New Library Policy (w.e.f. 1 July 2009)

From 1 July 2009, basic library members will be able to borrow up to 6 items, inclusive of a maximum of 2 audio visual items. Library users may also sign up as Premium Plus members and borrow up to 16 items, inclusive of a maximum of 8 audio visual items - for just $42 a year.

Borrowing Privileges

• As a basic member, you are entitled to borrow SIX library items inclusive of a maximum of TWO music scores/audio-visual items from the lending section of the libraries.
• The loan period for books/music scores is 21 days, while loan period for magazines/audio-visual items is 14 days. No renewal is allowed for audio-visual items.
• Any book or magazine with an accompanying CD-ROM, when borrowed, will be considered as two loaned items. They are to be borrowed and returned together on the same membership card.

Meiner Geburtstag viel Glück

I came across the twistee balloons when buying ingredients with Retriever for my birthday cake.

I have forgotten how to make a balloon dog. But a very anatomically correct twisted balloon?

B1 bakes a Birthday Cake

We were having dinner, B1 and I, when he asked me what I wanted for my birthday.

I mulled over it for a while.

"I'd like you to bake me a birthday cake."

So after watching way too much Hogan's Heroes, we strolled to the nearest supermarket on our way to return books at the library. Since it was already nine plus and B1 being a beginner in the kitchen, I decided a box mix would be best.

But it wouldn't be Terrier, if there wasn't at least one misadventure involved. I fell for dear old Betty's (Crocker) trick. Suckered by the beautiful picture of the chocolate fudge cake on the box, I didn't realise that the lovely frosting on the cake was not included. Guess I missed the words warning me from the bottom left side of the box...




B1 asked if I still wanted the frosting. I was sure the cake wouldn't be the same without the pretty chocolate frosting. So we walked back to the same supermarket again (not before hopping over to the petrol kiosk's mart in the vain hope of finding some frosting), while the cake was happily swelling in the oven. Trust me, it sure felt a lot longer the second time around.

Couldn't find Betty Crocker readymade frosting. Oh Cold Storage, how could you have closed down your branch and abandoned me to the tender mercies of your competitors? Ended up purchasing icing sugar and cocoa powder. We stole the frosting recipe off another box mix. B1 asked me if I had milk at home. I was sure Father had some in the fridge so nodded. Being very lazy people, we did not call home to check. After all, I confidently informed B1, we could create milk from evaporated milk + H2O.

I discovered to my horror that I only had chocolate milk at home. In my haste to simulate milk with water and the branded milk powder (haha, instead of evaporated milk) that my mother drinks to prevent osteroporosis, and mentally calculating how much milk powder would I need to make 30ml milk, I forgot the one and only measuring cup I had was 1/3 cup, 80ml...





In went 80ml, and the very confused us stared down at the mixing bowl, wondering if frosting was supposed to look more like chocolate sauce. I later realised my mistake. Out the window went the exact measurements, I just kept chucking icing sugar, butter, cocoa and milk powder to thicken the mixture.

It became a thicker chocolate sauce, but went fantastic with the cake all the same. Anyway the cake came out magnificently. Either B1 is a much better baker than me (my cakes and biscuits consistently come out as biscuits), or cake mixes is the right way to go.

After a hasty Happy Birthday song, I had my second birthday cake for the year, lovingly mixed by the exhausted B1 (he beat the crap out of the cake and frosting), and nicely accompanied by a chilled Innocent Bystander Moscato 2008.

Wolverine is such a hornbird?

I came across this while reading Geekologie.

According to this chart, seems like Wolverine likes to taketh and giveth.


[Original source: uncannyxmen]

Do not watch 絶対彼氏 ZETTAI KARESHI (Absolute Boyfriend) SPECIAL!!!

I am severely disillusioned by the Special.

The magic of the original ten episodes is that as usual the Japanese sucks you into their "weird Japanese logic" vortex. This was concluded by both Retriever and I after I made him watch infinite number of shows (esp during the slow US of A summers).

The beauty of the Absolute Boyfriend is that viewers, esp women, are suckered into the emotional scenes of the growing love between the robot and his human girlfriend. Plus the fact that the show has funny scenes are an especial boon. I love the parts where he keeps saving her, loving her, and supporting her. And then, he develops an ego, which enables him to really appreciate the love he has for her, as opposed to being programmed to do so.

Such beauty. It makes you feel like Night becomes human, and then when he "dies", it is so damn sad and melancholic. But lovely (see this is what I mean by the vortex. The actors and events explain the love between robot and human and make it seem possible).



And then there is that bloody Special.

Basically it is supposed to be a side plot about the "evil" (but pretty) scientist, Dr Kamiya and her boyfriend. But the writers and producers chose to restart the entire process of a blur cock Night introducing himself to his "new" girlfriend again because he cannot remember her, to actually remembering her. And then the stupid robots decided to explain that love between human and robot is IMPOSSIBLE, rendering the first ten episodes as redundant and slapping the viewer in the face for being stupid for watching them in the first place.

And then Night decides to kill himself. WHAT THE FUCK!!!!

Can't he like, ask Narikimi to wipe out his memory, and/or make him the waiter at the new Asamoto eatery or something? Instead of scrapping him?

We know the damn love between robot and human is impossible. We don't need some Japanese producer pointing out the obvious after duping us into believing in the impossible. The nearly 2 hour long movie's like a totally lame attempt at explaining the weird Japanese logic, which totally destroys the magic.