This is what I have been longing for

The CNY break is finally over! It's time to open up my files to continue what I left off before the break. I went to UM and discovered that my 16 tissue culture jars with the tobacco plantlets are growing alright, with one contamination. It was pretty encouraging considering that I have not been doing tissue culture for the past 9 years.

I still have the skills! That was what popped up my mind.

I quickly checked the procedures as I needed to make more media for the sub-culturing. This time, I made some stock solutions which to me was a complete tedious process. No wonder companies came up with cocktail recipe for MC media, I appreciate that a lot!

However, I felt like a handicap in the lab I used to managed 9 years ago. I needed to autoclave some scalpels and forceps, etc...but I don't any spared ones. This is frustrating as we used to share the apparatus among members of the lab. Time has changed, so did the people working in the lab. I don't blame anyone, it's the survival of the fittest theory. We need to survive, thus we need to think of ways to survive. One way is to protect ourselves before we lose out to the others. The only way to be protective is to be more selfish. Being selfish will never let a scientist progress in this field of modern science and technology.

Do I need to follow their foot steo or stand firm but be isolated?

I am an idiot?

You never know what an ordinary plastic bag can do when you are in need!

As I was about to leave the changing room after a 30-lap morning swim on a Saturday morning, my NIKE slipper finally broke after 5 years of owning it....well, this is not my point although it's really worth the money spent with my NIKE slipper. I was literally trapped in the changing room or I will have to walk to my car which was about metres away bare-footed. I quickly checked if I have any string to tie the slipper back, but I was disappointed to only find a plastic bag that I used to keep my shampoo and swimming trunk.

I tried to make a knot, yes, by using the plastic bag, between the slit on the base of my slipper to the 'tongue' of the slipper so that it will be intact for me to wear my foot in. Yes, I managed to get into my car and to my apartment with that transformed slipper. I don't think anyone could explain how the slipper looked like after the transformation..but who cares...the point is plastic bag is very useful!

If you have any other funny experience recycling your plastic bags, please share it with me...coz we are both idiots! :)

The 8th Annual BOH Cameronian Arts Awards Nominees

Musical Theatre caterogy

1. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE

• Cuci, the Musical; written by Douglas Lim, Harith Iskander & Hans Isaac, musical direction by Rudi Muhamad, directed by Dato’ Zahim Albakri & Harith Iskander, presented by Tall Order Productions Sdn Bhd
• Prince Siddhartha, the Musical; written by Ho Lin Huay, musical direction by Imee Ooi, directed by Ho Lin Huay, presented by Musical On Stage Productions
• "We Go Together" in Prom, the Musical; written by Geraldine Philips, musical direction by Sebastian Kor, directed by Zachary Wong, Geraldine Philips & Edward Ong; presented by FUSS LD Sdn Bhd

2. BEST ORIGINAL MUSIC

• Douglas Lim & Pacai for Cuci, the Musical; written by Douglas Lim, Harith Iskander & Hans Isaac, musical direction by Rudi Muhamad, directed by Dato’ Zahim Albakri & Harith Iskander, presented by Tall Order Productions Sdn Bhd
• Imee Ooi for Prince Siddhartha, the Musical; written by Ho Lin Huay, musical direction by Imee Ooi, directed by Ho Lin Huay, presented by Musical On Stage Productions

3. BEST ORIGINAL BOOK AND/OR LYRICS

• Douglas Lim, Harith Iskander & Hans Isaac for Cuci, the Musical; musical direction by Rudi Muhamad, directed by Dato’ Zahim Albakri & Harith Iskander, presented by Tall Order Productions Sdn Bhd
• Ho Lin Huay for Prince Siddhartha, the Musical; musical direction by Imee Ooi, directed by Ho Lin Huay, presented by Musical On Stage Productions

4. BEST LIGHTING DESIGN

• Ee Chee Wei for Prince Siddhartha, the Musical; written by Ho Lin Huay, musical direction by Imee Ooi, directed by Ho Lin Huay, presented by Musical On Stage Productions
• Ee Chee Wei for Cuci, the Musical; written by Douglas Lim, Harith Iskander & Hans Isaac, musical direction by Rudi Muhamad, directed by Dato’ Zahim Albakri & Harith Iskander, presented by Tall Order Productions Sdn Bhd
• Lim Ang Swee for Prom, the Musical; written by Geraldine Philips, musical direction by Sebastian Kor, directed by Zachary Wong, Geraldine Philips & Edward Ong; presented by FUSS LD Sdn Bhd

5. BEST SET DESIGN

• David Wong for Prince Siddhartha, the Musical; written by Ho Lin Huay, musical direction by Imee Ooi, directed by Ho Lin Huay, presented by Musical On Stage Productions
• Melissa Teoh for Prom, the Musical; written by Geraldine Philips, musical direction by Sebastian Kor, directed by Zachary Wong, Geraldine Philips & Edward Ong, presented by FUSS LD Sdn Bhd
• Raja Maliq for Cuci, the Musical; written by Douglas Lim, Harith Iskander & Hans Isaac, musical direction by Rudi Muhamad, directed by Dato’ Zahim Albakri & Harith Iskander, presented by Tall Order Productions Sdn Bhd

6. BEST CHOREOGRAPHER

• Chan Soo Leng, Michele Yong & Lee Swee Keong for Prince Siddhartha, the Musical; written by Ho Lin Huay, musical direction by Imee Ooi, directed by Ho Lin Huay, presented by Musical On Stage Productions
• Stephen Rahman Hughes for Cuci, the Musical; written by Douglas Lim, Harith Iskander & Hans Isaac, musical direction by Rudi Muhamad, directed by Dato’ Zahim Albakri & Harith Iskander, presented by Tall Order Productions Sdn Bhd

7. BEST MUSICAL DIRECTION

• Imee Ooi for Prince Siddhartha, the Musical; written by Ho Lin Huay, directed by Ho Lin Huay, presented by Musical On Stage Productions
• Rudi Muhamad for Cuci, the Musical; written by Douglas Lim, Harith Iskander & Hans Isaac, directed by Dato’ Zahim Albakri & Harith Iskander, presented by Tall Order Productions Sdn Bhd

8. BEST DIRECTOR

• Ho Lin Huay for Prince Siddhartha, the Musical; written by Ho Lin Huay, musical direction by Imee Ooi, presented by Musical On Stage Productions
• Zachary Wong, Geraldine Philips & Edward Ong for Prom, the Musical; written by Geraldine Philips, musical direction by Sebastian Kor, presented by FUSS LD Sdn Bhd
• Dato' Zahim Albakri & Harith Iskander for Cuci, the Musical; written by Douglas Lim, Harith Iskander & Hans Isaac, musical direction by Rudi Muhamad, presented by Tall Order Productions Sdn Bhd

9. BEST SOUND DESIGN

• Adam Sofian for Cuci, the Musical; written by Douglas Lim, Harith Iskander & Hans Isaac, musical direction by Rudi Muhamad, directed by Dato’ Zahim Albakri & Harith Iskander, presented by Tall Order Productions Sdn Bhd
• Alvin Koh for Prince Siddhartha, the Musical; written by Ho Lin Huay, musical direction by Imee Ooi, directed by Ho Lin Huay, presented by Musical On Stage Productions

10. BEST COSTUME DESIGN & MAKEUP

• Azmi bin Jaffri & MAC Team for Cuci, the Musical; written by Douglas Lim, Harith Iskander & Hans Isaac, musical direction by Rudi Muhamad, directed by Dato’ Zahim Albakri & Harith Iskander, presented by Tall Order Productions Sdn Bhd
• Caren Yee, Charles Jong & Kenzo Tuan for Prince Siddhartha, the Musical; written by Ho Lin Huay, musical direction by Imee Ooi, directed by Ho Lin Huay, presented by Musical On Stage Productions
• Noor Azlina Sarikudin for Prom, the Musical; written by Geraldine Philips, musical direction by Sebastian Kor, directed by Zachary Wong, Geraldine Philips & Edward Ong, presented by FUSS LD Sdn Bhd

11. BEST PERFORMANCE IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

• Adibah Noor for Cuci, the Musical; written by Douglas Lim, Harith Iskander & Hans Isaac, musical direction by Rudi Muhamad, directed by Dato’ Zahim Albakri & Harith Iskander, presented by Tall Order Productions Sdn Bhd
• Paulway Chew for Prince Siddhartha, the Musical; written by Ho Lin Huay, musical direction by Imee Ooi, directed by Ho Lin Huay, presented by Musical On Stage Productions
• Ramli Hassan for Cuci, the Musical; written by Douglas Lim, Harith Iskander & Hans Isaac, musical direction by Rudi Muhamad, directed by Dato’ Zahim Albakri & Harith Iskander, presented by Tall Order Productions Sdn Bhd

12. BEST PERFORMANCE IN A LEADING ROLE

• AC Mizal for Cuci, the Musical; written by Douglas Lim, Harith Iskander & Hans Isaac, musical direction by Rudi Muhamad, directed by Dato’ Zahim Albakri & Harith Iskander, presented by Tall Order Productions Sdn Bhd
• Awie for Cuci, the Musical; written by Douglas Lim, Harith Iskander & Hans Isaac, musical direction by Rudi Muhamad, directed by Dato’ Zahim Albakri & Harith Iskander, presented by Tall Order Productions Sdn Bhd
• Yang Wei Han for Prince Siddhartha, the Musical; written by Ho Lin Huay, musical direction by Imee Ooi, directed by Ho Lin Huay, presented by Musical On Stage Productions

YEAH, we got FIVE nominations! Although I don't think we would win any of these, I am already very honoured to be nominated! What surprised me was PTM was not nominated for Best Choreography :(

I was so touched

In contrast to the previous post, I was so touched and pleased watching Sammi's concert on 302!

To be honest, I was not a big fan of Sammi as I was growing up at times of Anita Mui and Leslie Cheung. To me, Sammi was a close imitation of Anita, no doubt as Sammi also idolised Anita very much. I liked listening to her songs though, but would never enjoy watching her on TV. However, when I was watching the programme the other night, there was this strange feeling that reminded me of the days when I used to listen to Sammi's songs - in the 90s! Memories flipped. I remembered how Sammi suddenly disappeared from the HK music scene after the movie Chang Hen Ge. She must have gone through a terrible time for the past 2 years and here she is, standing on stage singing to us again. I was so touched that my tears were rolling as I was singing with her. From that moment on, I think I have grown to like her more. Perhaps I was trying to see her as Anita's replacement, but frankly speaking, I don't think there is anyone who can as good as Sammi after Anita, Sally, Sandy and Faye. To me, the young singers out there in the HK music scene are too far to catch up although many of them are talented. The music industry destroys them itself.

We don't want singers as there are plenty of them out there - those who can sing, those who cannot sing, those who claim they can sing.... What we want are legends like Anita Mui. Sammi is going to be one too!

The worst musical ever

It was a groomy evening when I was sitting in the dining room watching Astro, as usual since CNY is quiet this year. I was changing channel until I stopped at 304 when it was showing AMUI Musical which was originally staged at Genting months ago. I wanted to support the musical initially but it was at Genting! The reason that I didn't go was also partly because of the lead actress who played my favourite singer at all times - Anita Mui, the legend in HK pop music industry!

To my horror, and I was glad I didn't go, the show was a disaster! She can't sing Anita's songs for nuts! She is that bad.... She can't hold a pitch right, the emotions were all so fake, her speech was unbelievably horrible, she sounded like a pasar malam ah sou than anyone else! Not only did she sound horrible, she is also DxxN FAT!!!!! Anita was never as fat as a pig! Anita was always very slim/fit. How can they get such a fat bitxx to be Anita? I used to like her when she starred in I have a date with spring, but after watching the show, I think it's time that she says farewell to the industry! I was so mad and upset watching the show, and was frowning all the way through.....shouldn't the director have some sense as to what standard they were putting on stage? Didn't they think the Malaysian audience are blind or stupid? And I think for Jia Yu to air that programme was also plain stupid!

This is the worst show I have ever seen in 2010, so far....but trust me, nothing can be worse than this one, if only you are Anita's big fan!