Transporter2

The children and I watched this action packed thriller on seperate occassions. Both times it made us go:" Wow! Papa/I must get this car". A good case of great product placement strategy with this particular target audience.
Wikipedia puts it-

Product placement(PPL) is a promotional tactic used by marketers in which characters in a fictional play, feature film, television series, music video, video-game or book use a real commercial product. Typically either the product and logo is shown or favorable qualities of the product are mentioned. The product price is not mentioned nor are any negative features or comparisons to similar products. Very generally, product placement involves placing a product in highly visible situations. The most common form is movie and television placements and more recently video games.
In movies, an early example of product placement is the 1949 film Love Happy, in which Harpo Marx cavorts on a rooftop among various billboards and at one point escapes from the villains on the old Mobil logo, the "Flying Red Horse".
A later but better-known instance of product placement can be seen in the 1982 film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, which helped launch Reese's Pieces from Hershey Foods Corporation. The film The Truman Show explores the idea of a 24-hour on-air reality television program funded entirely by product placement.
Product placement companies work to ensure that their clients’ products receive maximum screen time and exposure - whether it be the Nokia phone that Agent Sydney Bristow (Jennifer Garner) uses on Alias, the Lacoste polo shirt that Alex Hitchens (Will Smith) wears in the feature film Hitch or the Rimowa pilot case Gil Grissom (William L. Petersen) carries as he arrives at crime scenes on CSI.

Golden Arches

Took Jon to water therapy this evening. He did much better this time. Being only his second time in the pool, he's taken to it like duck to water even the 'cold'. He worked hard at laps and exercises joining everybody else there. As reward for his hard work tonite, I allowed him to choose his dessert. He chose Strudels at Damansara Town Centre. He wolfed down a nice triple layered apple strudel washed down with a frothy teh tarik.As we settled in the Mini to begin our drive home, he asked for a burger. Specifically a Chicken McDeluxe burger with medium fries. So I happily bounce out of the car and into the store.
McDonald's service crew, as they are called, never fails to impress me. Their stores throughout Malaysia seem to carry out a consistent service manifesto that is so deeply embedded in their service culture it's remarkable. Simply remarkable. Same consistent smile, same courteousness, same liveliness each time every time. Come to think of it, I experienced the same consistent service in New Delhi, Tokyo and Frankfurt. The 'tudunged' young lady took my order with a lovely smile. Being the only customer at that particular time, she exchanged casual banter with the kitchen boys while making sure I'm was attended to with an assuring glance. When my order was finally filled, she passed me the bag and gave me a most cheeky but warm smile. I smiled back and as I walked out she called out; 'Please come again Sir' and I think how good McDonalds must make their customers feel all over the world. Tell me you didn't make a human connection at McDonalds?
Jon finished three quarters of his McDonalds meal. I'm loving it.

S4R Testastretta

THE “MONSTER SUPERBIKE” WITH TRACK-PERFECT PERFORMANCE
The legendary Testastretta engine now powers the leading street fighter motorcycle. Designed with the most experienced riders in mind, who expect the best in terms of technology, performance and componentry, the Monster S4Rs sets a new standard in the category, benefiting from all the experience gained in the World Superbike Championship.

I wonder how much more powerful this baby will be compared to the baby I already own. But the look still remain unmistakably Monster. A pure classic. I love my bike.

Faridah and Joe Hasham

The Gans decide to fulfill Jon's craving of 'Banana fritters ala mode' in the Buttery of The Royal Lake Club this evening after dinner. As we trooped up the stairs/gradient up from the lobby, papa gan spots a band of theatre-type individuals huddled at door of the buttery having a smoke. It was Joe, Faridah and Ari Ratos. Joe was taking copious drags from his cigarette. We exchanged pleasantries, hugs and kisses and everybody meets everybody once again. Jon clearly remembers them from the party at the Morton's, Zane vaguely and Summer hardly. But everyone's thrilled at meeting 'important'and 'famous' people.
Yup. Farida and Joe are famously important in our lives. Like beacons lighting our life's journey. From Jeff Orr's wedding reception at the same club, as exclusive invitees to Daryll Morton's poolside party and several other chance meetings, encounters with the two of them are always endearing no matter how brief. It is lovely to see Faridah allow Joe enjoy a smoke (and a few glases of wine apparently) again. Here's to life, Datuk Faridah and (Datin?)Joe,you guys live it so well.
Jon finished every last bit of his banana fritters ala mode, Summer and Zane devoured their banana splits while Mum, drove Popo to Bangsar Village looking for us. Miscommunication la.....

Sporting Weekend

As I sat in the hospitality suite at the 18th green, sipping Chardonnay and smoking a Monte Cristo No.3, I watched the golfing gladiators battle it out at the KL Golf & Country Club for the Maybank Malaysian Open 2006 title. These guys are really hard at work even though they were 'playing' golf. Hours, days,weeks and months of hard work seem to pay off as I watched the finishing flights of top players sweat it out as the noon sun beat down on them yesterday. The winner Charlie Wi from Korea pocketed US$300,000.+ and I 'm inspired to improve my game.

LIVERPOOL 1 - 0 MANCHESTER UNITED
Saturday 18 February 2006 12:30 , FA Cup 5th Round
PETER CROUCH WINS IT FOR REDS

Liverpool are through to the Quarter Finals of the FA Cup after a first half goal from Peter Crouch gave them a hard fought
1-0 5th Round win over Manchester United at Anfield today.
Yes.YES.Yes.!!! We finally avenged our defeat at Old Trafford recently and broke the 85-year FA cup jinx.
Liverpool. Live.

Alonso Out!

Rafael Benitez has ruled Xabi Alonso out of his plans for Saturday's FA Cup showdown with Manchester United at Anfield.
The Spanish midfielder was replaced during the second half of the Reds' midweek victory over Arsenal after picking up a minor injury.

Reds Clash

The only time United have beaten Liverpool at Anfield in the F.A.Cup was in 1960 when Bobby Charlton scored twice in a 3-1 win.

Luis Liverpool Lives

Garcia puts us back on track with an 89 min goal against Arsenal. Yes....
Hmmm... where will Henry go now?

Billy Joel

Just like visiting an old friend- I was reminded yet again of Billy Joel's genius by Jon today as he hummed the lyrics of Piano Man. All the words came back to me in an instant. Vivid and rich in its tapestry of music and song. A Russian Jew by birth, this son of an Italian immigrant made it a rags to riches story when he rose with his music in the streets of New York. His songs weave a canvas of life when he was a struggling pianist in the Piano Man.
And his loves in 'A scene from an Italian restaurant'

Ah..... why don't they write songs like these anymore.....?

Billy Joel - Scenes from an Italian Restaurant (Official Audio ...

www.youtube.com › watch

Lyrics

A bottle of white, a bottle of red
Perhaps a bottle of rose instead
We'll get a table near the street
In our old familiar place
You and I, face to face

A bottle of red, a bottle of white
It all depends upon your appetite
I'll meet you any time you want
In our Italian Restaurant

Things are okay with me these days
Got a good job, got a good office
Got a new wife, got a new life
And the family's fine
We lost touch long ago
You lost weight I did not know
You could ever look so nice after
So much time

Do you remember those days hanging out
At the village green
Engineer boots, leather jackets
And tight blue jeans
Drop a dime in the box play the
Song about New Orleans
Cold beer, hot lights
My sweet romantic teenage nights

Brenda and Eddie were the
Popular steadys
And the king and the queen
Of the prom
Riding around with the car top
Down and the radio on
Nobody looked any finer
Or was more of a hit at the
Parkway Diner
We never knew we could want more
Than that out of life
Surely Brenda and Eddie would
Always know how to survive

Brenda and Eddy were still going
Steady in the summer of '75
When they decided the marriage would
Be at the end of July
Everyone said they were crazy
Brenda you know you're much too lazy
Eddie could never afford to live that
Kind of life
But there we were wavin' Brenda and
Eddie goodbye

They got an apartment with deep
Pile carpet
And a couple of paintings from Sears
A big waterbed that they bought
With the bread
They had saved for a couple
Of years
They started to fight when the
Money got tight
And they just didn't count on
The tears.

They lived for a while in a
Very nice style
But it's always the same in the end
They got a divorce as a matter
Of course
And they parted the closest
Of friends
Then the king and the queen went
Back to the green
But you can never go back
There again

Brenda and Eddie had had it
Already by the summer of '75
From the high to the low to
The end of the show
For the rest of their lives
They couldn't go back to
The greasers
The best they could do was
Pick up the pieces
We always knew they would both
Find a way to get by
That's all I heard about
Brenda and Eddie
Can't tell you more than I
Told you already
And here we are wavin' Brenda
And Eddie goodbye

A bottle of red, a bottle of white
Whatever kind of mood you're in tonight
I'll meet you anytime you want
In our Italian Restaurant

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: Billy Joel

Scene From An Italian Restaurant lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

The 7th Day

The 6th day dragged into the 7th day as I watched papa go down fighting at the emergency room of KLGH. My papa was a fighter all his life. Strangely for me, as last night turned to today, I saw a virtue of my father that had always been there if not for the cloud of his selfishness that prevented me from fully appreciating it. The virtue of never giving up.
Nope Gan Peng Chew was no quitter for as long as I can remember. My first encounter of his tenacity was at 7, when he literally jammed the brakes of his Simca right in the middle of a country road, in the dead of the night, to wrestle an armadillo. He won. We had armadillo stew the next day. My father taught me more about life than I will ever realize or even care to admit, but he did.
I am really proud of this man, proud he had me for a son and I will miss him very much. I love you Papa.

6th Day

This is a good day to go to work too. My colleagues turn up in force today to get the engines running so when Monday comes we're well prepared. Kel is in, Wing coming, Vince, Darren & Bala make the studio. Kim & Tini make up admin.
After the usual status with work, We successfully plan our 'loh sang' dinner complete with Lion Dance amidst discussions of Geishas, Capote and Reese Witherspoon. Invites should go out today and I wager the boys will indulge in some gambling in the den later this afternoon. Happy 6th Day to all. Gongsi Gongsi!

Live.Liverpool.

Hanging on by a thread. Liverpool's chances for the Premier league title took a setback when we drew 1-1 with Birmingham this morning. Gerard's goal was equalised at the 88min by an own goal by Alonso. To add insult to injury, Comeback kid Fowler's 90th minute winning goal was flagged offside by the linesman. We're now 3 pts adrift off Man U. when we should have already pulled level. Live Liverpool live.

Good Day for work

Feb 1 is a good day to start work so says the good Chinese book.
So there I was armed with laptop case, housing my lap top of course, striding purposefully into La Bodega at BSC eager to start work. It was a breakfast meeting with a Hong Kong client who promptly arrived after I had just gotten a quiet table at the back just next to Tan Koon Suan and Penny Chang having a quiet breakfast together. Very auspicious, I thought.
Client settles down and the usual banter follows;
Me: So how was your New Year?
Client: Good. I bought a house.
Me: Oh. Wow! How...?
Client: You see.........(details for abt 3 mins)..........and that's about how I did it. And I intend to sell my existing house.
Me: Oh the house in Taman Tun? That should fetch a pretty PENNY. Ooops! ( I look up to see if she heard me) that wasn't intended.
Client: Hmmmm. (with a knowing smirk)
Anyway meeting goes on well for a good hour and a half then the wife drops by to exchange pleasantries with the Client and tells me that I have been spotted by a certain Puan Sri who actually directed her to me. I look across the foyer and see Puan Sri. Must say hi to her, wife reminds me and bounces off to go shopping.
I finish the meeting and reflect on a good day for work in the space of a breakfast meeting at BSC.

Live. Live.

Live life on the edge of your experience.
Because if you're not living on the edge, you're occupying too much space.

A wise sage once said,and it was so eloquently delivered by Anthony Hopkins no it was Robin Williams in Dead Poet's Society, something about 'Sucking the marrow out of life'

And am I sucking yet? Hardly. But I like to think I started some 6 years back in 1999 when I trekked to see the giants of the Himalayas. Life somewhat started for me as I entered the new millenium with the resolve to go places I've never been at least once a year.