Movies : Mr. Popper's Penguins

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Jolly good. Nice family story. And good laughs.

Mr. Popper's Penguins the movie is based on a children's book of the same name written by Richard and Florence Atwater, published in 1938. Not exactly an identical story with the book, but there's the Poppers, and the penguins, and finally...the South Pole.

Tom Popper Jr. is a divorced real-estate businessman, aiming for partnership in the real-eastate company he works in. He's driven and committed to his work, with a certain style of persuasion skills to get the properties for re-establishment. But he is also a father who loves his children very much and still feels for his ex-wife. Probably it's the work and his inefficient ability to express his feelings that made them separated. As his estranged traveller father dies, he inherits something unbelievable...a penguin. From that moment on, there begins a very interesting emotional journey for Tom Popper, especially, after a while he received 5 more penguins and they caught his children's heart. To further complicate matters, Tom is assigned to take over Tavern on The Green, an old restaurant which holds an endearing memory to dear ol' Tom, and the owner, Selma Van Gundy (Angela Lansbury in all elderly elegance), is never going to sell it to just anybody without knowing the person's worth.  And more, Tom's ex-wife is seeing another man and planning to go abroad with him. 

How do the penguins transform Tom's life? Will Tom be able to win his family back? What's the story behind Tavern on The Green? And why in the world does Tom Sr. left his son a group of penguins in the first place? It's in this movie. Funny, exciting and a heartwarming movie for the family. 

And let me warn you, there's no kissing involve, but there are sure quite a number 'poo'ing in direct view. ;)

Not quite wordless...

A cup of strawberry tea

A book

A moment of privacy

A little escapade...

On the pills...

Once in every 3 months, my aunt need to go to the clinic for medical check up. At 75 years old, she needs to be constantly monitored for high blood pressure, diabetes and just recently, gout. Alhamdulillah, so far there's no heart attack. Every time, we leave the clinic with a bunch of pills, enough until the next visit. Previously, I wasn't too concerned about the meds that she took, but just recently, I think I am going to have a li'l peek on them. So, introducing.......my aunt's pills....

Ranbaxy Vamlo 10 (Amlodipine basilate)

Amlodipine basilate is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) and heart disease (coronary artery disease). It is what you call calcium channel blocker drug, in which it helps to slow down the rate of calcium movement into the heart and the blood vessel walls. This will allow better blood flow and causes lower blood pressure. And so, the heart can pump blood easier, while not affecting the heart rate. Resource

Perinace Perindopril Erbumine 4mg

Perindopril is part of a class of drugs called ACE inhibitors (angiotensin-converting enzyme). This enzyme normally makes the blood vessels become constricted. And so, this drug helps to prevent it from happen, relaxing the blood vessels, hence lowers the blood pressure. Resource

Metformin hydrochloride 500mg

Metformin HCl is for treating diabetes. It reduces the amount of sugar made by the liver, limits the amount of sugar absorbed into the body from the diet, and makes insulin receptors more sensitive (helping the body respond better to its own insulin). All this can cause a decrease in blood sugar levels. Resource

Allopurinol 300mg

Allopurinol is used for preventing high uric acid levels, which is the cause of gout. Uric acid is a substance that results from the breakdown of purines, which are part of the human tissues and are found in many foods. In a healthy human body, uric acid is dissolved in the blood and passed through the kidneys into the urine, and then flush out from the body. It becomes a problem if the kidneys are not functioning well and if one eats food with high uric acid content, then the uric acid level will be increased. The effect is this acid will form crystals in joints and other parts of the body which can lead to inflammation (read: pain, gout), and also produce kidney stones. Gout is not curable, but the intake of allopurinol with other medications and a diet will control the main culprit. Resource

Atenolol 100mg

Atenolol is prescribed to treat high blood pressure and angina (chest pain, heart disease) symptoms and helps to survive a heart attack. These 100mg tablets are the maximum strength prescribed. It is from a class of drugs called beta blocker. It works in a way that it relieves the burden on the heart, and so reduces the heart's need for oxygen-and-nutrient-rich blood to function properly. Resource 

So, there you have it. 5 drugs, 3 for high blood pressure, 1 for diabetes and 1 for gout. A complete mix of recipe. Please click on the 'Resource' link to find out more about the drugs, the side effects, the dosage and others or you can search anywhere you want. These are just the simplest and most comprehensive explanation that I can get. So far, my aunt is doing fine, but every time we take the blood pressure reading, it is always quite high. Maybe that's why she has a lot of hypertension drugs. Anyway, hopefully she will always be fine, keep reminding her not to miss her pills and take care of her diet.

Destination Unknown by Agatha Christie

Title : Destination Unknown

Author : Agatha Christie

Publisher : Harper/Collins, 2003

Pages : 316

Genre : Adventure, thriller, espionage, a li'l bit sci-fi too I guess ;)

Bought at : MPH Sunway Pyramid

Price : Value Buy-double books for RM39.90 (Yup! This is the double companion
of Dumb Witness.)

First published by : Collins, 1954

This is Agatha Christie Signature Edition.

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Reading this one was a new experience for me, after reading a number of AC's works in the past. It's a rare type of style, no Miss Marple, no Hercule Poirot. No gossiping 'ol dames, no hunt for family treasures, but a thrilling adventure in a punch bowl of war, ideologies and political sentiments. In it, there mentioned the term Iron Curtain several times and it has led me to find its meaning, to which I quoted from the online Britannica Encyclopedia as ...

...the political, military and ideological barrier erected by the Soviet Union after World War II to seal off itself and its dependent eastern European allies from open contact with the West and other non-Communist area.

However, the dark and gloomy post-war ambiance is just the background of the main plot. The main story is about the investigation of the sudden disappearance of a British scientist, Thomas Betterton, along with a number of distinguished science experts and researchers from all over Europe. The only key person in finding his whereabouts is his wife, Olive. Unfortunately, Olive is suffering critical injuries after a plane crash. Hope comes in the form of Hillary Craven, a suicidal woman who has lost her own hope to live after a failed marriage and the death of her child. How does Hillary play her role in tracking Thomas? Now that's the interesting part. The mastermind behind the geniuses' disappearance is a master genius in his own way, and the discovery of the plot? Superbly thrilling. In it there are mysterious characters, someone that might just pretend to be someone else, but you don't know who, and you don't know his/her motives and objectives. And in the end, the mystery is unraveled  one by one, and you know who is who...and then you can't help but thinking how brilliant it was told. Really, because I felt it.

This is not a usual Agatha Christie's treat and I love it!

Ketentuan Ilahi

Sidek termangu di atas bangku batu di taman permainan itu. Cuaca pada hari itu cerah dan angin bertiup sepoi-sepoi bahasa, menyapu lembut pipi kematunya itu. Sidek sudah tua. Dia sudah tidak larat lagi. Kerjanya hari-hari adalah menghabiskan usia tuanya di taman itu. Taman permainan yang tak seperti taman permainan yang lain. Kecil sahaja, maklumlah...ianya dibina sekadar untuk mengisi ruang di antara sebuah pangsapuri lima belas tingkat dan bangunan parkir kereta di sebelahnya.

Sidek bagaikan penunggu setia di taman itu. Tiap-tiap petang dia pasti di situ, melihat telatah anak-anak yang bermain, waima tidak ada apa yang boleh dimainkan sangat oleh anak-anak di situ. Buaiannya sudah tercabut dari talinya. Yang tinggal cuma satu atau dua yang dipasang kembali atas inisiatif penduduk yang tinggal di pangsapuri itu. Namun kadang-kadang dia melihat buaian itu tercabut kembali. Begitu juga dengan nasib alat-alat permainan yang lain yang bagaikan hidup segan, mati tak mahu. Sidek hanya menggelengkan kepalanya, menginsafi keadaan yang disaksikannya berulang kali. Budak-budak zaman sekarang ni tak reti langsung nak menghargai kemudahan yang ada. Semua nak dirosakkannya, tak tahu bersyukur langsung!, rengus Sidek dalam hatinya sambil mengelus misai tuanya yang panjang itu.

"Sidek!"

.........

"Sidek!!" 

Semakin nyaring dan tajam panggilan itu. Sidek berpaling. Dia kenal sangat dengan suara itu. Masakan tidak, tuan punya suara itulah teman lepaknya di taman itu setiap hari.

"Fareez. Kau rupanya. Kenapa lambat hari ni? Biasanya, tak sempat panas punggung aku duduk kat bangku ni, kau dah terpacul kat sebelah aku.", balas Sidek setelah melihat Fareez menghampirinya sambil tersengih-sengih macam kerang busuk.

"Alah...aku dah sampai dari tadi lagi. Tapi aku tengok kau macam syok saja melayan perasaan, aku malaslah nak kacau daun.", selamba saja Fareez menepuk bahu kawannya itu seraya duduk di sebelah. Walaupun usia Fareez lebih muda separuh dari usia temannya itu, namun mereka telah terbiasa berbahasa kau, aku sejak mula mengenali diri masing-masing.

"Apa yang kau geleng-geleng kepala tadi? Macam ada masalah je? Teringatkan Limah ke?"

What's your favourite Disney movie song?

Today is 9th July...I'm house-bound...with all the news of road blocks and wire fences all around KL, I figured that I'd better layan other things..(not that I actually planned to go anywhere in KL). 

Anyway,...what is your favourite Disney movie songs? I thought of writing about it since a couple of days ago, after watching Tangled. These animated features, they are funny, crazy, friendly, and with good, memorable songs, they'll sure to last in our mind for a long time, and reminding us of our childhood memories. Personally, not all Disney movies enchanted me, but there's a few which really tickle my senses..(if the phrase even exists ;) ). And each comes with a favourite song.

So, here I list out some of my favourites...

a. "Be Our Guest" ~ Beauty and the Beast (1991)

www.imagedisney.com

 On Belle's first night as captive in the Beast's castle in exchange with her father's freedom, she was very sad and hating the Beast so much that she rejected the Beast's offer to dine together. Later, when she felt really hungry and tried to look for some food, the friendly tools and utensils all performed a feast for her because they were so overjoyed by having a guest after years of living in seclusion. At this time, I was captivated by French and I really loved to hear the way Lumiere, the candelabra speaks, especially when he said "Sacre bleu!", a french expression for astonishment. This song is fun!

Watch on Youtube

b. "Beauty and the Beast" (1991)

Tale as old as time...true as it can be..barely even friends, then somebody bends...unexpectedly..

This is when Belle and Beast is already liking each other and dancing in the ballroom. Nice song...I love it both in the movie when Mrs. Potts sang it, and also the soundtrack release sung by Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson. A simple but lovely lyrics. Watch on Youtube

c. "Something There" ~ Beauty and the Beast (1991)

This is when Belle and Beast were warming up to each other. Belle and Beast were contemplating their feelings for each other. True as they say, when you have something in common, you can slowly accept someone although it seems impossible at first. The key is finding out what he or she likes, but you have to be sincere. There may be something there that wasn't there before.

Watch on Youtube

d. "A Whole New World" ~ Aladdin (1992)

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This romantic song is when Aladdin first took Princess Jasmine for a magic carpet ride. I remembered that I was wondering how to spell 'indescribable' when I first heard the song. I like both versions of Brad Kane/Lea Salonga in the movie and Peabo Bryson/Regina Belle in the soundtrack. Watch on Youtube

e. "I'll Make A Man Out of You" ~ Mulan (1998)

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The first Mulan movie is probably the one I preferred most from all its sequels. This is a heart-thumping one and suitable for a warrior song. When Captain Li Shang tried to train his 'saddest bunch' of new troops, he felt like it's going to be a failure, especially for Mulan. However, Mulan, determined to honour her father and to prove that she can do anything, finally able to use her wits and wisdom to be successful in the challenge. Seeing her success (without knowing that she's disguised as a man) the other men became high-spirited and motivated and finally the captain succeeded in training them all by the end of the song. It's a nice pairing of voices between the captain's character voice and his singing voice of Donny Osmond as they are very similar, handsome voice, if I may say. Watch on Youtube

It is true in real life, that sometimes we need someone that we can make them as our motivator or our role model. Perhaps, if we see someone who is already established or already a well-known person for his/her ability and strength, we might think, Nah...he/she's already there, he/she's already great..and all, I am not great, I am far down below...then we might be distancing ourselves from the others. But, if someone who is our peers, and started in the same way, the same level as us, and then rise and shine in what he/she does...it might give a boost to ourselves, and we can think, Why, we are peers, if he/she can do it, I can do it too. We started the same way and I have seen his/her effort. So I can do the same. Hope you readers can understand what I mean. 

Tranquil as a forest, but on fire within...Once you find your center, you are sure to win.

Alright! Now we have come to the numero uno songs of my favourite list....not that I listed the a. to e. songs in order of least favourites to the most..I like them all the same, but the two songs that I am going to tell you in a little bit are my most favourite ones so far!

f. "Go The Distance" ~ Hercules (1997)

www.imagedisney.com

Hercules is on the search of his true identity and on learning the truth and to go back and see his parents for real, he has to become a real hero. But what is a real hero? This is one of the most uplifting song I've ever heard in a movie. In the movie, the song is sung in little parts, and between dialogues, so I searched for this video, so that you can hear the song from start to finish. And also because I prefer the Roger Bart's version in the movie compared to Michael Bolton's version in the soundtrack. However, the soundtrack version has the complete lyrics and it's actually also a really great one. ..and I won't look back, I can go the distance...and I'll stay on track, no. I won't accept defeat...it's an uphill slope, but I won't lose hope...till I go the distance, and my journey is complete...but to look beyond the glory is the hardest part, a hero's strength is measured by his heart....

g. "I Saw The Light" ~ Tangled (2010)

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The newest. The loveliest. There's no other version but one since the voice actors are also the singers. And I love it. Enjoy the video! Rapunzel is always yearning to see the flying lights that she always saw from her window on her birthday night. And at this moment, she could see them for real with the help of a dashing rogue thief, Flynn Ryder. And so, this is their most romantic moment.

So, there you have it. My own personal Disney favourites. What's yours? :)

Dumb Witness by Agatha Christie

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Title : Dumb Witness

Author : Agatha Christie

Publisher : Harper/Collins, 2008

Pages : 411

Genre : Detective story

Bought at : MPH Sunway Pyramid

Price : Value Buy-double books for RM39.90

Voila! 

First published by : Collins, 1937

The detective : Hercule Poirot

Method of crime : Poisoning

The gist, as taken from the synopsis at the back cover of the book....

Everyone blamed Emily's accident on a rubber ball left on the stairs by her frisky terrier. But the more she thought about her fall, the more convinced she became that one of her relatives was trying to kill her.

On April 17th she wrote her suspicions in a letter to Hercule Poirot. Mysteriously he didn't receive the letter until June 28th...by which time Emily was already dead... 

And so, Emily Arundell was definitely murdered. But how? And why? And, by whom? When Emily's letter strangely arrived in Poirot's hands two months after her death, it has been Poirot's only mission to unravel the mystery behind the story. As in the other brilliant detective stories of Dame Agatha Christie, we can never be quick in judging who's the criminal until after arriving to the final chapter. What seems to be quite obvious in the earlier part might not be the real case, it might just be a diversion, but it can also be hint, to those who like to challenge the author and try to catch the real culprit before the final chapter. Sometimes, we might be able to have a good guess, but we can never explain the crime in detail as some facts are hidden from us readers. The joy is in having our own mind trying to solve the mysteries by ourselves while following the story, reading what's between the lines, understanding the mental state of the characters, and familiarizing ourselves with the culture of English men and women during the author's years of living.

I definitely enjoyed this one!