny folk Jason Bateman as Adam

Adam Lambert & Jason Bateman

Rosie Perez as Allison,

Rosie Perez & Allison Iraheta

Kim Wayans as Lil Rounds,

Lil Rounds & Kim Wayans

Heroes’ Stephen Tobolowsky as Scott

Stephen Tobolowsky & SCott MacIntyre

and finally, all-too-convenient Kal Penn as Anoop Desai.

Kal Penn & Anoop Desai

Well, the movie won’t make much sense but heck, I’d watch it just because it’s jsut so bloody pointless.