Man Keeps McDonald’s Burger For 14 Years

An American man, David Whipple, recently went on an US medical talkshow, “The Doctors” to show a hamburger he bought in 1999 that showed little signs of rotting 14 years later.

The 14-year-old sandwich and burger patty looked slightly shriveled  but otherwise similar to the freshly-cooked ones in the store. He had bought the burger for an illustration on how enzymes work and left it in his coat pocket, until his wife found it about two years later. They were surprised to find that there was no mould on the burger. Only the pickle had disintegrated.

This isn’t the first time people have conducted experiments on fast food burgers that don’t seem to rot. Many have speculated that the excessive use of preservatives is the reason.

McDonald’s Canada has the answer. They posted a reply on their website by Dr. Keith Warriner, programme director of the University of Guelph’s Department of Food Science and Quality Assurance:

There have been a lot of online videos and photos touting the fact that when left out for an extended period of time, a McDonald’s hamburger does not rot and that this is because they are laden with chemicals. The reality is that McDonald’s hamburgers, french fries and chicken are like all foods, and do rot if kept under certain conditions.

Essentially, the microbes that cause rotting are a lot like ourselves, in that they need water, nutrients, warmth and time to grow. If we take one or more of these elements away, then microbes cannot grow or spoil food.

In the example of a McDonald’s hamburger, the patty loses water in the form of steam during the cooking process. The bun, of course, is made out of bread. Toasting it reduces the amount of moisture. This means that after preparation, the hamburger is fairly dry. When left out open in the room, there is further water loss as the humidity within most buildings is around 40%. So in the absence of moisture or high humidity, the hamburger simply dries out, rather than rot.

With moisture loss, we take away an element required by microbes to grow and cause spoilage. So to spoil a McDonald’s hamburger, we simply need to prevent the moisture loss. This can be done through wrapping it in cling film to prevent moisture from escaping, or storing it within a high humidity environment, such as a bathroom (notice black mould on your bathroom windows but not in your bedroom). If you try doing the same experiment with a homemade burger with similar moisture content as a McDonald’s hamburger and under similar conditions, you’ll probably get the same results.

True or false? Who wants to experiment with this theory further? Any takers? Anybody?


Keira Sports An Engagement Bling!

Hollywood is simply brimming with newlyweds and engaged couples! 27-year-old Keira Knightley and her 28-year-old boyfriend James Brighton (keyboardist and singer for British rock band, “Klaxons”) are the latest to join the exclusive crowd.

The pair met through a mutual friend last year and began dating after Keira ended her five-year relationship (Eep!) with actor Rupert Friend. Since then, the couple have made their love life no secret by regularly flaunting their relationship all over London. The only thing that’s lacking is that both Keira and Jason have never made a public appearance on the red carpet together. Hmm.

15 months later, they’re announcing their engagement. The cool and casual couple wasted on time in flaunting one other thing – Keira’s engagement ring. Just last weekend, the newly engaged actress and her rocker  fiancé James hit the streets of London oh you know, just PDA-ing and spending quality time on a lazy Sunday together. The public, obviously accustomed to their public display of love by now, said that something else caught their eye that fateful day.

Yup. You guessed right. Making a super special appearance on Keira’s finger was her engagement bling. The diamond sparkler that stunned onlookers is a ring with a circular diamond and simple gold band. Survey says? It stole the sunlight:

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No further details on the proposal, engagement, wedding plans or date have been revealed..yet. So keep your eyes peeled for more updates!

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#AMAs: “Iggy Iggs” Leads American Music Awards Nominations!

Hip-hop newcomer Iggy Azalea dominated the shortlist for the American Music Awards with nods in 6 categories just months after her debut album.

The Australian-born singer was nominated for artiste of the year as well as song of the year with “Fancy,” which has become a radio favourite through its simple bass line and anthem-like chorus about indulgence sung by Charli XCX. Iggy Azalea, whose first studio album “The New Classic” was released in April, received more nominations than any other artiste, even though it was the first year she made the list.

Of course, we love her for many reasons too, especially for her collab with Ariana Grande:

Pharrell Williams also was in contention for both artiste of the year and top single with his global blockbuster song “Happy”. Other artistes named for artiste of the year were Beyonce, Luke Bryan, Eminem, Imagine Dragons, John Legend, Lorde, One Direction and Katy Perry.

New artiste of the year
5 Seconds of Summer
Iggy Azalea
Bastille
Sam Smith
Meghan Trainor

Single of the year
“Fancy,” Iggy Azalea feat. Charli XCX
“All of Me,” John Legend
“Rude,” MAGIC!
“Dark Horse,” Katy Perry feat. Juicy J
“Happy,” Pharrell Williams

Favorite male artiste – pop/rock
John Legend
Sam Smith
Pharrell Williams

Favorite female artiste – pop/rock
Iggy Azalea
Lorde
Katy Perry

Favorite band, duo or group – pop/rock
Imagine Dragons
One Direction
OneRepublic

Favorite album – pop/rock
“Pure Heroine,” Lorde
“Midnight Memories,” One Direction
“Prism,” Katy Perry

Trailing Iggy Azalea with 5 nominations each are John Legend, Katy Perry, and Pharrell Williams. Lorde has a total of 4 nods, and Beyonce; Eminem; One Direction; Imagine Dragons; and One Republic are each nominated for 3 American Music Awards.

The American Music Awards, set up in 1973 by late radio and television personality Dick Clark, recognise commercial success and public appeal with fans voting for their choices. The set-up contrasts with the older Grammy Awards, in which recording industry professionals select what they view as the top artistes and works. Nominees are chosen based on factors including radio airplay, number of albums and digital singles sold, and social media activity as tracked by Billboard magazine.

The number of contestants in the category has been raised from 5 to 10 this year, and fans will have the opportunity to tighten the playing field. They can place their votes through November 13 to narrow the category down to a top 5 list of contenders. The winner of artiste of the year will be the performer with the largest number of votes through the entire voting period. The fans’ votes can now be placed online and on Twitter.

The American Music Awards winners will be announced at a ceremony on 23rd November in Los Angeles. To view the full list of nominees, click!


Acoustic Sweetheart Releases New Album!

Sabrina’s new album follows her first concept album “Acoustic Love Notes” also released this year and the highly successful “I Love Acoustic” series which went multi-platinum across Asia. To date, she has sold more than 175,000 copies of her albums.

Like the previous “I Love Acoustic” series, “I Love Acoustic 5” includes the hits of 2012 interpreted by Sabrina in her signature acoustic style which enthralled listeners and audiences in Asia. What makes this special is her collaboration with 2 Asian artists—Thailand’s Koh Mr. Saxman for “Could It Be” (an popular Indonesian song translated in English) and Asiansation Christian Bautista, also a multi-platinum artist:

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Plus for the first time in any “I Love Acoustic” series, “I Love Acoustic 5” features an original song “Oh Boy”, written by Sabrina herself. Truly, this artist is also blossoming as a songwriter after writing two tracks from her previous album “Acoustic Love Notes”.

Special thanks to our friends from Universal Music Thailand and Universal Music Indonesia for making the collaboration possible as well as presenting to us a lovely song originally by Indonesian artist Raisa.

To purchase “I Love Acoustic 5” from iTunes, click!

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McDonald’s Malaysia To Take Legal Action After Netizen’s False Claim Went Viral

McDonald’s Malaysia has issued a statement that they will take stern action against those who attempt to tarnish the company’s brand and reputation.

This comes as a response to Twitter user, Arabella, who previously claimed that McDonald’s had served a piece of Ayam Goreng McD that was infested with maggots. In the post, the fast food chain noted that there are media articles and comments circulating on the internet regarding the false allegation.

McDonald’s then explained that while they acknowledge that every individual has the freedom to voice out their opinion on social media, they urge the public to be mindful when sharing content online so that no reputation is questioned based on unsubstantiated and unverified claims. They also emphasised that “unnecessary fear and alarm shouldn’t be spread among netizens.”

They continued, “At McDonald’s Malaysia, food safety is of the utmost importance and they place great emphasis on quality control, following rigorous standards in the preparation of their food. We constantly strive to do our best for our customers across the country. And we urge the public to refer to our company’s official company channels to seek for clarifications in the future.”

McDonald’s Malaysia concluded by revealing that they are “currently seeking legal advice with a view of court proceedings against the netizen and those who have reposted or republished” Arabella’s past statement.

Apart from that, the company also said that they won’t hesitate to take necessary action, including legal recourse, against those who try to spread lies about their brand.


8 Other Ride-Hailing Apps To Choose From Instead Of Grab

Grab Malaysia has pretty much been monopolising the ride-hailing market ever since it bought over Uber last year.

Since the merger, users have been complaining about the raising fares. On top of that, Grab recently implemented a cancellation fee (from RM3 to RM5) on passengers who cancel rides 5 minutes after booking a ride.

If you’re fed up with Grab Malaysia, we’re here to assure you that there are options out there. Here’s a list of ride-hailing alternatives to consider:

MyCar was officially launched in April 2018. The self-proclaim “third e-hailing force” in Malaysia allows passengers to track the location of their drivers while payment can be made via cash or card. We like that KLIA airport fare is cheaper as it starts from RM55.

If you prefer taking rides with familiar people then Dacsee is for you as it allows you to request rides from friends and family members (with the condition that they’re part of the Dacsee community and fulfil the necessary requirements). Meanwhile, the “Joy Locations” features recommendations for on-going rewards and promotions with popular brands.

JomRides is another Malaysian startup that provide ride-hailing services through a compact car, sedan or MPV. You can also make bookings in advanced which is helpful. There were previously feedback that users couldn’t see the fares before booking.

EzCab allows you plenty of transportation options to choose from – fixed fare, private cars, metered taxis, MPV taxis, and MPVs. Besides the usual cash or credit card, users can also pay via Boost, Touch & Go eWallet, Alipay, or WeChat pay. Other privileges include discounts for selected locations like IKEA, 10% off Zoo Negara entrance tickets and more.

Similar to GrabCar’s rental service, Mula also allows users to book a driver for a minimum of 2 hours. If you’re a female, you can make use of the Mula Pink Driver option and request for female drivers. There is also a Favourite Driver page where customers get to select anyone in the favourite list to receive your request.

A post shared by Riding Pink (@ridingpinkmy)

Launched in 2016, Riding Pink is Malaysia’s first women-only ride-sharing platform. The objective is to provide women in Malaysia reliable and affordable rides as well as an equal chance at earning income. Most of its drivers consist of stay-at-home mothers and working mums seeking to earn some extra cash.

PICKnGO gives you access to taxi rides with no surge pricing. You can choose to mark up price and offer to pay more when you need a ride urgently. Having said that, you can also mark down price if you think the charge is overpriced.

Many of you may not have heard of Diffride (Diff) as it is still relatively new. Diff has telematics feature that “tracks drivers’ acceleration and braking patterns”. This is to differentiate the responsible and reckless drivers.

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WINNERS: Official Skyfall Merchandise For The Bond Lovers

It seems that we’ve finally got our winners list – but before that, we’d like to thank all our wonderful readers for their creative submissions. Sure was fun reading through them all! You guys are troopers!

So, FOUR of you will be taking home a piece of Skyfall. Congratulations to:

Special thanks to our friends from Sony Pictures Malaysia for making this awesome contest happen. Kindly collect your prizes from our office from 16th October 2012 (Friday) onwards. Remember to bring your IC for verification purposes!

B-13-5 Northpoint Office Suites, Mid Valley City,

Our office hours are 10am to 6pm (Monday to Friday only).

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Don’t forget to catch Skyfall in a cinema near you while it’s still on! Also, check out what we thought of the movie. For more information, visit the movie’s official website.


“MISO: Baebijang-jeon”: Korean Traditional Culture Stage Show Live In Malaysia

“MISO : Baebijang-jeon”, the No. 1 Korean traditional culture stage show is finally here in Malaysia!

Loved by people from all over the world, Jeongdong Theater presents its new performance of 2014, “MISO:Baebijang-jeon”. The show doesn’t just present traditional dance and music in a one-dimensional dance drama; it goes on to heighten the beauty of form as a holistic performance by harmonising rhythm, melody, theatrical devices, and dancing steps based on Korean traditional movements. It also increases the completion level of the dramatic story that penetrates the entire performance.

A satirical novel representative of the Joseon era, the classical novel is written by an unknown author in the late Joseon Dynasty in which humor stands out vividly as it evokes laughter by alluding to the hypocrisy of the ruling class and natural human desires.

Bae Geol-deok-swe, who always tries to maintain the honor of the gentry, is appointed the government position of the secretary in charge of culture and art. He goes to his new post in Jeju Island with the new district magistrate. In Jeju Island, Secretary Bae doesn’t mingle with the people at the welcoming party of the new magistrate. Instead, he goes around scolding the other secretaries for socializing with gisaengs (courtesans). The magistrate wants to test Secretary Bae who vows never to be seduced by any kind of temptation, so the magistrate declares that he’ll handsomely reward anyone who can seduce Secretary Bae. Ae-rang, one of Jeju Island’s most beautiful women, comes forward, saying she’ll seduce him. The man servant that works for Secretary Bae agrees to help her. Secretary Bae, who would talk big about the honor of the gentry, sees Ae-rang taking a bath at the waterfall, and immediately falls in love with her. With the help of his man servant, Secretary Bae heads over to Ae-rang’s house.

This novel was recreated and performed as a Korean traditional opera, a musical, etc., becoming a performance content that has already verified its box-office worth and entertainment value to the domestic audience.

Jeongdong Theater highly anticipates that “MISO : Baebijang-jeon” will have both artistic value and popular appeal. It will be a Korean traditional performance production that is acknowledged by the world, and will be loved by foreign visitors as well as more Korean audiences.

Unfortunately, the event will not be opened to the public and all attendance are based on invitation only.

In conjunction with International Women’s Day and as an appreciation towards fans who have been supporting all their previous events, IME Productions is holding a contest so that fans can stand a chance to join the event. Only 25 lucky fans will be invited to the event and they’re allowed to a friend along to enjoy the show together. The contest runs from 25th February – 3rd March 2015.

Winners will be announced on 4th March 2015.

“MISO: Baebijang-jeon Live in Malaysia” is brought to you by IME Productions and Korea Jeong Dong theatres.

For more information, visit IME Productions’ official Facebook page or call IME hotline: 03-21666166.

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Could This Be The New Next-Gen Perodua Myvi?

Thinking of purchasing a new Perodua vehicle? You might want to hold on and wait a little longer.

There have been reports that Perodua may be rolling out a new Myvi model later this year. According to MIDF Research, the arrival of the next-generation hatchback could debut as early as the 4th quartet of this year.

The first Myvi model, which was released 6 years ago, has already been discontinued. Seeing as how the latest Toyota Passo/Daihatsu Boon has been in the market for approximately 1 year already, it’s fair to assume that motorists will soon get to see the debut of the new Perodua model.

To quote Paul Tan, the new Perodua Myvi “is expected to use a range of new 1.3 litre and 1.5 litre Toyota NR engines, including the 94 hp/121 Nm 1NR-VE 1.3 litre Dual VVT-i mill used in the Bezza”. The aforementioned engines can be compared to “either a 5-speed manual gearbox or a 4-speed electronic automatic transmission (E-AT)”.

While there’s no official confirmation yet, the new technologies may include keyless entry, push button start, an Eco Idle automatic engine start/stop system, and Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) on range-topping variants.

Sources: Paul Tan, Malaysian Freebies/ Featured image: Facebook .


Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 Ending, Post-Credit Scenes & New Team Explained

Alas, all good things must come to an end and “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” marks the conclusion of director James Gunn’s rib-tickling, heart-warming space trilogy! You know, on the count that he has an entire, whole other cinematic universe to manage. In any case, we’re going to miss his unique voice in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). That being said, in spite of “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3″ being marketed as an absolute tear-jerker for fans, it actually ends more on the sweeter side than the bitter. Possibly due to the fact that Kevin Feige has plans for our beloved rogues in future films. For now, though, it seems like the original members of the team will be heading in different directions in their lives.

What does this mean for the future? Will we ever see the original team reunite or will a new status quo be the way forward? Stick around because we’re breaking down the ending, post-credit scenes and the new direction for the Guardians!

Against all odds, none of the Guardians have bit the dust! Unfortunately, Rocket does lose his soulmate Lylla at the hands of the High Evolutionary. At the end of the day though, the team does prevail against the dastardly High Evolutionary with Adam Warlock turning against his creator. All the creatures held on Counter-Earth are free and Rocket finally gets his revenge on the mad scientist who made him the raccoon he is today. With the threat of the High Evolutionary gone, the original team members have decided to go their own ways.

For those hoping that Gamora and Peter Quill would finally get married and fly off into space, sorry. Gamora leaves the team to lead the Ravagers while her sister, Nebula takes over Knowhere and is running the giant Celestial head. Drax the Destroyer is now a proud, new papa to the mutated animal children from the High-Evolutionary’s base. Mantis goes on her own journey of self-discovery. As for Star-Lord himself, he’s finally decided to return to Earth to make up for lost time with his grandfather. Looks like he’s settling down…for now. Well, what about the dynamic duo Rocket and Groot?

In the first post-credits, we see new members, Phyla-Vell, Kraglin, Adam Warlock and Cosmo the Space-dog talking about who their favourite earth-based musician is while on their way to a mission. Finally, Rocket decides to stick a rather familiar tune in Star-Lord’s Zune: “Come and Get Your Love” by Redbone. An awesome nod to the first “Guardians of the Galaxy” film in which Peter himself plays the song while dancing his way to an Infinity Stone. This also seems to imply that this is a new beginning for Rocket and Groot as they go on adventures with their new team. Oh and Blurp’s there we guess.

So in a sense, while the original Guardians of the Galaxy are gone, a new team lives on with Rocket leading the charge. In the comics, Rocket does lead the Guardians for a while before Quill eventually returns and reunites the team once again. We don’t think we’ll be seeing Rocket’s team on the big screen for a while though, seeing that “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” marks the end of the trilogy. However, we can take heart knowing that we’ll probably see them all reunite to face off against the larger cosmic threat of the Council of Kangs in “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty”.

The second and final post-credits scene sees Star-Lord reuniting with his grandfather on Earth, living a normal if not boring life. He has a tender moment with his grandfather as he sits and has breakfast with him. As he’s eating, he sees a headline in the newspaper about how Kevin Bacon tells the story of his alien abduction. Those who watched “The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special” will definitely remember the hilarious scene in which the Guardians wheel out a mind-controlled Kevin Bacon who quickly becomes distraught upon regaining his senses.

Honestly, we’re glad that Peter gets to have some sense of normalcy with his grandfather after all he’s been through from the death of his mother to Ego to losing Gamora. It’s a lot for one man to handle so cheers to him finding a home and some peace. The scene ends with the text reading: “The Legendary Star-Lord will return”.

It seems pretty clear that director James Gunn meant for “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” to be more of a standalone conclusion to his vision than another domino to fall for the MCU’s Phase 5. As we predicted, Adam Warlock does indeed turn to the side of good which means the heroes of Earth and beyond may have just gained a powerful new ally in the fight against the Kangs. Sure he doesn’t seem all that powerful now compared to his near-god-like comic book counterpart. Given time though, he could prove to be the key to saving the entire multiverse.

As for the new Guardians team, if Rocket continues to go around collecting new recruits, especially the kind that wields cosmic power, we could see some version of the Annihilators in the MCU. The Annihilators act as a galactic peace-keeping force that consists of some of the heaviest cosmic hitters in the Marvel universe.

Fun fact: Cosmo the Space-dog is the founder of the team in the comics. The comic-book version included folks like Silver Surfer, Quasar, Gladiator and Beta-Ray Bill. Now with folks like Phyla-Vell and Adam Warlock in the MCU, Marvel Studios might be trying to slowly distance themselves away from Gunn’s Guardians to set up a whole new cosmic team of their own.

“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” is a worthy send-off for one of the most entertaining and consistently funny film trilogies in the MCU. Farewell, James Gunn!

For those looking to find out more about Gunn’s plans for the DC Universe (DCU), be sure to check out our breakdown of his 10-year plan here.

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#Malaysia: Penang Road Collapse Results In 6-Week Road Closure

Yesterday (Thursday, 13th October), drivers were shocked to discover that the road alongside Jalan Lembah Permai (previously known as Vale of Tempe Road) had caved in as a result of heavy downpour, forcing authorities to close the road for 6 weeks.

According to reports, the 3km narrow road that goes around Pepper Estate to Tanjung Bungah saw some of the dangerous cracks measuring to approximately 200m long. Motorists who wanted to avoid the snaky road were advised to use Jalan Tanjung Tokong instead.

Public Works Department (PWD) revealed that the cracks were noticed 5 months ago, with an initial cost of RM365,000. However, delay in funds from the Federal Government prevented them from carrying out the intended correction work.

“We detected a tension crack in the road in May and had hired a local contractor on 13th Sept to carry out remedial work. The contractor was supposed to start work on Monday,” explained State Public Works, Utilities and Transportation Committee chairman Lim Hock Seng.

Meanwhile, netizens online are suggesting that the road cracks could have been caused by heavy earth-carrying vehicles. “I believe lorries are partly to be blamed for the damage. Although there are sign boards prohibiting them using this road, they can be frequently seen sneaking through carrying heavy loads and posing a danger to motorist using this narrow road. A height barrier may be a better solution to stop these lorries,” said Facebook user Jerry Low.

His sentiments were echoed by DAP member Zairil Khir Johari who replied, “Agree with you. I actually proposed a height barrier before but JKR had issue with it because the road is also accessed by PBA trucks and council trucks. The other issue is enforcement – OCPD at the scene agreed that we have to find a way to stop or catch lorries using the road illegally.”

Fortunately, the crack was visible during day time, else someone could have gotten injured had the road collapsed at night.

Sources: Zairil Khir Johari’s Facebook, The Star, Free Malaysia Today.


AKB48 Excites Malaysian Fans At Japan Expo Malaysia 2019

For the very first time ever, Japan’s biggest girl group AKB48 arrived in Malaysia on 27th July 2019 for their maiden showcase held in conjunction with Japan Expo Malaysia 2019 at Pavilion KL.

6 members from the group including Nana Okada, Mion Mukaichi, Rin Okabe, Megu Taniguchi, Yui Oguri, and Nagisa Sakaguchi performed to a crowd 135,000 people at Pavilion’s Centre Court.

A post shared by Hype Malaysia (@hypemy)

Before their showcase, the girls had an exclusive session with the local media where they shared their first-time experience in the country as well as their responsibility as the newer generation of AKB48.

“When we first landed into the country, we’re so surprised to see so many fans waiting for us at the airport. They were welcoming us with huge banners. It’s very heartwarming.” said Mion Mukaichi.

“We love the food here and the nighview of Kuala Lumpur is so beautiful. Right now, we’re very happy!” she added, representing the rest of the members.

All AKB48 members that will perform at Malaysia tomorrow has arrived in Malaysia safely. pic.twitter.com/y07UlDKfTu

The girls were very happy to know that people from around the world including Malaysia appreciate their culture so much.

“Japanese people love their culture very much from its food to anime, manga, and nature. So to know that the people outside of Japan love our culture as well is just pure happiness,” Nana Okada commented.

As the newer generation of AKB48, the members work hard to maintain the groups’ dynamic and everything that their seniors have built.

“As the younger generation, we want to take a different approach and bring a fresher image to the group. We also want to be like our seniors and inspire the new generation after us,” said Yui Oguri.

Furthermore, the girls admitted even though some seniors have graduated from AKB48, they still keep in touch and maintain good relationship with them.

“We’re very close to our seniors and we don’t really think much about seniority. We will always have topics to discuss with our seniors. But when it’s about work, we usually have certain seniors to refer to for advice,” Yui continued. “For me, it would be Yuki Kashiwagi and Yui Yokoyama.”

Since their formation in 2005, AKB48 has gone from being national favourites to becoming global icon. With loyal fandom around the world, the group has spawned 11 sister groups from around Asia such as China, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, and Vietnam.

“It’s really nice to know that we have teams and members from all over Asia. We had a huge concert in Thailand previously where all the 48 members were present. Everyone was so excited to be there. Even though we’re from different countries, we’re singing the same song and danced together. It’s amazing how powerful our music is,” said Mion.

During their showcase at Japan Expo Malaysia 2019, AKB48 performed a total of 5 songs; “Heavy Rotation”, “Kibouteki Refrain”, “Suki Nanda”, “Iiwake Maybe” and “Koisuru Fortune Cookie”.

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Do We Have To Wait Another 14 Years For Incredibles 3?

“The Incredibles” sequel 14 long years to arrive in cinemas. We can’t help but wonder – will we get “Incredibles 3” in this lifetime?

“Incredibles 2” premiered with a resounding bang across the world, setting a new record for an animated opening. Naturally, fans are looking at writer/director Brad Bird and the cast for some answers on a 3rd instalment.

Back in 2016, Disney decided to switched the release dates for “Incredibles 2” and “Toy Story 4” when the team for “Toy Story 4” lost its head writers. As a result, the release for “Incredibles 2”, originally slated for 2019, was moved up by an entire year. This caused some strain on the production.

“You couldn’t linger on. It’s like the episode of I Love Lucy when she’s got the candies piling up on the conveyer belt. This film was like that. They took a year off our schedule, so if an idea didn’t work quickly, you had to just kill the darling and move onto the next. And I killed like a city full of darlings,” said Bird.

Those “darlings” Bird was referring to are the new superheroes that made their debut in “Incredibles 2”. Although these characters didn’t get much screen time, each one of them are completely unique. The initial plan was to delve into these additions.

The filmmaker hasn’t lost hope for them though. “We storyboarded, and we designed characters, and they’re really good! Some of them were really funny and cool and explored certain things. You know, you never say never, because there might be an opportunity to use it,” he added.

There are even talks about a potential Frozone/Mr. Incredible origin story. “That would be cool, to know why Lucius is this loveable uncle figure, and how long he and Bob have known each other and what kind of things did they get into? Did they meet because they were superheroes? Did they meet one night by accident? Or did they just meet naturally and come to find out, ‘Oh, you’re a hero, too!’” Samuel L. Jackson told Entertainment Weekly.

Having said that, Bird’s feelings on sequels have been very clear – never say never, but pushing too much on one particular project and suddenly it can become a prison. “Yeah, don’t go there. It’s best not to talk to the mom who’s just delivered a child about, ‘How about the next child?’ Don’t do it. Don’t do it, man,” the director responded.

We can’t bare to wait another 14 years to see the Parr family again. I mean, 2032 sounds like a very long way away, no?


#IpMan3: Mike Tyson To Appear Alongside A CG Bruce Lee

Some odd decisions have been made by Pegasus Motion Picture, the studio behind the upcoming threequel of the 2008 Hong Kong semi biographical martial arts film, “Ip Man”.

Instead of casting a young actor to portray the younger version of the late Bruce Lee, the studio announced that a computer graphics (CG) Bruce Lee will be featured in “Ip Man 3”.

“Ip Man” is a Hong Kong film loosely based on the life of Yip Man, a Chinese martial arts legend who popularised the practice of Wing Chun. Born and raised in China, Yip Man developed the concept-based Chinese martial art which specialises in close-range combat. In 1949, he moved to Hong Kong and opened his schools of Wing Chun. Kung-fu icon Bruce Lee, who died in 1973 from a brain aneurysm, was one of his most famous pupils.

Bruce’s backstory will be briefly introduced in the 3rd “Ip Man” film as he will appear as a young pupil of Yip Man. However, according to THR, the film’s producers resorted to use CG to re-create Lee’s intensity onscreen as they failed to find a suitable actor to portray the Kung-fu icon.

Former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson will also appear in the film alongside the CG Bruce Lee. He is joining the cast of “Ip Man 3” as a property developer, who is also a street fighter.

Who is the best boxer and Kung-fu master in China? Wait for me, I am coming. Thank you for introducing me to Chinese Kung-fu.

Pegasus chairman and “Ip Man 3” producer Raymond Wong told THR that it was a comment on Tyson’s Weibo account that gave him the idea to feature the former boxing champion in the film.

2 years ago Mike Tyson opened up a Weibo account and the first question he asked was, “Who is the best fighter in China?” Someone answered him “Donnie Yen, ” and that gave me an idea.

Raymond further revealed that “an explosive fight” between Tyson and the martial arts legend, Donnie Yen is expected to be featured in the 3rd instalment in the “Ip Man” series.

Donnie Yen (甄子丹) was not the only actor to have portrayed Yip Man in a movie. The Chinese martial art legend was portrayed by Hong Kong famed actors Tony Leung Ka-fai (梁家辉) and Anthony Wong (黃秋生) in Wong Kar Wai’s “The Grandmaster” and Herman Yau’s “Ip Man: The Final Fight” respectively. Despite being released in the same year, both films received much praises from the critics for their portrayals of Yip Man.

Since the “Ip Man” fad has died down a bit, producer Raymond Wong felt that it is time to bring the titular character back to the silver screen.

The audience suffered Ip Man fatigue for a while, but the waves of Ip Man films has calmed down now, so now is the time to present our 3rd instalment.

Wilson Yip is returning to helm “Ip Man 3” and the principal photography begins today (25th March) in Shanghai, China. Wilson is reuniting with producer Raymond Wong and writer Edmond Wong to produce the threequel, which is tentatively scheduled for release in 3D in the first quarter of 2016.

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Several 5 Star Hotels In KL Now Up For Sale Due To Covid-19 Pandemic

Many workers – particularly from the travel and hospitality industry – have either lost their jobs or been forced to take a pay cut due to the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak.

Due to travel restrictions that is expected to last for awhile, a couple of Kuala Lumpur’s finest hotel owners are now opting to put their properties up for sale.

To date, Malaysian Association of Hotel Owners executive director Shaharuddin M Saaid said that approximately 20 hotels had already close down. Over the past few weeks, several 5 star KL hotels have been listed on iProperty, where the asking price is between RM350 million to RM1.7 billion.

Even before the movement control order (MCO) was implemented, a few hotel owners had already made preparations to sell their properties. Since recovery period will take roughly 6 months to 1 year, Shaharuddin explained that many industry players are opting out and pursuing other options.

“We cannot rely on international tourism as other countries are also affected by the virus and there are flight restrictions. As for domestic tourism, the volume isn’t really there, especially if you are talking about higher-end properties, because many people’s incomes have been affected,” he was quoted as saying.

“We can’t host meetings and events, there are restrictions for dining in, you can’t swim or use the gym – who would want to pay to stay at a hotel?” Shaharuddin added. Since hotels can’t even operate at full capacity, buyers may turn them into serviced apartments or even commercial buildings.

Even before the pandemic took effect, the hotel industry has been suffering due to the rise of Airbnb, budget hotels, and rental of properties. The Covid-19 situation is simply the final nail in the coffin.


Hellboy: 8 Fun Facts About The Reboot’s Characters & Story Secrets

Hellboy is back. And the new brawny red monster hunter is hairier, angstier, and more immature than before.

Actor David Harbour has expressed the upcoming “Hellboy” reboot is not an origin story. Directed by Neil Marshall (Guillermo del Toro, who directed the first 2 films, left because of creative differences), the new version will be truer to the comics in terms of its script and appearance.

As you may know, Hellboy is a half-demon from Hell who was summoned by Nazi occultists and raised by a surrogate human father, Professor Trevor Bruttenholm. The titular character is prophesied to be the Beast of Apocalypse, who will one day bring about the end of the world. His huge stone right hand isn’t just for show though. It’s apparently the key to releasing ancient demons from their cosmic prison that will kick-start the apocalypse.

In the newly-released trailer, we see Hellboy being a formidable asset to the US Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense (B.P.R.D.), which is run by his adoptive father. Here’s a breakdown of the major players and story secrets you probably didn’t know about the reboot:

Trevor Bruttenholm, or Professor Broom first discovered Hellboy as a child and took on the role as a foster father. Their relationship not your typical father-and-son dynamic. In fact, Hellboy notes that his “father” got him guns instead of Legos.

BPRD has various secret bases. One of them is a false store-front in an urban area hidden within a fish and chips shop called Codswallop. Screen Rant also notes that Codswallop is a British slang term for “nonsense” – a jab at the Americans perhaps?

The trailer doesn’t point out the Osiris Club by name. Instead it shows group of well-dressed British gentlemen questioning Hellboy about his right hand. In the comics, the Osiris Club are well aware about cosmic secrets and the various supernatural evils.

Given that hell is a part of the character’s name, it places a significant role in the storyline. Since the reboot is based on “The Wild Hunt” comics, it will probably delve into the politics of Hell. There is also a fair amount of demons. Among them are: a boar-headed creature, a demonic bat-lie creature with blades, and giants.

Alice Monaghan retains a connection to the magical world ever since she was kidnapped by fairies as a child. Her unique powers allow her “to see through the glamours used by the fae as well as those magicians who draw power from a connection to fairies”. No doubt, this makes her an instrumental asset to the BPRD.

“Just because they all exist in this universe doesn’t make them all friends. There are suspicions and rivalries. As far as how he holds his own, let’s just say Daimio has a few tricks up his sleeve,” Kim on why Major Ben Daimio doesn’t see eye to eye with Hellboy. As far as “tricks”, the soldier had became a host to a supernatural entity. As a result, he is gifted with amazing recuperative powers.

Nimue (played by Milla Jovovich) is a powerful witch who despises humans for what they have done to her kind. Once known as the Lady of The Lake, Nimue became the Queen of Blood when she switch her allegiance to the Ogdru Jahad. For those that don’t know, Ogdru Jahad is the great Dragon of Revelation, who would bring about the end of the world.

At the end of the trailer, we see Hellboy wielding a flaming sword with a fiery crown on his head. It is known as the Apocalypse Crown. It’s essentially a demonic artefact that will bring forth the end of the world.

Sources: Entertainment Weekly, Screen Rant.

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Party At Some Of The Biggest Dance Music Festivals In The World? You Got It!

We know, we know, not all of us can afford to fork out thousands for a trip to say, a place like Belgium to experience a gargantuan-sized music festival like Tomorrowland. Trust us, we know how many times we’ve all kicked ourselves because the biggest and best festivals (on an international level) always happens oh, only about halfway across the world.

So like many of you guys, we settle for the biggest festivals in the Southeast Asian region such as Future Music Festival Asia (FMFA), ZoukOut, Djakarta Warehouse Project (DWP), etc. Or, we make do with partying from our desktops/laptops.

Yeah, peeps, we’re talking about live streams/broadcasts.

Note: The above video isn’t a live stream/broadcast video but we just thought we’d throw that in because it’s the coolest UMF after movie we’ve ever seen! Look at how Hardwell waves at the camera the 0:22 mark ;)

With the advent of the Internet and convergence of media, we can now sort of “travel” halfway across the world to be part of the thousands that turn up at some of the world’s most coveted music festivals! The best part is, we don’t even need to leave home (or the office) to do so. Here are some of the parties around the world that have got free livestreaming:

What: Ultra Music Festival (UMF)
Where: Miami
When: March

Held in Downtown Miami in Bayfront Park, Ultra Music Festival Miami (UMF) is an annual outdoor electronic music festival that occurs in March. It’s said to be one of the biggest dance events of the year because it coincides with the annual Winter Music Conference, also held in Miami.

From 1999 – 2006, UMF was a one-day festival but from 2007 – 2010, it became a 2-day festival and then a 3-day festival from 2011 – 2012. In 2013, for the first time in festival history, UMF took place across two consecutive weekends. The 2013 edition of UMF sold out its pre-sale tickets within seconds of the launch and saw an attendance of 330,000 partygoers. In 2014, the festival returned to a one-weekend format and needless to say, it continued to bring thousands of dance music fans to beautiful Miami for the festival.

Ultra’s “UMF TV” has proven one of the best festival streams in the business, covering both weekends of Ultra with plenty of amazing and high quality live set coverage from the world’s biggest DJs. UMF would also usually take the liberty to save DJ sets individually and post them up on their YouTube channel for those who miss the livestream.

What: Coachella
Where: California
When: April

Taking place in Indio, California, the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival (commonly referred to as Coachella or the Coachella Fest) is an annual 2-weekend, 3-day music and arts festival held at the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, located in the Inland Empire’s Coachella Valley in the Colorado Desert. The event features many genres of music, including rock, indie, hip hop, and electronic dance music. Across the grounds, several stages continuously host live music. The main stages are:

A smaller Oasis Dome was used in 2006 and 2011, while a new Yuma stage was introduced in 2013.

Coachella has long been one of America’s most acclaimed festivals. Year after year, Coachella brings the the most revered artists of the time to the desert for three days of festival madness. Coachella’s “Coachella Live” has become a tradition, consistently offering simultaneous performance broadcasts, multiple camera angles, and high quality broadcasts.

What: Tomorrowland
Where: Belgium
When: July

Tomorrowland is the largest annual electronic music festival held in the world, taking place in Belgium. The enchanting event takes place in the town of Boom, 16 kilometres south of Antwerp, 32 kilometres north of Brussels, and has been organised since 2005. Tomorrowland has since become one of the most notable global music festivals, due in part to its amazing after movies, one of a kind stage design, and festive atmosphere. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the festival and to meet the high demand for tickets, the 2014 edition of Tomorrowland was held over 2 weekends and there were more than 400,000 attendees.

Bringing over 400 DJs to Belgium for its three day event, Tomorrowland’s patented “Tomorrowland TV” presents the festival in a half-live, half-produced fashion with interviews, DJ sets, and tons of beautiful panoramas.

What: Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE)
Where: Amsterdam
When: October

The Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) is a 5-day electronic music conference and festival held annually in October. The event is organised by The Amsterdam Dance Event Foundation and offers a full program of daytime conferences at ADE Pro, ADE Tech, HDE, ADE University, ADE Next and ADE Green, alongside the nighttime ADE Festival featuring 300 events and 2,000 DJs over 5 days in 80 clubs and venues, which together combine to make Amsterdam one of the busiest and most inspiring clubbing cities in the world. Attendees can expected to see hundreds of panels and performances happening throughout the near week-long event, as well as witness the announcement of the current year’s Top 100 DJs.

In 2013, year, ADE hooked up with Be-At.TV in impressive fashion, creating a giant hub of live streaming events. You may also catch the livestream via “ADE Live“.

As long as you have a fast enough Internet connection, a desktop/laptop, and some free time, we say party on ;)

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Apple Introduces New Creative & Collaborative App Freeform

Apple lovers are definitely being fed well this year. After the release of the much-anticipated iPhone 14 series, many have been looking forward to seeing what else the brand has in store for its customers this year. Back in October, Swifties got a special treat when Apple Fitness+ released a special workout series featuring songs from Taylor Swift’s album “Midnight”.

Not long after that, Apple also introduced its new iPad Pro with an M2 chip processor. So many awesome new things coming your way before we bring in the New Year. Buckle up cause the tech giant has one more thing to give iPhone, iPad, and Mac users before the year ends and that is the brand-new Freeform app!

Available starting today, Freeform is an all-new app that’s included in the latest versions of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. So what does it do? Imagine an empty canvas and you can do basically anything on it and collaborate with everyone. According to the official website, Freeform helps users organise and visually lay out content on a flexible canvas, giving them the ability to see, share, and collaborate all in one place without worrying about layouts or page sizes.

“Freeform opens up endless possibilities for iPhone, iPad, and Mac users to visually collaborate. With an infinite canvas, support for uploading a wide range of files, iCloud integration, and collaboration capabilities, Freeform creates a shared space for brainstorming that users can take anywhere,” said Bob Borchers, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. Here are 2 of the new app’s highlights:

If you’re on the creative side, then Freeform is definitely the app for you to get to work. Do you need to doodle, draw, sketch or write anything to get the creative juice flowing? Freeform is definitely the perfect whiteboard experience for gathering inspiration and ideas all in one place. Make a mess and be creative. The app is perfect for Vision boards, Mood boards, and Creative Projects.

Fashion designers and digital artists are going to love this app too. The app offers a variety of brush styles and colour options to sketch ideas, add comments, and draw diagrams. iPhone and iPad users can draw anywhere on the canvas with their finger, and with support for Apple Pencil, Freeform makes it easier than ever to sketch ideas on iPad while on the go.

As previously mentioned, Freeform is highly collaborative. Whether you’re using the app for group assignments, art projects, or evening holiday planning, it has the ability to work with up to 100 collaborators on the same board. Talk about getting the job done fast! How does it work?

By simply dragging a Freeform board into a Messages thread, users can invite others to a Freeform board, making use of the new collaboration features in Messages. Don’t worry, it’ll automatically notify you whenever there are changes made to the project by a collaborator. If you’re more of a video call person, FaceTime is actually built into the app. This feature makes it easier for people to visually see the project during discussions or edits.

If you wish to learn more about the new Freeform app, you can visit the official Apple website for all the details. Alternatively, you can simply just go ahead and download the app from the Apple App Store which is again, available on the latest versions of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.


Join BiO-LiFE’s 21 Days Immunity Challenge & Win Prizes Worth More Than RM46,000!

Many people fell victim to the deadly virus as the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world, claiming many lives. People increasingly understand the significance of keeping a strong immune system, either by arming themselves with stronger defence or by taking better care of their health.

Healthy habits can contribute to the development of a stronger immune system, which serves as the body’s “shield” against viral assaults. These routines include eating a well-balanced diet that is high in micronutrients, engaging in regular physical activity, or even scheduling time to unwind and decompress. This is easier said than done, though, as it can be challenging for some people to maintain consistency over time.

With the 21-Day Good Health By Yourself (GHBY) Immunity Challenge, BiO-LiFE, a natural and holistic healthcare brand with over 30 years of existence in Malaysia, welcomes Malaysians to triumph together!

“Now, more than ever, immunity is something that we should not take for granted. With so many risks around us, it is crucial that we maintain our health and strengthen our immunity, so that we can stay protected. Through this challenge, we want to take the opportunity to encourage Malaysians to get active, stay healthy, and optimize their immunity!” is the company’s motivation for launching the 21-day GHBY Immunity Challenge, according to MEGA BiO-General LiFE’s Manager for Malaysia and Singapore, Balaji Rajagopal.

BiO-LiFE wants to raise awareness of the value of healthy living among Malaysians through this challenge so that we may all develop stronger immune systems to fend off ongoing threats from infectious and mutating viruses. Additionally, the challenge’s most inventive contestants will have the chance to win amazing prizes totalling more than RM46,000!

From 1 June to 31 July 2022, pledge to achieve a goal through BiO-LiFE’s 21 Days GHBY Immunity Challenge! Simply choose a health challenge from one of the categories (diet, physical activity, or lifestyle) and share your progress across the span of 21 days on social media based on the timeline below:

Day 1, Kick start: Share your personal challenge with the invitation card that will be sent after registering online. Encourage your friends and family to join together!

Day 7 & 14, Progress update: Share your thoughts about your challenge to date, in either picture or video format.

Day 21, Conclusion: End of challenge! Share your final outcome and thoughts after completing the challenge, such as the changes you’ve noticed, and whether you plan to continue this healthy habit.

Do make sure that posts related to the BiO-LiFE 21 Days GHBY Immunity Challenge fulfill the following criterias:

Best of all, the first 300 participants who completed the 21 Days GHBY Immunity Challenge will be selected as winners! However, to make things even more exciting, the most creative posts stand to win additional prizes worth more than RM46,000 in total:

Grand Prize (5 pax): Langkawi Bella Vista Waterfront 3D2N worth RM810 (Bella Vista Suite, inclusive of breakfast, and 2x adult entry tickets to Splash Out Langkawi)

Special Prize (50 pax): Touch n’ Go reload pin worth RM50 & 1 month supply of BiO-LiFE Imunix

Consolation Prize (100 pax): Touch n’ Go reload pin worth RM30 & 1 month supply of BiO-LiFE Imunix

Participation Prize (for participants who complete the 21-day challenge, 300 pax on first come first serve basis): 1 month supply of BiO-LiFE Nat B Fizzy & 1 customized medal

“Experts say that it takes 21 days to develop a habit. By challenging ourselves to stick to a new routine for 21 days, we might be able to break out of our comfort zones, or even pick up a new-and-improved lifestyle that contributes to our immunity! Whether it’s eating breakfast every day, walking 10,000 steps a day, or cutting down on half an hour of screen time daily – just select one challenge that best suits your goals! Even by yourself, it is possible to make a difference and enjoy good health,” continued Balaji Rajagopal.

Sign up for BiO-LiFE’s 21 Days Good Health By Yourself Immunity Challenge now! Get started here. For more information and to say up-to-date, visit Bio-Life Malaysia’s Facebook page.

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8 Reasons Why You Should Be Pumped For Amazon Prime’s “Invincible” Animated Series

It’s seems that Disney and Warner Bros has competition when it comes to TV shows adapted from comic book properties. Sure the titans have all the big names but Amazon Prime has managed to twist DC and Marvel’s brand recognition to its advantage.

Taking their well-known tropes and time-tested heroes and turning them on their heads. They’ve done it to great effect with their adaptation of Garth Ennis’ “The Boys”. A wicked, bloody parody on the DC Universe with a homicidal, egotistical Superman of their own. And now, they’re doing it again, only this time it’s animated!

Enter Amazon’s “Invincible”. An adaptation of an iconic graphic novel series that follows the adventures of a teenage human-alien hybrid who lives in the shadow of his superhero father, Omni-Man. He was once your average teenager but one day when his powers finally arrived he becomes Invincible. Here’s why you should be absolutely pumped for it!

Those who have been following AMC’s “The Walking Dead” will no doubt know the legendary Robert Kirkman. The creative behind both the graphic novels and the hit TV series. The man has phenomenal writing skills and is a master at world building. This is the man responsible for some of the best stories ever written in comic history. As fans of the “Invincible” graphic novels ourselves, we can vouch for the quality of his work. We can’t wait to see his vision of Mark Grayson’s journey come to stunning life.

That’s right! Actor Steven Yuen, best known for his role as Glenn in “The Walking Dead” show, will be voice behind Mark Grayson. It is no hyperbole when we say that we cannot be happier with the casting choice. Based on the voice work we’ve seen in the trailer, he fits the young Grayson perfectly. As the years go on, he’ll have more time further develop Grayson’s personality from amateur hero to Earth’s greatest defender.

What sets “Invincible” apart from all the other comic book series and films really is the character of Mark Grayson. For all of its superhero antics and world-ending threats, it’s ultimately a story about a young man trying to find his place in the world. Trying to live up to his father’s reputation as Earth’s mightiest hero. Those who have read the graphic novels know that Grayson has long way to go till he reaches his prime. Without spoiling too much, let’s just say it’s going to be a roller coaster of amazing triumphs and heartbreaking betrayals. With Kirkman’s writing, we expect nothing but greatness here.

In spite of its high-school protagonist and brightly coloured costumes, make no mistake. This is not a kid’s show! Much like Kirkman’s “Walking Dead” or “Outcast”, “Invincible” is a pretty graphic and violent affair. Some of the battles seen in the graphic novels are no joke. We’re talking limbs torn off, bodies incinerated and heads exploding. We’re glad to see that Amazon didn’t pull any punches when it comes fully realizing Kirkman’s world. All of it is meant to connote a more grounded tone to the comic book universe of capes and cowls. Get ready for some badass fight scenes!

Oh Amazon…what is it with you and messing with our childhood? Stop us if you’ve heard this one. An alien sent from a dying world to planet Earth. Blends in with the population, starts a family and goes on to become its shinning beacon of hope and justice. Well, the truth is far more complicated than that. There’s a dark and hilarious reason behind why Mark’s father being sent to Earth. One that completely ruins the saviour from another world story forever. First Homelander, and now this! Amazon sure has a strange fetish for damaged heroes, huh?

The number of talented actors in the cast for “Invincible” is utterly insane! We have Academy award-winning J.K. Simmons playing the role of Omni-Man. We have heavy-hitters like Mark Hamill from the Star Wars franchise and Zazie Beetz from “Deadpool 2” starring in the series. Comedic actors Seth Rogen and Gillian Jacobs from “Community” will also be joining in the fun. Hell, even the actors from “The Walking Dead” series are making appearance. Actor Laura Cohen and Lennie James who play Glenn’s wife, Maggie and Morgan Jones just to name a few.

Some things never change. In this case, the world of “Invincible” just so happens to also have a team of superheroes, the Guardians of the Globe. A not-so-subtle jab at DC’s Justice League. The team consists of characters made to directly mock their original counterpart. There’s the Darkwing for Batman, Warwoman for Wonder Woman, Red Rush for the Flash and Aquaras for (you guessed it) Aquaman. They’ve been confirmed to make an appearance in the series and we’ll be voiced by cast members of “The Walking Dead”. Seriously, they just seem to follow Kirkman wherever he goes.

Unlike everything else that’s getting delayed to oblivion, we actually have an official release date in which “Invincible” will be hitting Amazon Prime Video streaming services.
The first season will be consisting of 8 episodes, each an hour long. The best part is that we’ll get the first three episodes of “Invincible” released on March 26th. It’s going to be an epic 3-hour long binge watch of super-powered blood and mayhem. What an amazing way to kick off the series!

If you were ever looking for an excuse to start an Amazon Prime Video account or have a trial, now is the time. With shows like “The Boys” and “Invincible”, we’re excited to see what Prime has in store for us.

So, what do you guys think? Are you excited to check out “Invincible” this coming March? Or do you think this is just another generic superhero affair? Be sure to let us know in the comments down below.


#CrazyRichAsians: Ken Jeong Joins All Asian Cast For Movie

The producers of “Crazy Rich Asians” are keeping their word and has casted another Asian for the movie.

The latest actor to join the movie is none other than Ken Jeong. The 47-year-old actor confirmed the news via his social media, as he retweeted several news site who reported the news. However, his role in the movie has yet to be disclosed.

Ken Jeong is best known for his role in the “The Hangover” movies as Leslie Chow. Apart from that, he has also starred in “Pineapple Express”, “Transformers: Dark Of The Moon”, “The Duff”, and more. His most current work is the recently concluded television series “Dr. Ken”, which was based on the actor’s own experience as a doctor prior to his acting career.

“Crazy Rich Asians” is based on the best-selling novel of the same name. Originally written by Singaporean author Kevin Kwan, the film will be directed by “Now You See Me 2” director Jon M. Chu, with a screenplay by “The Proposal”‘s Peter Chiarelli and “Lethal Weapon”‘s Adele Lim.

It centres on Nick Young (played by Henry Golding) and his girlfriend and fellow professor Rachel Chu (played by Constance Wu). When the couple travels back to Singapore to attend his best friend’s wedding, his secret is out. Nick is from a family that is worth $13 billion and he’s perhaps the most eligible bachelor in Asia.

Other cast who have been confirmed to star in the movie are Michelle Yeoh, Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Sonoya Mizuno, and Awkwafina. It is reportedly the first Warner Bros. movie to have an all Asian cast.

Filming is currently underway in Singapore, with more scenes reportedly to be shot in Malaysia.

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Britney Goes “Abroad” With Her New Songs

Exactly a year ago, she released her seventh studio album, “Femme Fatale”. And since then she has been on her “Femme Fatale Tour” throughout the United States. Despite what the general audience and the music critics said, that album still managed to bag a platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of Amerca (RIAA) when it sold over 590,000 copies in the United States alone.

It boggles us how Britney Spears has had time to produce yet another album on top of touring, time with her kids, and what we presume to be planning her wedding (Britney got engaged to long-time boyfriend and former manager, Jason Trawick, in December 2011).

So much so that we suspect that these songs were probably the previously unreleased ones, compiled into a “new album” for 2012. But we have to give it to her marketing team because they’ve got it right this time when they “accidentally on purpose” leaked a track into the interwebs:

[youtube id=”Dr-Vel_oOks” width=”600″ height=”350″]

Fraud-calling and negative feedback aside, what you just heard is supposedly the first single off “Abroad“, her upcoming album. We sense a different style with this one although vocally she still sounds the same.

Two other songs, “Rock Star” and “Dangerous” were also leaked soon after, and then taken down. Britney fanatics who were lucky enough to hear them, heard them here.

No fixed date has been decided yet for the release but they already have the entire album’s track listing online:

How convenient. Yet, we can’t wait to hear it.

For more updates, visit her website or follow her Twitter account closely!


#GDragon: 1st Hologram Concert Titled “Awake” Begins 1st April

While we await BIGBANG‘s long-awaited comeback, leader G-Dragon is gearing up to charm his fans with his charisma during an upcoming hologram concert.

On 16th March, G-Dragon’s company YG Entertainment took to his official Facebook page to announce that the singer will showcase his first-ever hologram concert soon.

Titled “Awake”, the concert will begin on 1st April at Klive in Dongdaemun. According to Mwave, the hologram hall will upgrade the concert experience and audience participation by using the Telepresence technique. The technique is used widely in video conferences with the virtual reality technology and internet techniques. It will create an optical illusion that a virtual representation of a person is standing right in front of you.

For the hologram concert, G-Dragon will be performing both old and new songs from his solo albums including “Heartbreaker”, “Crayon”, “Who You”, and “Crooked”. A lucky fan will be chosen from the audience during the “Who You” performance so that the Telepresence technique can be used to create the illusion that G-Dragon is singing to the fan on stage.

Klive is the world’s first K-Pop hologram performance hall created by NIK (Next Interactive K, Limited), an entertainment-related new generation and media contents production and distribution joint venture, which was founded by by YG Entertainment, District, KT and Paradise. The concerts of BIGBANG, 2NE1, and PSY were previously showcased inside the hall that was officially opened in January 2014. The hall seats 500 people at once, taking the 9th and 10th floor of the Dongdaemun Shopping Complex.

Through the new generation and new media technology, the audience can experience and enjoy watching G-Dragon in the 3D holographic image, Projection Mapping, and augmented reality. Fans can also enjoy the realistic concert environment as the special effects such as the surround sound systems, lights, lasers, fog, and bubbles will be used.

No further details about the concert were announced yet, but Klive is in operation from 2PM (KST) to 11PM (KST) daily, except Mondays.

(Source: Mwave / Featured image: G-Dragon’s Facebook page)

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#AngryBirdsMovie: #SNL Alumni, Peter Dinklage, & Youtube Stars Join Cast

It’s a little too late but it’s better late than never, right?

After winning the worldwide distribution rights to an animated film based on the hit game “Angry Birds” last year, Sony announced that SNL cast member Jason Sudeikis will join the voice cast of the film as the leading role, “Red”. And if you were wondering how the characters would look like in the film, well, their wings and legs are more “visible” now:

The addictive mobile game “Angry Birds” emerged as a global phenomenon after it was launched in 2009. The game involves using slingshots to launch little birds at fortresses built by green pigs. It became an addictive game to play with due to its level of difficulty.

Because the game has become one of the world’s biggest entertainment franchises, Sony Pictures Entertainment jumped at the chance to produce an animated 3D film with game-creator Rovio Entertainment.

Other leading roles in the film include the yellow speedy Chuck that will be voiced by “The Internship” actor Josh Gad and the volatile Bomb voiced by Danny McBride. “Game of Thrones” actor Peter Dinklage is set to voice the most powerful bird in the Angry Birds universe, “The Mighty Eagle”.

Jason Sudeikis’s co-stars include fellow SNL cast members, Bill Hader and Maya Rudolph as the green pig and Mother Hen of the flock, Mathilda respectively. Other SNL cast members that will voice act in the film includes Kate McKinnon, Keegan-Michael Key, Tony Hale, Ike Barinholtz, Hannibal Buress, Cristela Alonzo, and Jillian Bell.

Latin musician Romeo Santos and YouTube stars Smosh (Ian Andrew Hecox and Anthony Padilla) have also joined the voice cast of the film for unspecified roles.

Regarding the confirmed voice cast of the film, producer John Cohen said in a statement that he is “extremely proud of the cast”:

Not only do we have Jason, Josh, Danny, Bill, Maya and Peter bringing these characters to life, but they’re surrounded by an all-star ensemble of emerging comedic talent — these are some of the funniest people out there today, and we’re thrilled to have them all on board.

As “Angry Birds” is one of the brands that can drive massive fan engagement, Sony first announced the cast to the users of the app. Sony Pictures’ president of theatrical marketing Dwight Caines said:

Our filmmakers are cooking up a hilarious movie, and we know these fans can’t wait to see how they’re going to bring the Angry Birds’ story to life on the big screen of movie theaters.

We aren’t really surprised that “Angry Birds” will be made into a feature film since Spongebob also has its own movie. No matter what you think, the film is a go as it is scheduled for release on 1st July 2016.


(UPDATE) #PMJLiveInKL: Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox Returning To Kuala Lumpur!

Who’s ready to go back in time with the talented Scott Bradlee and his amazing group of musicians, Postmodern Jukebox (PMJ)?

After their successful concert in Kuala Lumpur last year, this well-loved music ensemble will be retuning to Malaysian shores next month to deliver yet another entertaining show at KL Live.

For those who don’t know, PMJ performs modern pop songs in true 20th-century vintage style (think: jazz, doo-wop, blues, swing, ragtime, and more). Bradlee – the brainchild of Postmodern Jukebox – started off as struggling pianist in 2009 who began reworking contemporary pop hits as an exercise by infusing them with music from a different era.

Fast forward 7 years later, Bradlee’s musical project has become a worldwide sensation and PMJ has proven to be a force to be reckoned with. For their upcoming concert, the ever-growing rotating collection of talent will be taking audiences down memory lane with fresh yet familiar-sounding tunes.

Brought to you by Creon Asia and Impact Live, the details for “Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox Live in Kuala Lumpur” show are as follows:

For those who can’t afford to attend the concert, ‘fret not!

Berjaya Times Square will be hosting a showcase by Postmodern Jukebox at 2nd Floor East on Saturday (24th September), 2pm.

The show will be free of charge, so you just have to bring your friends and family along for the fest!

For more info, visit Berjaya Times Square’s Facebook page.

You can also check out Postmodern Jukebox’s official Facebook page for their latest music videos.

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Kate Winslet To Reunite With James Cameron For #Avatar Sequels

This has been a long time coming, but a “Titanic” reunion between Kate Winslet and director James Cameron is finally happening.

Deadline has confirmed that the 41-year-old Oscar-winning actress has signed to Fox for a role in the upcoming “Avatar” sequels. This comes after it was announced that back-to-back shooting for “Avatar 2” and “Avatar 3” have officially begun.

“Kate and I have been looking for something to do together for 20 years, since our collaboration on ‘Titanic’, which was one of the most rewarding of my career,” the famous filmmaker told the publication, before adding, “I can’t wait to see her bring the character of Ronal to life.”

It is not known whether Ronal will be a major character in the sequels or if she’ll appear in all 4 sequels, but we’re stoked nonetheless. “Avatar 2” is currently slated for released on 18th December 2020. “Avatar 3” is expected to open on 17th December 2021, followed by “Avatar 4” on 20th December 2024 and “Avatar 5” on 19th December 2025.

What do y’all think? Will Winslet’s Ronal be a Na’vi person or a normal human being? We’re hoping for the former ;)

Sources: Coming Soon, Deadline/ Featured image: Pinterest.


Heineken Thirst 2013: Third & Final Official Lineup Revealed!

Heads up guys! The third and final lineup of Heineken Thirst 2013 is here!

Joining the spectacular lineup that consists of David Guetta, Afrojack, Nervo and Example are:

World’s top dance music photographer Rukes will also be returning to Thirst so be sure to spot this camera maestro to get your picture taken!

For those interested, event details are as follows:

Pre-sale: RM148 (Available from October 14th, 2013 onwards at ALL Rock Corner outlets and online at Boxtix.

At the Door: RM188 (Available at venue on event day from 4.00pm)

VIP: RM248 (Only available online at Boxtix from October 14th, 2013 onwards).

For more information visit Heineken on their website and/or social networking sites at: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

Heineken Thirst 2013: Second Lineup Revealed


#DontJudgeChallenge: Netizens Call Out Challenge & Start #BeautyInAllChallenge

Have you heard about the latest anti-body shaming campaign, the #DontJudgeChallenge?

It’s a social media campaign calling for an end to body shaming, and it may or may not have made things worse, depending on how you look at it.

In the past 2 weeks or so, the #DontJudgeChallenge hashtag has taken off across several social media platforms including Twitter and Instagram. Instagram, especially, has become quite a hub for the #DontJudgeChallenge videos, which users posting photos or videos (mostly photos, better effect) of themselves with drawn-on unibrows, moles, acne, or other physical features often the targets of body shaming.

After which, they “wipe off” their “flaws” to reveal what’s underneath:

Are you totally confused? Well, take comfort in the fact that you’re probably not the only one.

While the origin of the hashtag is somewhat unclear, according to TIME, the #DontJudgeChallenge began to trend around the time beauty blogger Em Ford posted a viral video of herself removing makeup from her face, revealing her acne, and encouraging viewers to accept themselves rather than to feel ashamed.

You may remember the #YouLookDisgusting video:

Another recent viral video shows a South Korean fashion blogger removing makeup from only half her face, revealing a dramatic difference.

In contrast, #DontJudgeChallenge, to many observers, seems to be a parody, if not completely hypocritical. In fact, several videos feature the same scope of qualities that we’re supposed to think are “unattractive” such as glasses, acne, gap teeth, thick eyebrows, and facial hair. As such, the videos reinforce dehumanising and damaging beauty “ideals”, as though wearing glasses, having acne, and gap teeth is undesirable.

As such, people have taken to social media to call out #DontJudgeChallenge’s flaws, and replacing it with a more realistic, #BeautyInAllChallenge:

THE DONT JUDGE CHALLENGE IS JUST MAKING FUN OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE ACNE & WHO WEARS GLASSES OR WHO HAS ONE EYEBROW ITS NOT EVEN FUNNY

Am I the only one who thinks the don't judge challenge is stupid, mean, and pointless?

— Kendra Williams (@Ken_draster) July 7, 2015

The don't judge challenge is one of the stupidest things I've ever seen. You are mocking people

What do you guys think? Yay or nay to the #DontJudgeChallenge and similarly, yay or nay to the #BeautyInAllChallenge? It could be the next #ALSIceBucketChallenge. But would you take it up?

Share your links/thoughts and your stories in the comments box below :)

Sources: TIME, MTV / Featured image from Thairath.

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RIP Moonwalker

He created history when he became the first person to set foot on the moon. Said to be an American hero, Neil Armstrong lived a full and rich life as a remarkable icon.

While he was alive, he served as a reminder that truly, nothing is impossible. He showed the world that boundaries can be pushed to achieve one’s personal goals and dreams. He reminded us that there’s nothing one can’t do, as long as you believe and as long as you’re determined to work hard towards it.

On 20th July 1969, the space pioneer landed on the moon alongside fellow Apollo 11 astronaut, Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin and audiences worldwide watched him take man’s first few steps on the lunar surface via a television broadcast. He left as many as 500 million people awestruck. His words, the ones that still ring as clear as it had years ago, will forever stick with us:

That’s one small step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind.

Earlier this month, Neil underwent cardiac bypass surgery after doctors found blockages in his coronary arteries. However, earlier this morning, it was reported that he has died following complications from the surgery.

Rest in peace, moonwalker. Thank you for changing the way we viewed the world – quite literally.


#KLIAExpress: Save More Than RM30 When You Travel From KL Sentral To KLIA/KLIA2

Ever since the Express Rail Link Sdn Bhd (ERL) KLIA Express increased its fare from RM35 to RM55 last year, travellers had to shoulder the extra cost of RM20. That’s quite a large sum, isn’t it?

What if we told you that you could save more than 50% when traveling to the airport using the KLIA Express? Don’t believe us? Here’s an alternative route for you to save some cash.

When traveling from KL Sentral to the airport:

There’s also another option where you can travel from KL Sentral to Salak Tinggi, and then to KLIA/KLIA2. The total cost would come up to RM23.20. You can refer to the chart below and work out the math accordingly.

Having said that, the down side to switching trains would be time consuming. Each ERL requires 20-30 minutes of waiting time. If you’re traveling with another friend, we’d suggest taking a Grab or Uber.

Sources: Rice Bowl, Durian Runtuh/ Featured image: Rice Bowl.


Ekin Cheng Returns To Perform In Malaysia This June

Hong Kong singer and actor Ekin Cheng (鄭伊健) is coming back to Malaysia this June for his “Along With Ekin Live Concert 2019”.

Cheng is a multi-hyphenate artist that straddles different forms of entertainment media. The 51-year-old Hong Kong superstar has ruled the world of music, cinema and television since the 1990s.

Most known as the lead of “Young & Dangerous” series which became a regional phenomenon, Cheng has earned plenty of critical praise and awards for his acting.

On top of his successful acting career, Cheng is equally successful as a singer, having released over 20 albums and contributing to television and movie soundtracks.

Fans can expect to sing-along to Cheng’s signature songs like “Willing To Replace You”, “I Love You All My Life”, “Fireflies”, “Years of Friendship” and many more familiar tunes at the concert.

The “Along with Ekin Live Concert 2019” concert will take place at the Arena of Stars in Resorts World Genting on 22nd June 2019.

Tickets are now available for sale, priced at RM546 (PS1), RM396 (PS2), RM266 (PS3), and RM166 (PS4) via rwgenting.com.

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#Rainbow: DSP Media Confirms K-Pop Idol Girl Group Is Disbanding After 7 Years

Formed in 2009 by DSP Media, Rainbow (레인보우) was a K-Pop idol girl group that consisted of 7 members: Jaekyung, Woori, Hyunyoung, Jisook, Noeul, Seungah, and Yoonhye.

The girls resembled their namesake as each girl was represented by a colour e.g. Woori is orange, Seungah is indigo, No Eul is blue, so on and so forth.

Aside from promoting as a full group, the members also promoted as 2 sub-units: Rainbow Pixie (Seungah, Jisook, and Hyunyoung) and Rainbow Blaxx (Jaekyung, Woori, Seungah, and Hyunyoung). The members have also been pretty active in various individual activities such as hosting shows and acting.

In February this year, Rainbow made their long awaited comeback with their 4th mini-album, “Prism”, and held their commemorative showcase (which was broadcast live via Naver’s V App) at the Yes24 Muv Hall in Seoul. However, aside from promoting the title track, “Whoo”, not much else was seen or heard from Rainbow, and group appearances were far and few in between.

Yesterday, Korean news outlet Joynews24 reported that Jaekyung and Jisook have decided not to renew their contracts with DSP Media, and Woori was also leaning towards not signing. Soon after, DSP Media confirmed that the members collectively made a decision to disband.

In an official statement dated 27th October 2016, the agency said, “The contract with Rainbow, who’ve been with DSP Media for the past 7 years, is coming to an end on November 12, 2016. DSP Media had a thorough discussion about future promotions with Rainbow’s Jaekyung, Woori, Jisook, No Eul, Seung Ah, Yoonhye, and Hyunyoung, and unfortunately, they decided to go their separate ways.”

“We hope Rainbow will be remembered with a bright and positive image, like the 7 shining colours of a Rainbow. We will also support and encourage the girls’ new promotions and futures. We sincerely appreciate those who loved Rainbow for the past 7 years. Please support for the members’ new beginnings,” DSP Media added.

We’re a little bummed that yet another K-Pop idol girl group has disbanded (the earlier ones being KARA and 4Minute) before 2016 ends, but let’s look forward to the girls’ individual activities in the near future!


#HeySiri: 5 Things To Note From Apple’s Blockbuster Announcement Event

Whether or not you’re a hardcore Apple fans, their announcement events are always interesting to watch.

Of course, our fascination with Apple’s events started from way back, when the late visionary Steve Jobs used to helm the announcements.

Just a couple of hours ago, Apple held its “Hey Siri” event, what was considered to be one of the most news-packed events this year. The tech giant officially delivered a slew of improvements, most notably the new Apple TV and a giant tablet, on top of the iPhone updates.

1. The reason why it’s called the “Hey Siri” event

Apple is known to drop really inconspicuous hints when it comes to letting people in on what their keynotes may/may not be about. In this case, they called it the “Hey Siri” event. Why? Because Apple’s humble TV remote got a major revamp and is now known as the Siri Remote. The device is a combination of a traditional remote, glass trackpad, motion controller, and Siri invocation tool. So you can use your Apple TV with your voice. Ta-dah!

2. Hello there Apple iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus

As expected, Apple introduced the newer iPhones – iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus. The new iPhone 6S and 6S Plus will be built from a new, custom aluminium alloy and they will come with the 3D Touch (Force Touch), a new type of touch interaction with the iPhone’s display. Sensors located beneath the display backlight measure the distance between the glass and backlight, giving an impression of how “hard” a user is pressing. As such, the phone can differentiate between a normal tap and a hard press, giving a whole new layer of controls and shortcuts access within apps.

3. It’s “Rose Gold” but really it’s essentially pink

Ah, the leaked pictures were spot on, after all! For those of you who have always wanted more colour options for the iPhone, the “Rose Gold” option is now available. The softer, “rosier” iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus will inevitably attract fans of more feminine colours – particularly females. Apple, you’re doing it right! The other colours (silver, gold, space grey) are still around, of course. They ain’t goin’ anywhere. Yet.

Dealing with the rumours head on, Apple unveiled a giant, almost laptop-like iPad. In fact, it’s their largest iPad to date. Called the iPad Pro, it comes with a 12.9-inch Retina display and “desktop class” performance. Apple claims that the new tablet offered similar processing power to 80% of the portable PCs that were sold over the past 6 months. Judging by the accessories that come with it e.g stylus, keyboard, it’s likely that this was made to take on the Microsoft Surface and will eventually replace the MacBook Air – somewhat.

The Apple TV is back, better than ever, and it’ll run a separate OS called tvOS. It will also have a Universal Search feature that lets you search across apps like iTunes, Netflix, and Hulu, as well as feature Siri in a big way. Needless to say, it’s also far more powerful as it features a 64-bit A8 processor and can support Bluetooth 4.0. On top of that, it’ll double as a gaming console, as there’s a new app store dedicated for apps and games for the Apple TV.

We know what you’re thinking! When will all of these be made available, right?

The iPad Pro will be available in November while the new Apple TV will launch in October. As for the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus, pre-orders start 12th September and general availability will follow on 25th September in selected countries.

Get more details on the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus over at our big brother site, Lowyat.NET.

Sources: Lowyat.NET (1), The Verge, Lowyat.NET (2).

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#RockOn2017: Alicia Keys, Kenji Wu, & Rainie Yang To Headline Concert In Singapore

Prepare for the time of your lives this New Year’s Eve, because Alicia Keys, Rainie Yang (杨丞琳), and more will be giving you one heck of a show.

The singers will be making their way to Singapore this coming 31st December for Rock On! 2017, the country’s most anticipated and largest New Year’s Eve countdown concert.

The music festival will also hold the world’s largest floating stage, and revellers can expect 8 hours straight of explosive performances featuring 12 top acts. Aside from the aforementioned artistes, Kenji Wu (吴克群), Penny Tai (戴佩妮), Shin (信, from Shin Band), Eric Chou (周兴哲), Joi Chua (蔡淳佳), Chriz Tong (汤薇恩), Shirlyn & The UnXpected, Gilded Edge, and Ferlyn G will also be performing. And to add to the surprise, another yet-to-be named international act will be unveiled soon!

Aside from the performance extravaganza, which will feature Keys belting out a 40-minute “soulful and powerful” set, an 8-minute firework show will also be lighting up the night sky to welcome the arrival of 2017.

Tickets will go on sale tomorrow (Friday, 18th November) from 10am onwards via APACtix’s website, hotline (+65-31588588), and SingPost Office island-wide.

For more info, visit IMC Live Group’s website and Facebook page.


#Malaysia: Govt To Introduce New One Card Payment System For All Public Transportation

City commuters, heads up! The Malaysian government is looking to introduce a new system to boost public transport use.

According to the “Land Public Transport Transformation Journey 2010-2015” report, come 2018, a new Integrated Common Payment system (ICPS) will be introduced. Once implemented, commuters can look forward to a single electronic payment system to ride all urban rail and bus services within the Klang Valley and park at nearly 4,000 spots at transit stations.

That’s right, all on just a single card.

Commuters using the ICPS will also save a substantial amount of money on public transport once the ICPS solution has been implemented as special discounts will be given for customised products, suited to each group of commuters. The ICPS will have multiple options for e-payment, including Common Prepaid Cards, Bankcards/Debit Cards, and mobile applications such as Apple Pay and Android Pay.

Fun fact: In December 2015, Vix Technology aka Vix announced via a press release that they’ve been awarded a contract by SPAD to manufacture and supply more than 10,000 Common Reader Module (CRM) devices as part of the ICPS project to unify Greater Kuala Lumpur’s transit networks. For the uninitiated, Vix is a global technology company based in Melbourne, Australia that designs smart ticketing and payment technology solutions. The same company that worked on the Octopus card system for Hong Kong and Singapore’s EZ-Link.

A slew of other initiatives will also be rolled out from 2017 to 2020 under the government’s plans to boost public transport use in Greater Kuala Lumpur including 2 new transport terminals by 2020, Terminal Bersepadu Gombak (TBG) and Terminal Bersepadu Sungai Buloh (TBSB), to integrate bus and rail links, as well as some 30 Park-n-Ride stations across the city at high concentration areas. In 2019, a whopping total of 3,966 new parking spots will ready to complement all the rail lines operating by then.

Currently, there are a couple of ongoing projects to enhance and streamline integration of land public transport within Greater Kuala Lumpur and Klang Valley. These include the light rail transit (LRT) expansion and the construction of mass rapid transit (MRT) lines.

Is the ICPS really necessary when we already have the Touch ‘n Go system in place? What do you guys think? Feel free to sound of in the comments below!

Source: The Star Online, SPAD, Vix Technology / Featured image: Paul Tan.


#Instagram: 10 Amazing Minimalist Accounts You Should Follow

Okay, okay, we admit, we’re as much addicted to Instagram as you are. So much so that it’s hard to remember why we love it so much. And as though we don’t already love it enough, the current Instagram photography and Instagram filtering trend just propelled it to a whole new level. Yes, we’re talking about the strangely enticing minimalist type of photography.

Of course, we enjoy looking at what our friends (and some celebrities we stalk) post up, but sometimes, it’s nice to be able to jazz up our Instagram feeds. When photos are skewed to compositions that include just that one focus (sometimes more) against a bright background, for example, they can say a lot without being over-the-top. On point and impactful and all that jazz!

Here’s some eye candy minimalist photography accounts that we highly recommend:

Instagram handle: seoul_stateofmind
 Real name: Ken Lum Lee

23-year-old Ken Lum Lee was born and raised in London, UK. A Marketing Business major and a photographer wannabe, Ken decided to leave the UK to seek more colour and seasoning in which the world can offer, hence the blog started. Initially a private journal for his family and close friends, it is now open for the public to walk alongside with him and his Korean travels. A coffee and Oreos addict and a lover of all things unique and weird. Currently residing in Gwangju, South Korea, he is now teaching English in a public school.

Instagram handle: cay_mae
 Real name: Cay

Cay’s composition skills will leave you with your jaw hanging right off the ground. She takes absolutely beautiful minimal shots while documenting her life with her rescued family (she features her pets) as well as her real family (she has kids). She even goes as far as documenting the change in seasons and festive holidays (Christmas, Halloween) perfectly without compromising her own theme. A talent like hers is extremely rare and 365 days a year never looked this good, we swear!

Instagram handle: lydia522
 Real name: Lydia Tan

You didn’t think that we’d go without featuring at least one Malaysian Instagrammer now, did you? Lydia Tan is our very own homegrown minimalist photographer. She’s so minimal, even her captions consist of very little words – but her pictures carry a lot of weight. We don’t know all that much about her except for her name and that she uses and iPhone 5, and the fact that she likes featuring clean lines, symmetry, shapes, and people. You definitely won’t pollute your feed with food posts with this one.

Instagram handle: oraclefoxblog
 Real name: Amanda Shadforth

If you’re not a fan of style and fashion, skip this one out. But if it’s your guilty pleasure like it is for us, then pore over this one! Amanda Shadforth is the creator or Oracle Fox, one of the largest personal style blogs in the world. She’s also a Creative Director and a fantastic photographer. Oracle Fox features trend forecasting and inspirations, and because it’s helmed by Amanda, a lot of that gets spilled right into her personal style as well. She’s also a stylist and an illustrator so we know now where she gets her eye for detail from!

Instagram handle: izani_
 Real name: Izani

We couldn’t go without featuring Izani, of course. Especially since he’s a fellow Malaysian. The only problem is, when you’re not busy staring at his Instagram feed/posts and swooning over the shots he takes, you’d be preoccupied with wondering just where the heck in Malaysia are those beautiful pictures taken at. Semi frustrating but this kind of frustration, we like.

Instagram handle: noellekramer
 Real name: Noelle Kramer

Noelle Kramer (for now) is a 20-something twenty-something Pennsylvania girl from Erie currently living in Pittsburgh with her fiance, Richard Steven. When it comes to passions, she’s an extreme lover of adventure, photography, country music, and fashion. From her feed, it’s evident that she has an eye for style, with a minimal touch because it’s filled with beautifully colours and subtle photos. Oh, also, she says that she believes that coffee and mascara are fundamental when it comes to starting each and everyday. Can’t argue with that!

Instagram handle: hidajoe
 Real name: Joe

Oh, what a pop of art! Nothing breaks the monotony of flat and plain bright backgrounds quite like Joe’s Instagram posts. Of course, it’s very obvious that his pictures are either heavily filtered or edited – or both. But we simply couldn’t turn away from the “Paddle Pop”-ish themed feed. We don’t know much about him but what we do know, based on his Instagram posts, is that he’s from a neighbouring country – Indonesia. Go show him some love. His images can be found through the hashtag #touchingpastels.

Instagram handle: kessara
 Real name: Kessara Dhana

Kessara Dhana doesn’t actually share much about herself except for her incredible shots. Bright and clean, like most minimalist photographers, watching her feed will make you feel like it’s the weekend all day errday. Well, except that she’s Chicago-based, so you kinda get to see Chicago through her eyes. We can’t say that that’s a bad thing though. We love it, we’ll take it like we’re traveling through the US with her ;)

Instagram handle: brenwho
 Real name: Brenda Ng

Hailing from Singapore, 20-year-old Brenda Ng’s style is nowhere near other minimal photographers on Instagram, in the sense that her posts are not all just bright and bare, but she does take amazing pictures. Most of her posts look clean and neat, which is what we love, and more often than not she breaks them monotony up with your average lifestyle shots. This is definitely going to make you want to change things up on your own Instagram feed.

Instagram handle: urbanxkoi
 Real name: Nana Tsay

A researcher by profession, we actually got to know minimalist photographer urbanxkoi aka Nana Tsay via her best friend silkmanifest. Nana is based in New York and according to her blog, she says she has always had a predilection for writing and photography. It kinda figures why regardless of whether it’s a thought, feeling, random musing, inspiration from a song or a prose, she manages to translate them into gorgeous visual stories via her feed. We’re in love!

Um, we will not be held responsible for encouraging your Instagram addiction ;)

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