#EatClean: Cold-Pressed Juice/Salad-In-A-Bottle & Where To Get ‘Em In Klang Valley

Is “lead a healthier lifestyle” part of your 2015 resolution? Do you pledge to eat cleaner, work out more, drink more water, consume more fruits, and perhaps load up on juice instead of coffee or alcohol? Great! Then you can start with jumping onto the “cold-pressed juice” bandwagon.

What is “cold-pressed juice” and how is it different from the average off-the-shelf juices?

Cold press is a technology and “cold-pressed juice” are juices that are extracted by pressing the fruit instead of using centrifugal force to extract the juice. The latter method creates heat which can destroy the nutrients in the juice. It uses little or no heat, so the nutrients, minerals and enzymes can be absorbed in their purest form. Water, sugar, and preservatives are never added.

The result? What you get is pure juice that’s readily absorbed into the bloodstream to provide instant nourishment whilst solid fruit can take a few hours to digest. It also allowed you to clean and rejuvenate your body almost au naturale ;)

Where can you get your hands on this pure “cold-pressed juice” wonderfulness, you ask? We’ve narrowed down some popular names that have been quite the talk of the town. The best part is that some even deliver these ah-may-zing juices right to your doorstep!

Juicy Retreat promises the purest and naked form of nutrient from mother nature’s offerings, making it simple, healthy, and easy on the go for you. In fact, they lovingly craft their detox juice for you by handpicking all natural and organic produces, making it hassle-and-fuss-free while you soak up all the essential nutrients.

For more information, visit their website or Facebook page.

At La Juiceria, they believe in a different approach in making the perfect juice – the cold-pressed way. It allows them to protect the nutrients and flavour of raw fruits and vegetables that they bring into their juicery. Rest assured, there will be no added preservatives, colour or flavour in all 15 of their variety of juices which nature didn’t put there.

La Juiceria’s juices can be found at 22, Jalan Sri Hartamas 8 or Mid-Valley Megamall (LGK-08 Lower Ground Floor, near Jusco Supermarket and McDonalds, and T-005B Third Floor, near the cinema).

The idea of Lifestyle Juicery was born out of a simple and desperate need to lead a healthier lifestyle in our country. Replace your meals with their nutritious, raw, and cold-pressed juices, made from only the freshest ingredients, and packed with awesome nutrients and enzymes. Their juice cleanse program is the perfect kick-starter to a healthier and happier lifestyle.

Unicorn Pressed Juice champions bottled magical goodness laden with superfoods such as premium quality fruits, nuts, and vegetables. After months of hard work toiling to make the perfect blends, they’ve lovingly created these colourful blends. To ensure freshness and prevent oxidation, their juices are pressed only after they have been ordered. Protip? Go for their Rainbow Cleanse ;)

Unicorn Pressed Juice delivers to KLCC, Bangsar, Mont Kiara and Damansara Heights areas.

Strip Juice was an initiative built to change the lifestyle of a personal household for the better. Strip Juice has no preservatives, no added sugar, not made from concentrates and no added flavouring/colouring. They use whole good-quality fruits to cold press out every single bottle so you get 100% fresh juice in every sip. Because each and every single bottle is cold pressed on the day of delivery, you get the freshest juice possible delivered right to your doorstep. To be honest, we’re totally eyeing their “Honey Almond Milk” oh yum!

The Organic Juicery has high quality, nutritional, and organic juice cleanse programmes with the availability of vegetable juices, nut milks, and clean eating meals made only from organic ingredients. They’re dedicated to finding the best of these local ingredients, extracting what’s good, and bottling it up to share with you. Sure, some of their juices are acquired tastes (read: kale, beet, spinach, salad-in-a-bottle), but you can bet they take pride in creating delicious juices that can cleanse, detoxify, and even transform your diet ;)

Oh, and if you recycle your The Organic Juicery bottles via their bottle exchange program, you’ll get up to RM1 (per 500ml bottle) or RM0.50 (per 250ml bottle) off your next purchase for every bottle you return.

LifeJuice Co. makes handcrafted cold pressed juices that are unpasteurised from 100% pure fruits and vegetables. We have designed a new way of attaining optimal health and well-being. Their extensive nutritionally complete range offers not just wholesome nourishment, but a timeless experience. Their juices contain organic superfoods to provide the liquid nutrition you need to be at your best. No added sugar, no preservatives, and no artificial colours – it is as simple as real, living, wholesome produce transformed into natural liquid nutrition.

LifeJuice Co. is located at Ground Floor, Lot GK 111, 1 Utama (Old Wing), Bandar Utama, Selangor.

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Emoji Craze: Turn Your Selfie Into An Emoji!

Just admit it. You think your epic selfies or your cat’s selfies are so awesome that you wish someone can turn them into emojis instead, don’t you?

Well, your wish has been granted. A group of friends from San Francisco just created this brand new app called, “Imoji” and it can totally turn any picture (specifically selfies) into an emoji!

And here we thought that we were the only ones having troubles trying to convey our emotions through the limited emojis in our phones.

Thankfully, this new app allows us to show how we actually want to look like (in response) in a text conversation. It is definitely a great way to keep a text conversation going and avoid misunderstandings with the wrong emojis.

During an interview with the Forbes, Imoji co-creator Tom Smith said that they wanted to make the text conversations a tad more interesting with personalisation and creativity. Each of them were given different tasks to handle in the team, with Smith mainly managing the product design and development.

The pre-release version of the app has already brought in quite a bit of traffic in their  system, judging by the amount of “sends” and Imojis that have been created. Smith also noticed that the app’s users have been exercising their creative juices quite a bit as the Imojis have been adjusted to various shapes and sizes imaginable.

But sorry, Android phone users. The app is currently made available for download from the iTunes store only (there goes your chance to create some Tom Hiddleston emojis). If you’re too lazy to create them on your own anyway, then just sit back and chillax because there are more than 250 emojis are coming your way soon!


World’s Longest LEGO Snake Complete!

LEGOLAND® Malaysia slithered into the LEGO® history books today and set a new record by completing a challenge to build the world’s longest LEGO Snake. The snake was officially measured at 318 metres. It was built using more than one million LEGO bricks to celebrate LEGOLAND Malaysia’s first Chinese New Year and the Year the Snake.

More than five thousand guests have taken part in the building effort, which began nine days ago at the start of the Chinese New Year long-weekend. It came to a close yesterday when Siegfried Boerst (General Manager of LEGOLAND Malaysia) called time on the unprecedented building activity. With the final body parts in place, the tail was attached in front of a waiting crowd.

After the snake’s official length was measured it was announced at a special in-Park event.

LEGOLAND Malaysia Master Model Builders, led by the Model Shop Manager, Stefan Bentivoglio, designed the snake and built the head and tail. They have coordinated the record attempt and helped guests to build the LEGO snake’s body section by section. Watch as they put the finishing touches to the world’s longest LEGO snake:

[youtube id=”wdke-1jgcks” width=”600″ height=”350″]

The LEGO snake winds its way through “The Beginning” and “Miniland” areas of the 76 acre Park and will be on display until 28th February 2013. A campaign to name the LEGO snake will begin next week on LEGOLAND Malaysia’s Facebook page with special giveaways up for grabs!

For more information, visit their official website.


#JohnWick2: Officially A Go; Keanu Reeves Will Return

Keanu Reeves‘ spectacular outing in “John Wick” had fans clamouring for more.

Now, fans have more reasons to rejoice as Lionsgate Entertainment announced that there will be a sequel to the 2014 movie. The sequel does not have an official name yet, but the studio is currently referring to it as “John Wick 2“.

Jason Constantine, President of Acquisitions and C0-Productions of Lionsgate, said in a press release:

With such tremendous fan and critical support for “John Wick”, we knew that there was still so much more of this story to tell. We are thrilled that Keanu, David and Chad have re-teamed with us and promise to bring audiences even more excitement the 2nd time around.

It has been confirmed that Reeves will be reprising his role as the titular character, John Wick, an ex-hitman who is looking for revenge and redemption.

Several production crew will also be returning. Directors Chad Stahelski and David Leitch have confirmed their participation and Derek Kolstad will be back as screenwriter. Basil Iwanyk, producer of the 1st movie, will also be holding the same role for “John Wick 2”.

Lionsgate’s Summit Entertainment will be the distributor of the film.

No release date has been announced, but the international screening rights of the movie will be sold at the upcoming Cannes Film Market.

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Hype’s Now Playing: MaRLo Ft. Christina Novelli – Hold It Together

Dutch DJ/producer Marlo Hoogstraten, otherwise known as MaRLo, has been known to make music that relies heavily on electronic sounds. This is largely due to the fact that his style is heavily influenced by his love for techno, house, as well as trance.

Evidently, it caught the attention of trance celestial being Armin van Buuren as MaRLo has now signed his productions to trance juggernaut Armada Music.

In 2010 he was voted Australia’s #2 Trance DJ (he currently resides in Australia) and overall #11 in the Inthemix top 50 DJ Poll. While he once used hardware synthesizers (e.g. Roland JP-8000, Nord Lead, Korg Wavestation, Novation Supernova, etc.) MaRLo now produces music almost exclusively on his computer.

Yes, on his computer. Believe it or not!

Following a swathe of chart climbers on ASOT, MaRLo makes a storming return onto Armind with his debut original on the label – “Hold It Together”. Making an impressive joint venture with British singing sensation Christina Novelli (of “Concrete Angel” fame), this duo have created the complete trance package filled with ethereal vocals and chords to tug at those fragile heart-strings.

As if that wasn’t enough, MaRLo’s very own Tech Energy Remix provides the listener with a much darker, up-tempo take on an already brilliant release. Listen to the tracks via Spotify here.

For more information, visit his website or Facebook page.


“Red” Let Loose & Swiftly Breaking Charts

“Red”, the fourth studio album from six-time Grammy Award winner Taylor Swift, was released worldwide on October 22nd, and the disc is already notching striking sales numbers and widespread critical acclaim.

The album topped the all-genre Top Albums chart at iTunes within 36 minutes of release, and first day sales at iTunes alone topped 262,000 albums. Taylor scored 13 of the Top 20 songs on iTunes, with the song “Everything Has Changed” taking the #1 position on the all-genre Top Songs chart.

Thus far, Red has sold 4.5 million song downloads at iTunes in the U.S. alone. At Target, Taylor’s Speak Now album had the highest one-week sales in the retailer’s history. Red has now set their record for Day One sales and is on pace to exceed Speak Now’s one week results.

Worldwide, Red reached #1 at iTunes on the first day of release in 32 countries, including the UK, Australia, Singapore, Brazil, Canada, Italy, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam, Denmark, Venezuela, Thailand, and Ireland.

With Red, Taylor has set a new Billboard record – for the most rapid accumulation of 50 Hot 100 hits in history, reaching the milestone just six years and one month after her 2006 chart debut. Aretha Franklin previously held the record, with a stretch of just over 14 years and six months, and Taylor is one of only five women in the 54-year history of the chart to reach this milestone (joining Franklin, Madonna, Connie Francis, and Dionne Warwick).

Taylor Swift’s Red is also impressive in its widespread critical acclaim, garnering stellar praise from top critics around the globe.

Taylor is making multiple television appearances this week in support of Red. Her Times Square Concert this morning was the largest in the history of “Good Morning America,” and tonight she appears on “The Late Show with David Letterman” (CBS).

Today (10/24) she will be live on ABC’s “The View,” and on Thursday she will make a special concert appearance on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.” On Friday, she will be a guest on ABC’s “Katie” with Katie Couric, and on Friday night she will be featured on ABC’s “All Access Nashville with Katie Couric – A Special Edition of 20/20″. Next week, Taylor will perform on ABC’s “Dancing With The Stars” (10/30) and also on the “41st Annual CMA Awards” on ABC (11/1).

Phew! But we wouldn’t mind watching her sing this over and over again, to be honest. Check out “Begin Again”, off her new album:

[youtube id=”cMPEd8m79Hw” width=”600″ height=”350″]

For more information, visit Taylor Swift’s Facebook page. And if you want to congratulate her for her album’s amazing success/send her love, she’s on Twitter!

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The New Mutants To Feature Same Sex Love Story

After getting delayed for 2 years, “The New Mutants” is finally hitting theatres soon!

In conjunction with the release of a new TV spot teaser, director Josh Boone has revealed that the “X-Men” spin-off will also focus a same-sex “love story” between Rahne Sinclar aka. Wolfsbane (played by Maisie Williams) and Danielle Moonstar aka. Mirage (played by Blu Hunt).

In speaking with Entertainment Weekly, the filmmaker confirmed the queer romance, touting it as “a beautiful love story” said it forms “sort of the spine and focus of some of the character-driven stuff in the film“.

Williams also went on to elaborate it’s the mutants superpowers that help the duo form a mental and emotional link that only grows stronger over the course of the film. “Rahne and Dani have a telepathic connection in the comics, and so we just wanted to extend that in the film and put that within reality. If they really could understand each other on that level, then you’d probably end up falling in love with that person,” the “Game of Thrones” star said.

BREAKING: The New Mutants tofeature a 'same-sex' love story!

— Cosmic Marvel (@cosmic_marvel) March 10, 2020

However, the 23-year-old actress wishes to make one thing clear – this relationship isn’t a gimmick. Wolfsbane and Mirage love story is “not something that is spoken about too much in the film”. Williams continued, “It’s not really a story about these two characters understanding their sexuality. It’s not centered around that and they don’t really necessarily label it. No one else does either and no one really questions it.”

Will this sit well with LGBTQ fans looking for representation on the big screen? Time will tell. It’s not the first time a Fox-Marvel movie has featured a lesbian pair though. Some of you might recall Negasonic Teenage Warhead and Yukio’s relationship in “Deadpool 2”.

With that in mind, there’s no doubt that Wolfsbane and Mirage’s dynamic will be a sub-plot in “The New Mutants”. After all, they’re only 2 of the 5 main characters, who are trying to gain control of their powers and break out of the facility they’re being kept in.

“The New Mutants” will debut on 2nd April in Malaysia.


All Grown Up & Releasing A New Single

He’s only a teenager but already, he’s a Platinum-selling singer-songwriter. We know, we know, it’s hard to believe that Greyson Chance is only 15 years old. He was even younger when he first started out! Imagine that.

To date, Greyson has seen places of the world most people only dream of visiting. To promote his debut album, “Hold On ‘Til The Night”, Greyson traveled across the US, and to places around the world including London, Paris, Vancouver, Toronto, Hong Kong, Taipei, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Beijing, Manila and more.

Along this journey, Greyson met thousands of loyal fans around the globe, each of whom helped inspire a brand new creative state of mind for him.

This new outlook can be witnessed in his latest release, the new single “Sunshine & City Lights”. The product of a serendipitous last minute studio session in London with songwriting duo The Nexus, this new song is a perfect reflection of Greyson’s artistry and vocal talent, free of the production that is ever-present in contemporary music:

[youtube id=”Qhko4VVx_w8″ width=”600″ height=”350″]

While he continues work on a full-length album to be released in 2013, Greyson has decided to give fans a taste of what’s to come through this new single and EP. Entitled, “Truth Be Told part 1”, the EP is slated for release in parts of this world this year and is said to be a stripped-down collection of new material that Greyson co-wrote with songwriters Toby Gad (Fergie, Beyonce), Lindy Robbins (Demi Lovato, One Direction), The Nexus (Lana Del Rey), and Michael Warren (Jennifer Lopez, Far East Movement) & STIX (Nicole Scherzinger).

Meanwhile, Greyson will return to Asia for Hitz.fm’s Birthday Invasion in Kuching and Kota Kinabalu on 2nd November and 3rd November respectively.  He will be the first international solo artist to headline this event in the station’s history for East Malaysia.

For more information, visit his official website or YouTube channel. Don’t forget to follow the super cute and super charming boy via his Twitter account!

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#GoodbyeMrLoser: Olympics Medalists To Make Acting Debut In Local Chinese Film

We’ll be seeing them on our television screens again!

3 of our national badminton players, who made a name for themselves in the recently concluded 2016 Rio Olympics, are gonna make their acting debut in a local Chinese film!

Silver medalists Chan Peng Soon, Goh Liu Ying, and Goh V Shem will be making a cameo in “Goodbye Mr Loser”, which stars Taiwanese actress Pheobe Huang, and several other local actors and actresses, such as Hoon Mei Sim, Anjoe Koh, Jack Yap, and Tan Li Yang.

The movie will see the shuttlers in a few scenes, one which saw the mixed doubles pair of Chan and Liu Ying acting as a couple. They were spotted filming in Wangsa Maju yesterday (Wednesday, 5th October) along with Mediacorp artiste Ian Fang, who is one of the main characters. V Shem, however, wasn’t required at that particular scene, but he will be acting as the cousin of Fang’s character.

Chan revealed that he was delighted to act in the film, “as long as it doesn’t interfere with (their) badminton training”.

Adrian Teh, who has worked on movies such as “Ice Kacang Puppy Love”, “The Wedding Diary”, and “King Of Mahjong”, will be helming the film. When interviewed by The Star Online, Teh revealed that he had wanted to cast the shuttlers even before their success at the Olympics.

“For first-timers, they are very natural in front of the camera. They even managed to deliver some humorous elements that we asked of them.”

“Goodbye Mr Loser” is slated for a Chinese New Year release.


Twin Towers @Live Returns This Year

We know that you know by now – Kylie Minogue will not take centrestage in Kuala Lumpur this weekend after all in conjunction with the Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix. A source claimed, “Kylie comes with an entourage of 80 people. We asked the F1 Rocks people to get more sponsors, but they failed to. So we cancelled the deal.”

Poor, distraught Kylie was so upset over the cancellation that she even expressed her regret via her Twitter account:

And now, the two-day open-air concert, Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix’s “Twin Towers @Live”, will be headline by former Pussycat Dolls lead singer, Nicole Scherzinger and R&B star Kelis. Joining the superstars are leggy and beautiful, nine-member Korean K-pop sensation Girls’ Generation (aka SNSD)..

..alongside local acts such as Faizal Tahir, Reshmonu, and James Baum.

And just as we’re writing this, we got “hot off the press” news that Australian talent Orianthi (best known for being the late Michael Jackson’s lead guitarist) has also confirmed her attendance to the event via her Twitter account:

Twin Towers @Live will take place on the 23rd and the 24th of March respectively. As of now, we hear that entrance tickets are not required and the concert is free for all! We already foresee that there’ll definitely be a stampede of loyal good live music fans!
Details are as follows:

Venue: Dewan Filharmonik Petronas entrance, KLCC, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur
Dates: 23rd and 24th of March 2012
Admission: Free


#Vape: Penang Government Considers Ban On Vaping At No-Smoking Zones

With Malaysia being the 2nd biggest market in the global vaping industry, the Health Ministry has been trying to stop the vaping culture from replacing the cigarette smoking culture.

Now, according to The Malay Mail Online, the DAP-led Penang government is looking to ban vapers from puffing at no-smoking zones.

State executive councillor Dr Afif Bahardin (Seberang Jaya – PKR) was quoted as saying that the state is hugely concerned about the vaping culture, especially its impact on schoolchildren.

When interrupting a speech by backbencher RSN Rayer (Seri Delima – DAP), Dr Afif said:

The state has a Smoke Free Penang initiative at gazetted areas and we have proposed that vaping will also not be allowed in these non-smoking zones.

He also said that they are currently studying legal terms of banning vaping at the no-smoking zones because only products with nicotine content such as e-cigarettes are regulated under the Poison Act.

“Vapes that do not contain nicotine are not regulated under any law so we have to study the law on how to do this,” he said.

Rayer has earlier talked about the negative effects of the vaping culture on children, explaining that even students in their school uniform can access to the vape shops that have mushroomed across the country.

“Some of these places are dark places where vape can be misused,” he said, before giving an example of 3 vape shops in Perak Road.

This is very worrying because students in school uniforms are going into these places openly.

Last week, raids on vape outlets were conducted nationwide after the ministry announced that they would consfiscate vape juices (e-juices) and products with nicotine content. The ministry was also looking to implement an excise tax on e-cigarettes and vapes instead of ban it.

Source: The Malay Mail Online, The Star Online, NST Online.

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Exclusive: Joe Flizzow Reveals His Top 10 Greatest Rappers In History

There’s a strong emphasis on ‘OGs’ in the hip-hop world and few people would argue that Joe Flizzow is somewhat placed in the upper echelons of that category when it comes to Malaysian or even Southeast Asian hip hop. The Too Phat days with Malique were groundbreaking and revolutionary. The ongoing Kartel Records story, at the rate that they’re going, is an all-conquering movement.

We sat down with Joe recently for an in-depth interview on a number of things, including his new single ‘Drop’, the rise of the 88 Rising boys, the rivalry between TooPhat and Poetic Ammo as well as his new YouTube hip hop show ’16Baris’. There were bits in it about Luqman Podolski and his jump into the music industry too.

A post shared by Hype Malaysia (@hypemy)

But before we get that interviews out to your mobile phones and desktops, we thought it’d be cool to give you a little teaser by releasing something we spoke to Joe about towards the end of the interview. The 38 year-old is very open to the rise of various sub-genres in hip hop, including trap rap but when we asked him about his top 10 favourite rap artists, you could almost see his mind working like a time machine, instantly going down the memory lane to outline a list of rappers that would easily be classified as ‘OGs’.

While the list is in no particular order, the first name that comes out is Andre3000 and he didn’t even hesitate. “I love Andre3000 so much man, he is easily one of the finest to have ever graced the game. If you look at modern rappers Joey Badass – and I like Joey a lot – there’s a lot of Andre in him,” Joe enthused. From Andre, he went to Snoop Dogg, Jay-Z, Biggie, Tupac and then Nas. No questions asked.

The seventh name on the list was Jadakiss. “I think Jadakiss has got the best voice in hip hop,” Joe says, before going on to pick Big L, ODB and the Wu Tang Clan boys, as well as Mob Deep to complete his top 10 list. “If you noticed, 60% of the rappers I picked are all dead. But these guys are the original ‘OGs’, they were the rappers I grew up listening too.”

Keep an eye on Hype Malaysia in the next few days for the complete in-depth interview with Joe Flizzow!


To Sell Or Not To Sell: TikTok CEO Faces Pressure From Congress To Avoid The Ban Hammer

Over 150 million Americans use TikTok on a daily basis, which is roughly half of the entire population of the United States. For most, the app has been a part of their daily lives, something they use for entertainment or to kill time; for some, it is an essential part of their independent business.

However, the social media giant has been facing incredible amounts of pressure from the U.S. Congress in the past few days, raising concerns for security and privacy. Things are getting out of hand; here are things you need to know about this battle over security and how, in the end, no one wins.

Before TikTok was the giant that it is today, the social media that held the number one spot for the longest time was Facebook, now known as Meta. Back in 2018, the face of Meta, Mark Zuckerberg, was also under intense scrutiny from Congress, which demanded that he answer for his crimes while simultaneously revealing how his company worked.

Meta and all its app business structures were all about taking someone’s private information and selling it to various buyers, alongside the Cambridge Analytica scandal. It was a threat on a national scale that placed Meta in a bad light and, accompanied by bad business decisions, caused Zuckerberg’s empire to fall out of grace.

However, it seems that Congress is much harsher on TikTok because of two major reasons. The first is that TikTok is under the control of a Chinese company known as ByteDance, and may be under the CCP’s control. Second, since Zuckerberg, Congress has wised up and become more informed on how to deal with problems relating to social media.

Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC) asks TikTok CEO Shou Chew: "Does TikTok access the home WiFi network?" https://t.co/Fmv8MED8z0 pic.twitter.com/xwrYuSn3jE

On Thursday, 23rd March, Republicans and Democrats united against a common enemy as TikTok’s CEO, Shou Zi Chew, testified before the House Energy and Commerce Committee and members of Congress. His first appearance was an intense one as most members of Congress already had a negative view of him and his app. Throughout the hearing, TikTok was treated as a threat to national security because of it’s potential link with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the United States’ direct opposition in our modern world, and they seem to be going at extreme lengths to prevent that.

Congress largely fears that TikTok might take a page out of Facebook’s book, where they would steal private user data and information and then use it against them. There is no evidence that TikTok or Chew has done this, but it is evident that the incident with Facebook has left a massive mark on Congress’ memory, and they have become more cautious than ever. Perhaps their line of thinking is that “if an American was able to do that, what more could another nation do?” and they are taking the steps necessary to prevent that worst-case scenario.

TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew told Congress the company is establishing a new subsidiary that would ensure all U.S. data is secured and stored in U.S.-based servers.

He said the company expects to finish deleting legacy U.S. data from its servers this year. pic.twitter.com/6Y7WYaA0rH

The Biden administration has been pressuring Chew with an ultimatum: either sell and transfer the business to the U.S. or risk a permanent ban, like in India. Despite what many believe, this wasn’t the first time TikTok was asked to sell out, as the idea and discourse around it have been floating around since the Trump administration.

However, Chew fought back and argued against Congress’ demands. He reassured the people that TikTok, though under a Chinese company, was not feeding users’ private information to the CCP. To further ease the ire of the governmental body, the TikTok CEO proposed a plan called “Project Texas”, where American data will be given to an American company for storage and will be overseen by American personnel. However, Congress is not convinced with this proposition.

Despite this interesting compromise, Congress does not seem keen on accepting the proposal. They insist on the options they have laid out and will do everything in their power to make them a reality, even making a law that may bypass their First Amendment called the RESRICT Act. The new law they are proposing states that, in layman’s terms, they can bypass the First Amendment if national security is threatened.

Whether you’re a lover or a hater of the app, this is bad news, as the U.S. government can ban whatever it pleases under the pretence of a threat. TikTok is not perfect; the app was used as a portal to spread mass disinformation, like about COVID-19 and vaccines, and may still hold the potential to spread more of it.

Both parties don’t know how this will end but remain hopeful that the other will acknowledge their side or perhaps a Congress will listen and try out Chew’s compromise. We are simply hoping for the best, as that is the best and only thing we can do at the moment.

Source: Wikimedia Commons, Flickr [1], [2], Max Pixel

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#PokemonGO: Global Water Festival Event Increases Water-Type Pokémon Spawns

Niantic Inc. has announced a global “Water Festival” global event that increases the likelihood of encountering water Pokémon. That’s right!

As confirmed by Niantic Inc. via their website,  from today until 29th March, the in-game event will see increased spawns of water-type Pokémon e.g. Magikarp, Squirtle, Totodile and their evolutions around the world. Their evolutions meaning Gyarados, Wartortle, Blastoise, Croconaw, and Feraligatr.

On top of that, when you’re out exploring areas where water-type Pokémon more commonly appear, you’ll have a greater chance to encounter several of the water-type Pokémon originally discovered in the Johto region.

Niantic Inc. even teased that trainers may or may not encounter the extremely rare, highly coveted Pokémon, Lapras. Lapras is a part-ice, part-water Pokémon.

Note: The Water Festival event is in conjunction with the United Nations’ World Water Day, which is celebrated on 22nd March every year to raise awareness on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.

More interestingly, the event officially introduced shiny Pokémon to the game. Several users are reported to have spotted shiny gold Magikarp in the wild and some trainers have even evolved them into the shiny, red Gyarados.

If you’d like, you can also get a new Magikarp hat for your avatar. But you’d need to buy it for Pokécoins, of course.

In other news, Niantic Inc. has also announced that they’re in the process of updating the app to ensure that it’s easier for trainers to obtain an evolution item. The 7-day PokéStop streak will now award a random evolution item.

Ready to hunt all weekend? We know we are! ;)

Sources: Niantic Inc., World Water Day, Pokemon GO News / Featured image: Niantic Inc.


Petrol & Diesel Prices Malaysia For 8th – 14th February 2018

Chinese New Year is coming up and we bet you’ve got a whole lot of preparations to do.

For those travelling back to your respective hometowns soon, perhaps you’d like to fill up your vehicle tanks before petrol prices go up tomorrow (Thursday, 8th February).

The expected prices for petrol and diesel for 8th – 14th February 2018 are:

The current prices for 1st – 7th February 2018 are:

We will update the fuel prices should the official announcement differs from aforementioned prices.


#RIPAlfonsoWong: Creator Of “Old Master Q” Dies At 93

Alfonso Wong (王家禧), the creator of “Old Master Q” aka “Lao Fu Zi” (老夫子) comics, has passed away. He was 93 years old.

According to a statement released by OMQ ZMedia, the company that promotes and markets the comics, Wong died of organ failure on Sunday (1st January).

“‘Lao Fu Zi’ comics were Alfonso Wong’s life. He loved life. With his humorous style, he unfolded Lao Fu Zi’s story, accompanying generations of readers,” they said.

Born in Tianjin, China, Wong studied Western art at Fu Jen Catholic University. He moved to Hong Kong in 1956 and was the art editor for a Hong Kong Catholic magazine.

The Old Master Q comic was originally created by Alfonso Wong who used his eldest son’s name Wang Chak as his pseudonym. First published in Hong Kong in 1962, Old Master Q is one of the most popular Chinese comics around the world. The comic series follows Old Master Q, a slim man dressed in a yellow Chinese attire and his friends Big Potato, Mr. Chin, Mr. Chiu, and Miss Chan. “My life is like comic strips, and I do my best to make ‘Old Master Q’, that is myself, to play the fool and entertain readers,” said Wong.

Rest in peace, Alfonso Wong. Thank you for all the wonderful stories and characters you’ve created.

Sources: Channel News Asia, Straits Times. Featured image: oldmasterq.com/sammyboy.com

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5 Fun Facts About Rosé’s New Solo Debut “On The Ground”

BLACKPINK’s (블랙핑크) Rosé (로제) has finally released her first solo debut single “On The Ground”. The track is also part of her first solo album “R”. It also features her second solo title track “Gone”. She is the second BLACKPINK member to release a solo album with the first member being Jennie (김제니).

Rosé’s hard work wouldn’t be there if it weren’t for her time spent with her other group members. Now, the New Zealand-born Korean idol has separated from the group for a short while to create her own music and to express herself using her own inspirations.

Rosé worked hard creating her music while implementing storytelling with the emotions of characters all in her lyrics and music videos. Her debut album “R” features composers like Jon Bellion, ojivolta, Jorgen Odegard, Teddy, 24, and Brian Lee. In her debut title track “On The Ground”, the song was produced by everyone mentioned except Brian Lee.

Rosé has also written parts of the song alongside other songwriters. The lyrics are about an idol who has dedicated all her time to reach for the top. As the song progresses, she starts to understand that people’s worth can only be defined by their own inner selves.

Here are 5 fun facts about her new upcoming solo debut:

5. It has broken records in charts across the world right after the release

Rosé’s solo debut is proven to be a smash hit. “On The Ground” has now dominated the #1 spot in over 25 countries on iTunes with no signs of stopping. It has also entered the US iTunes chart in the top 10.

The solo track being sung in English has a huge chance to enter the Top 30 on Billboard 100. Streaming it on Spotify and buying her album and songs on iTunes can be a very effective tactic. In less than a day, the “On The Ground” music video on YouTube might reach 10 million views.

4. The title track achieved the highest number of stock pre-orders by a Korean female artist

YG Entertainment has shared Rosé’s debut single album “R” pre-order sales with a number of 400,000 were in stock as of 8th March. Amazingly enough, Rosé is the first Korean female artist to achieve that number of stocks.

Thanks to not only South Korea, but also nations outside the country including Europe, Japan, China, and United States, for helping contribute to Rosé’s success. Given that this is a pre-order sale, imagine how much this album could achieve for their official release. Just recently, her solo title track has received loads of attention in just under a few hours.

3. A “Last Cab To Darwin” movie title has been seen a few times on a marquee in the music video.

If you look closely at the marquee in the background, you can see the “Last Cab To Darwin” movie title. The film itself is about a person’s journey to search for what is truly the most important thing to him before he dies.

It’s very suitable for Rosé’s music as the BLACKPINK singer was raised in Australia for 9 years. The theme of the movie can be related to the messages “On The Ground” portrays as well. According to Rosé, her solo debut single is about searching for answers and purposes in life. When you focus on what you normally do in your life, you start to forget to take care of the things that matter to you the most.

2. Rosé wanted her solo debut to be sung in English

Both “On The Ground” and “Gone” were chosen to be sung in English instead. Rosé gave her explanation as to why she made that decision. She stated, “I’m sure that every song has a language that suits it best. I debated a lot about what language would suit the title track, and it turned out, it was English. In truth, I was worried that fans might be disappointed with English lyrics, but I also felt that it was important to present them with a completed song, the best song that I could be satisfied with”.

It’s a fair decision, given that she was raised in an English-speaking country. In “On The Ground” the music video itself features a past version and a present version of the Korean singer. She also stated how the current version of herself visits her childhood home and revisits her past. Mixing the choice of language with the theme of the song gives this sense of nostalgia that hits closely with Rosé.

1. It’ll be different from BLACKPINK’s usual style and sound

Rosé has teased that the album will be varied from the standard style and sound used in her group BLACKPINK. The 24-year-old Korean artist also stated that she will be doing some rapping in her album. The choreography will also feel fancy and structured.

Having her separately singing differently from her group, it’s no surprise that she’ll be going this route. Either way, her other groupmates will always be there to cheer her on.

You can watch Rosé’s recently new “On The Ground” music video below here:

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World’s First Robotic Bartender Comes To Malaysia

What? A robotic bartender? This changes everything!

Asahi Super Dry, the No. 1 Japanese beer around the world pushes the boundaries by presenting the world’s first robotic bartender, aptly named “Mr. Asahi“, to Malaysia. He was brought to our shores in conjunction with the availability of Asahi in draught, pints, and cans nationwide, brewed exclusively by Carlsberg Malaysia in Shah Alam.

Launched in December 2011, Asahi Super Dry’s main focus remained on draught beer and today, the premium beer brewed locally is packaged in 320ml cans, 325ml pints, and 640ml bottles.

Also, because it is now brewed locally, Malaysians can enjoy the beer nice, chilled, and more importantly, fresh, at Carlsberg outlets nationwide.

The brainchild of Japanese brewer Asahi promises to create a unique drinking experience by offering a one-of-its-kind interaction with beer lovers. How?

We hear that the super bartender is capable of serving people in less than two minutes, saving the average person 13 minutes at the bar. This is because Mr. Asahi is capable of pulling 300ml pints and opening bottles, and can serve up to 16 half pints or bottles at a time:

[youtube id=”FQsK12SL7Ls” width=”600″ height=”350″]

Impressive! But whoops. Homosapien bartenders beware! Because it sure sounds like you’ve got competition.

The ultramodern, space-age android is also expected to go on a nationwide tour with a crew comprising of dancers, a DJ, and a customized truck that unfolds into a mini party-space wherever he is. The expidition will take Mr. Asahi and his entourage to:

For 30 whole days beginning 15th of April 2012.

Mr. Asahi, you’re well on your way to igniting a world of possibilities. So fans, keep a lookout for the world’s first robotic bartender if you want to catch him in action.

For more information, follow his trail by checking out Asahi Malaysia’s Facebook page.


U Mobile: 3 Things To Know About The #UCubaTry 4G Network With 7-Day Trial

U Mobile has been aggressively updating its network including the expansion of its 4G network.

The new #UCubaTry Money-Back-Guarantee campaign offers users unlimited data experience with no speed cap. For those on the fence, you can test out their service for a duration of 7 days.

Here are 3 exciting things to know about U Mobile’s #UCubaTry campaign:

– Unlimited HERO P97 – Samsung Galaxy A20 (32GB)
– Unlimited HERO P99 – Samsung Galaxy A20 (32GB), Samsung Galaxy A20 (64GB)
– Unlimited HERO P139 – Apple iPhone 6s (32GB), OPPO F11 Pro (64GB), Samsung Galaxy A20 (32GB), Samsung Galaxy A30 (64GB), Samsung Galaxy A50 (128GB)

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#NorthKorea: Malaysian Embassy Staff In North Korea Initiate “Emergency Procedures”

After Pyongyang ordered the expulsion of the Malaysian ambassador to North Korea, staff at the Malaysian embassy were spotted initiating “emergency procedures”.

They were reportedly seen burning documents and loading luggage into vehicles, reported a Chinese news media.

After North Korea made the announcement at around 6pm yesterday (Monday, 6th March), workers scuttled to carry out the procedure.

China’s CCTV 13 also reported that the Jalur Gemilang and Asean flag at the embassy were flying at half-mast this morning (Tuesday, 7th March). 3 vehicles were also spotted leaving the compound.

After North Korean ambassador Kang Chol was ordered expelled for his disparaging remarks on Malaysia, North Korea retaliated by denouncing the Malaysia ambassador as persona non grata (person not appreciated). They ordered Mohamad Nizan Mohamad to leave the country, but he and his envoy were already recalled to Kuala Lumpur for consultation on 22nd February.

In the most recent development, North Korea has banned all Malaysian citizens from leaving the republic. This was followed by Malaysia’s decision to bar all North Korean embassy staff and officials from leaving the country.

NST has also attempted to obtain more details on the situation at the Malaysian embassy in Pyongyang. However, when contacted, a person, presumably a staff, sounded frightened and was hesitant to talk. She did not reveal her identity and explained that she wasn’t authorised to talk.


“Nasi Bungkus Cinema” at Monash Uni

Founded by Dr. Yeoh Seng Guan and the late Benjamin McKay, “Nasi Bungkus Cinema” was conceived to provide an outlet for the film made by students of the School of Arts and Social Sciences, Monash University Campus. The independent avenue, currently curated by Fikri Jermadi and Dr. Jonathan Driskell, has since grown to also present film texts made by Malaysian and international filmmakers.

The current Filmmaker-in-Resident, Azharr Rudin, was a key figure in what was internationally known as the “Malaysian New Wave” cinema, often collaborating as an editor even with those outside of the “Wave”.

One of his most famous works, “MAJIDEE”, is a film that revolves around the central theme of “trust between strangers”. Since its released in 2005, the project has gone on to win awards at film festivals in Hawaii, Tokyo, and Singapore.

Luckily for us, “MAJIDEE”, among other films (“Untitled” and “Romantic Projections”) will be screening at “Nasi Bungkus Cinema” this month! And not just any installment of the independent cinema, this one’s the staff edition featuring  the Film Studies lecturer and the Filmmaker-in-Resident himself.

Venue: Plenary Theatre (2-1-01), Monash University Sunway Campus, Jalan Lagoon Selatan  Bandar Sunway, 46150 Bandar Sunway, Selangor

Bring an open heart, bring an open mind, and indulge in the magic of an independent cinema.


HK Singer & Music Label Share Fake News About His Romance With BLACKPINK’s Rosé

Singer-songwriter Hung Kaho (洪嘉豪) has set the internet ablaze after the video from his new single was uploaded on Instagram last night. The video shows an edited news report covering his alleged “romance” with Rosé (로제) from BLACKPINK.

For starters, Hung – who’s known to be a huge fan of Rosé – released his song titled “My Secret Park” on Valentine’s Day (14th February). The teaser features the Hong Kong celeb sitting across a female model who pretty much resembles Rosé. Many were convinced that the song was inspired by the Aussie idol. In fact, her last name is also Park!

A post shared by Hung KAHO 洪嘉豪 (@hungkaho)

Not to mention, the behind-the-scenes video for the song’s MV also caught the attention of many netizens. The video was posted on Warner Music HK’s official IG. Instead of sharing with fans what went down behind the scenes of making the music video, the video shows a fake news report about Hung and Rosé’s relationship. The headline reads, “Hung Kaho & Rosé Couldn’t Overcome Being Apart, Report Of A Breakup Becomes A Hot Topic.”

The news coverage begins by showing photos of the two celebs using matching items and posing the same way, alluding to a relationship between the two. Hung was later seen attending BLACKPINK’s concert. “Recently, word on the street has it that Hong Kong singer Hung Kaho and Korean female artist Rosé have broken up. As seen in the photos captured by fans, Hung seemed worn out and had a lot on his mind while he was attending BLACKPINK’s concert,” said the news reporter.

The “news report” also features an “interview segment” with a voice-over acting as Hung, where he discussed about his “relationship” with the “On The Ground” singer. “Do you understand? First of all, we’re not on the same level. And we also live in different places. So lately, it’s been really tough. My heart aches,” the “Halo” vocalist told the interviewer.

It was then alleged that the couple “broke up” because Hung has moved on to another girl group – NewJeans. The video cuts to an actual clip of Kaho talking about Rosé and the “Ditto” singers. “I’m only listening to NewJeans today,” the 31-year-old told his staff. They then asked, “Don’t you like Rosé?” to which he responded, “It’s over.”

The video has since garnered over 100k views on Instagram. Many netizens were left entertained after seeing the fake news report. Some of the comments left by them include, “At first, I thought the (dating rumours) were real 😂,” “Hey, we still have a few more days to April Fool’s Day. Why is there a joke already?” “This is way too funny,” and also, “Have you taken your medicines yet?”

A post shared by Warner Music Hong Kong (@warnermusichk)

Watch Hung’s “My Secret Park” video here:

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#FMPAwesomeWeekend: Movies & Picnic In The Park With FOX Movies Premium

In conjunction with the school holidays, FOX Movies Premium will be organising a 2-day movie-fanatic event from 26th to 27th November 2016 (Sat – Sun), from 2pm to 12 midnight at Setia City Park, Setia Alam.

Bringing the biggest blockbusters not only to TV screens but also out on a park, under the stars!

Admission is free and the event is jam-packed with fun activities all day, picnic in the park and followed by blockbuster movie screenings at night.

Go early to grab free and exclusive Movie Kits at the registration counter, and to enjoy exciting activities such as Bungee Run, Obstacle Course, Zorb Ball, Giant Bubbles, Character Face Painting, Photo Booth, Carnival Games and many more. Plus, Assassin’s Creed VR Experience and movie merchandise to be won.

Don’t forget to bring cushions, pillows and blankets for the movie sessions!

For more information, hit up their Facebook page.


Why Triple A Games & Their Developers Are Tanking Compared To Indies

Gaming has become so much more than just a pastime; it has evolved into a source of comradery, income, and even a professional sport that has reached a competitive level. However, there is still a massive demographic that is inclined to play casual or single-player games, as those have an entirely unique appeal to them, and, more often than not, would prefer to wait for massive triple-A titles that take years to develop.

As the name suggests, triple-A games are viewed as the best games because the developers have put their heart and soul into creating them, resulting in a combination of gripping gameplay and storytelling. However, in recent years, the title ‘Triple-A’ has been devalued, as once-great game franchises or studios now create bottom-of-the-barrel products; whether they are because of a terrible story, clunky mechanics, game-breaking glitches, or even shipping an unfinished product, many people are no longer willing to spend hundreds of ringgit for a game that is virtually unplayable.

In its place, audiences have moved on to games from smaller companies or even ones made by a singular person, called indie games, which have received multiple critical reviews and a dedicated fanbase. This begs the question, “What happened?” Why do games from decorated developers fall from grace, and why have indie games continued to improve despite having limited finances, resources, know-how and manpower? Why are full-rendered, high-definition 3D games getting stumped by 2D, pixel art games?

Suits & Creatives: Lack Of Creative Control

One thing that has significantly changed game development for the better and for the worse is the involvement of suits or businessmen in the workforce. If the creative team is in charge of creating ideas and mechanics that can elevate their game sky-high, the suits will ground them back to reality, assessing whether or not what the creative team is proposing is do-able within the allocated budget and timeframe given.

However, this has resulted in some dead dreams, as businessmen are more likely to pressure developers to do what’s in the budget or something that has been tried and tested before, with only a few new changes that would justify making a new game. Indie developers don’t really have this problem, as they are their own bosses; there is no manager telling the creative to put their dreams down out at the back, Old Yeller style, allowing for creative games that we have never seen before, like “Inscryption”, “Super Meat Boy”, and “Undertale”.

Killer Deadlines: Yearly Releases & Workers Sleeping In The Office

Once a company or development team has gained traction and widespread notoriety because of their games, people will watch their careers with great interest, eager for the next game they will create. And to capitalise on the hype of the people, major companies create yearly release schedules for their games, like “Call of Duty” or “Assassin’s Creed”. Unsurprisingly, once-dedicated players began to experience fatigue and burnout, and those who still choose to stay are often those who essentially sold their soul to the franchise.

As mentioned in the previous point, workers are placed under incredible amounts of pressure to keep up with the set deadline and terrible work conditions, resulting in a lack of innovation. Back in 2018, during the development of “Red Dead Redemption 2”, Rockstar Games came under fire for enforcing 100-hour work weeks and forcing employees to sleep in the office. More disturbingly, what the workers are calling “crunch culture” is something practised in the gaming industry at large. Red Dead Redemption 2 was successful at launch, but it is forever associated with the negative PR leading up to its release.

Again, indie game developers don’t face these problems as they are largely hidden from the public eye, allowing them time to perfect the game they are making (imagine Spongebob creating a single krabby patty against King Neptune’s hundreds of disgusting burgers.) Regardless of the games’ success, these developers rarely adhere to these strict deadlines, as they understand that doing so will be devastating to their work.

We’ll Fix It Later: Complacent Companies

Of course, there are some that couldn’t be bothered to even finish their game, just releasing it unpolished. This has been the most recent and off-putting trend that has persisted in the last few years and shows no signs of stopping anytime soon. After the widespread success of “Goat Simulator” and “Skate 3” because of YouTubers covering the buggy games, companies have become more confident in releasing games that still need a few months of development, hoping to give them an update patch later down the line.

These instances range from a minor nuisance to making the game unplayable outright. As a result of this move, many games have lost millions of dollars worth of revenue due to negative reviews, telling people to stay away from this game until it is fixed, not to mention the piss-poor graphic quality of some games, like “Mass Effect: Andromeda”, is like adding salt to the wound. Whether they are on time with their schedule or not, this is still viewed as something that is unacceptable. Indie games do not have the “luxury” of being complacent, as doing so would severely hurt them; thus, they must release their games with the utmost quality whenever possible, something triple-A developers seem to have forgotten.

This is not to say all triple-A game developers are bad, as we still get games like “Elden Ring”, “God of War Ragnarök”, “Monster Hunter: World”, and “The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom”, but this does not invalidate the whole. In fact, it is because of this deteriorating quality in games and increasing standards that we are able to weed out the bad from the good and not simply follow them out of blind loyalty or brand loyalty. It is through this disparity and general disinterest in recent triple-A games that we are able to notice the small indie games that we now know and love, and if these major companies do not shape up soon, they might just be left by the wayside. There is no perfect triple-A nor indie game – as long as it delivers joy to the gamer then it has served its purpose.

Source: PCGamesN,  TruScribe, Glassdoor, Entrepreneur, Flickr [1], [2], [3] Polygon, Trusted Reviews, GameSpot, Wikimedia Commons, Gizmodo Australia

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JJ Lin’s Singapore Concert Sold Out In 1.5 Hours; Additional Show Added

There’s no denying the popularity of JJ Lin (林俊傑). Music fans are willing to splurge to see him live.

General ticket sales went live earlier this morning (Friday, 30th August). Reports claim that all 30,000 tickets to the 38-year-old’s Singapore concert on 21st December 2019 (Saturday) were sold out within 1.5 hours!

This comes after those with Mastercard were given priority to purchase concert tickets the day before on 29th August. Hope is not lost yet. Just hours ago, concert organiser Unusual Entertainment announced that a second show for JJ Lin’s “Sanctuary 2.0” World Tour in Singapore will be added.

The additional show for “Sanctuary 2.0” will take place the following day on 22nd December 2019 (Sunday) at National Stadium. However, no word yet on when the tickets will go on sale. As of time of writing, Unusual Entertainment has only stated that tickets “will be made available soon”.

Already, there have been complaints that scalpers are already re-selling tickets – some even at double the original price. The organiser has warned concert-goers from “buying from resellers or through any third party platform” as “all tickets sold are personalised” and the buyer’s name will be printed on the tickets.

Details for his Malaysian concert have yet to be released.


#Marvel: 3 Untitled Superhero Films To Be Released In 2020

The addition of “Ant-Man” sequel inevitably forced Marvel Studios to make some major changes to its Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

Not only did Marvel push the release of “Captain Marvel” from 2018 to 2019, the studio has also announced the release dates for 3 new untitled Marvel movies.

The 3 new Marvel movies may come after the end of the MCU’s Phase Three or mark the start of Phase Four. As confirmed by Marvel President Kevin Feige last year, there are a lot more Marvel films being planned until 2028, but the studio has yet to announced the titles of the planned movies.

MCU’s Phase Three will begin next year with “Captain America: Civil War” and it will run until 2019.

The 3 new Marvel movies have definitely got us curious.

Which superhero do you think will be getting his/her own solo film? Are “Doctor Strange”, “Black Panther”, and “Captain Marvel” going to get sequels?

Will Marvel finally introduce the mainstream audience to “Young Avengers”, a group of adolescent characters who have connections to established members of Marvel’s primary superhero team, the Avengers?

Share your thoughts in the comments box below.


#MRT: Sungai Buloh – Kajang Line Phase 2 To Open On 17th July

Rejoice MRT commuters, the 2nd phase of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Sungai Buloh-Kajang (SBK) Line will be up and running next month.

The 1st phase of the project, which consist of 12 stations from Sungai Buloh to Semantan, started operations on 16th December last year. The launch of phase 2 will complete the 51-kilometre MRT SBK Line.

There aren’t any interchange to LRT for MRT’s Phase 1. However, commuters will be able to reach KL Sentral station from the Muzium Negara MRT station via a 240 metres linkway. The linkway will connect you to Menara CIMB, Quill Sentral, St. Regis Hotel and Residences, Hilton Hotel, Le Meridien Hotel, as well as Platinum Sentral.

It was previously reported that the lowest single stop fare based on the cash fare structure is RM1.10 (e.g.: between Merdeka and Pasar Seni stations), while the maximum cash fare structure is RM6.40 (RM5.50 for cashless fare structure).

Also, the discounts applied to students, senior citizens, and OKU, which is 50% off the usual fare, will be brought forward to the MRT too.

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#KLIA2: Hundreds Stranded As Over A Dozen AirAsia Pilots Call In Sick

In a recent report by The Star Online, at least a dozen pilots for Malaysia’s budget airline AirAsia reported in sick yesterday, causing chaos as hundreds of passengers were left stranded at the Kuala Lumpur International Airprort 2 (KLIA2) in Sepang.

The English-language daily reported that most affected flights were domestic flights. Some passengers were forced to spend the night at the airport as their flights were delayed. Only one international flight to Bangkok’s Don Meuang Airport was forced to be cancelled.

Regarding the chaos, AirAsia CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes confirmed the situation by replying to a Twitter user that they “unfortunately had 13 pilots sick which caused flight issues”.

As a result, the flights schedule became chaotic after the flights were re-timed. Some passengers were initially arranged to moved to other flights, but the plans were later cancelled.

As of time of writing, The Star Online reported that AirAsia’s operations at the KLIA2 seemed to be back to normal. All flights were operating as usual and the departure hall is packed with travellers as always.

According to an airport ground staff, “the situation would be more chaotic” if more flights are being cancelled. “This is considered fine. Now it seems everything is back to normal and this is a usual scene of the departure hall as now is the peak hour,” the staff added.

Regarding the situation, AirAsia issued a statement on Wednesday, stating that the flights were delayed due to operational requirements. “AirAsia is working towards a resolution to ensure all guests enjoy a smooth journey,” it said.

All affected guests are being informed accordingly and necessary assistance is being provided. AirAsia sincerely apologise for the inconveniences caused.

Among the flights that were delayed were  to Kota Baru, Tawau, Don Mueang and Chiangmai in Thailand, and Jakarta in Indonesia.


#Spotify: No Longer Just A Music Service, It’s Now A 24-Hour Entertainment Hub

Spotify is no longer just a music service. Spotify is no longer just a music service.. Say hello to the most entertaining Spotify ever.

Because Spotify has evolved into your 24-hour entertainment destination.

With over 25 billion listening hours under the hood since their launch 7 years ago, Spotify has been obsessed with figuring out how to bring music into every part of your life, wherever you are, whatever you’re doing, whatever your mood.

More than ever, users are telling them what they want: the best music to fit your mood and moment mixed with great entertainment throughout your day. As such, Spotify has rolled out a richer mobile music experience built around your day, bringing you the music you love when you need it most. Introducing:

Every week millions of you lace up and hit the road to Spotify. Music is the perfect running companion but sometimes you need even more motivation to push on. That’s why Spotify Running is all about helping you go the extra mile!

They’ve combined the best music on the planet – recommendations based on your listening history, multiple-genre playlists and original running compositions written by some of the world’s foremost DJs and composers – all tuned to your tempo and seamlessly transitioned to ensure you’ll never miss a beat.

Start running and Spotify will detect your tempo, matching the perfect music in time to your step – making you a harder, better, faster, stronger runner.

And that’s not all: Spotify is teaming up with Nike to bring new music experiences to their audiences around the globe. And later this year, you’ll be able to access the new Spotify Running experience through the Nike+ app. They’re also integrating the RunKeeper app with Spotify Running later this year.

What’s that? You want a service that will provide you more than just music for your listening pleasure? You got it! For the first time, Spotify is adding video clips and audio shows to the music mix.

This is because they know that there are times in the day you want to switch between music to catch up on the latest news, listen to your favourite podcast or simply watch something fun. And with a stellar range of entertainment to choose from there’s something for everyone. Spotify will suggest video and audio shows for you to watch and learn what you love.

Spotify now comes packed with entertainment, news and clips from the likes of ABC, BBC, Comedy Central, Condé Nast Entertainment, ESPN, Fusion, Maker Studios, NBC, TED and Vice Media, with much more to come.

Their full slate of new partners includes:

Spotify Running will start rolling out to iOS smartphone users globally today, with further platform updates to follow. Spotify is now available in 58 markets globally with more than 60 million active users, and over 15 million paying subscribers.

For more information, visit Spotify’s website.

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#BatmanvSuperman: “Aquaman Is Awesome!” – Zack Snyder

Aquman is awesome and the director of “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice“, Zack Snyder is asking you to leave him alone!

According to Entertainment Weekly, the director was listening to a Detroit radio station when he was on his way to the film set for the upcoming “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice“. However, Zack Snyder was prompted to defend the underrated character after the radio hosts decided to trash Aquaman during a discussion about the film.

So, what he did he say? You can either listen to the segment here or read the transcript below:

Aquaman has some cool abilities. I think people are like, “What, does he talk to animals or fish?” That’s what people think. The cool thing with Aquaman is that his trident, it could cut the flesh of Superman if they came in contact – that’s in the canon. He’s super strong because he can exist at these depths. Not to say he’s in my movie or anything like that, but I’m just saying he has the potential to be pretty badass.

Sounds like a bad excuse to you? We definitely don’t think so and we don’t blame him for trying to defend Aquaman either.

Because hey, Aquaman is literally the king of ocean!

Plus, we hear that “Game of Thrones” star Jason Momoa is going to play Aquaman in the film too! If he is indeed playing Aquaman in the film, well, you can expect to see an upgrade from a blonde-haired hero to a tougher and grittier ocean king.

Meanwhile, Aquaman might debut with his own solo film as Warner Bros has revealed that there are 9 new films currently in development for the DC Cinematic Universe.


Celebrate 20 Years Of Jurassic Park – In 3D!

Jurassic Park is a 1993 American science fiction adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg. It is based on the 1990 novel of the same name by Michael Crichton. It stars Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenborough, Ariana Richards, Joseph Mazzello, Martin Ferrero, Samuel L. Jackson, and Bob Peck.

The film centers on the fictional Isla Nublar near Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast, where a billionaire philanthropist and a small team of genetic scientists have created a wildlife park of cloned dinosaurs.

Jurassic Park is regarded as a landmark in the use of computer-generated imagery and received positive reviews from most critics. The film grossed over $900 million worldwide, surpassing another Spielberg film, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, to become the highest-grossing film released up to that time (it was surpassed four years later by Titanic).

It currently ranks as the 18th-highest-grossing film worldwide, and 15th-highest-grossing film in North America, unadjusted for inflation. It is the highest-grossing film released by Universal and directed by Spielberg. Jurassic Park won the Academy Award for Best Sound Mixing, Best Sound Editing, and Best Visual Effects.

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And now, Universal Pictures will release Steven Spielberg’s groundbreaking masterpiece Jurassic Park in 3D.

With his remastering of the epic into a state-of-the-art 3D format, Spielberg introduces the three-time Academy Award®-winning blockbuster to a new generation of moviegoers and allows longtime fans to experience the world he envisioned in a way that was unimaginable during the film’s original release.

The film will be released in a cinema near you on 30th May 2013 (Thursday).

For more information, visit their Facebook page.

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Yay! 90s UK Boyband Blue Set To Bring 2019 Tour To Kuala Lumpur

Last month, it was announced that Blue will be bringing their Asia tour to Southeast Asia, as Singapore was included in the list.

Over the weekend, Malaysian fans received a treat when it was revealed that the 90s British boyband will also be in Kuala Lumpur (a day later) for their 2019 concert. Rest assured, y’all can save those flight tickets for other events.

Formed in 2000, Lee Ryan, Antony Costa, Duncan James & Simon Webbe have previously released 3 chart-topping studio albums – “All Rise” (2001), “One Love” (2002) and “Guilty” (2003). The quartet later had 2 more LPs – “Roulette” (2013) and “Colours” (2015).

Last year, Malaysia’s very own “Crazy Rich Asians” – Faliq Nasimuddin and Chryseis Tan – invited the British singers to perform some of their popular hits. Westlife lead singer Shane Filan was also at the same wedding dinner to serenade the upper class crowd.

Fans can expect the entertainers to churn out nostalgic hits such as “All Rise”, “One Love”,  “If You Come Back”, “Best In Me”, “U Make Me Wanna”, “Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word” and many more.

Brought to you by KC&Friends, as well as Terry and The Cuz, the details to Blue Live in Malaysia are as follows:

Concert tickets can be purchased at MyTicket.


Grandpas & Grandmas Take On Bruno Mars & Mark Ronson’s Uptown Funk

Alex Boye & The Dancing Grannies prove it’s never to old to get your funk on.

Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson’s hit single “Uptown Funk” was so hot that it got everyone dancing along to it, including a group of spirited senior citizens. Singer Alex Boye recreated the 80s vibe, energy-filled dance-evoking music video featuring a few changes in the lyrics, new locations and of course, funky grandparents!

The video sees Boye channeling his inner funky Mars as he’s dressed in a salmon blazer and a white bowler hat, while being supported by a group of seniors who act as his flash mob of funky fresh backup dancers.

The parody video also includes shots of Boye cruising down the street with an electric scooter and a group of elderlies line-dancing inside a club. Boye also tells viewers to “get out there and have face-to-face conversations” as the video comes to an end.

“All the grandmas and grandpas in this video did their own stunts,” Boye wrote in the YouTube description. “They range in age from 65-92! Between them, they have raised 500 children, 1,200 grandchildren, and 250 great grandchildren!!!”

Pretty hot, ey? Check out the parody video by Alex Boye & The Dancing Grannies below:

Also, here are a couple of other parodies of “Uptown Funk” to keep you going on this beautiful Friday.


(UPDATE) #ZTao: Former EXO Member To Make Solo Debut In China

It seems like Tao is officially making his departure from Korean idol boy group EXO.

Following the news of Tao setting up his own solo studio in China, the former idol group member has now confirmed that he will also be making his solo debut as a Chinese artiste. The announcement was made through ZTAO Studio, the official Weibo account of his Chinese studio.

On 13th July (Monday),  a representatives of the 22-year-old artiste confirmed on his official Weibo account that Tao will return to the music scene as a solo artiste on 23rd July.

7.23 Huang Z.Tao will officially be making a comeback as a solo artiste with his first mini album. Please look forward to it. #HuangZiTaosOfficialReturn

The announcement came along with a teaser poster of Tao, in which he can be seen sporting bright purple hair. Tao previously hinted at his solo debut by sharing a couple of pictures of him working in a recording studio on 26th June.

In the post, he wrote, “A man that studies hard is hot. Hello everyone, it’s been awhile.”

SM Entertainment has yet to respond to the reports about his solo debut, but vaguely confirmed that Tao is no longer part of EXO by removing him from the list of active EXO-M members on Facebook. Tao was also caught in a social media scuffle as he unfollowed everyone on Instagram after Chanyeol of EXO-K unfollowed him.

Let’s not forget the controversy where Tao replaced a music teacher with the surname “Zhang” for a Chinese children’s singing show. People were speculating that said teacher is EXO’s Lay, whose real name is Zhang Yi Xing.

It is unclear who will be involved in Tao’s upcoming solo album, but fans are already excited to see what he has in store for them.

Z.TAO (formerly known as Tao) has revealed a teaser for his upcoming album, titled “T.A.O”. Directed by Nick Lentz, the music video teaser is said to have a deep symbolic meaning as it captures the artist’s struggles in water.

With just a few days until the official release of his new album, are you excited about his solo debut? What do you think his debut concept will look like? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

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Ed Sheeran’s “Divide” Concerts In Singapore & Kuala Lumpur To Go Ahead As Planned

Fantastic news, Ed Sheeran fans! It looks like his show in Kuala Lumpur is a go for sure :)

Ed will start his Asia tour on 11th Nov 2017 in Singapore, and the tour dates in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur (that’s us!), Bangkok, Mumbai, and Dubai will go ahead as originally scheduled. The Osaka, Tokyo, and Manila tour dates will be rescheduled to April 2018, and all tickets for the original shows will remain valid for the new dates.

Despite best efforts, due to scheduling conflicts and limited venue availability in April 2018, Ed Sheeran has been forced to cancel his tour dates in Taipei, Seoul, Hong Kong, and Jakarta.

Ed commented, “A follow-up visit to my doctors today confirmed that I will be good to go from the Singapore shows onwards. Osaka, Tokyo and Manila will be rescheduled for April 2018. My dates in Taipei, Seoul, Hong Kong and Jakarta will sadly need to be cancelled as it’s just been impossible to reschedule these for next year. I’m really gutted that not all the postponed dates could be rescheduled and I am working hard with my team to try and come back to these places as soon as I can to see all of you. I’m sorry to everyone who has been affected by this.”

The full list of dates and venues are as follows:

Ed was rushed to the hospital about a week ago after being hit by a car while cycling through the streets of London. The 26-year-old singer-songwriter suffered a broken arm, forcing him to cancel several shows.

Good to hear that he’s on the mend and that he will be making his way here after all! See you soon, Ed ;)


#RIPRiSe: #RiSe’s Funeral Underway, To Take Place In Both Korea & Japan

What a week is has been for the South Korean music industry and the international entertainment industry alike.

Following the fatal car accident which claimed Ladies’ Code member EunB’s life, RiSe (real name Kwon Ri-se) passed away after having succumbed to her critical head injuries. She had a few emergency surgeries to address the significant injuries to her head, after which she laid in the neurosurgical intensive care unit (ICU) for over 80 hours.

Her funeral is now underway at the Korean University Anam Hospital. It has been confirmed that RiSe’s funeral will be held in both Korea and Japan (where RiSe grew up as a fourth generation Korean Japanese). Yesterday, Ladies’ Code’s agency Polaris Entertainment released a statement which read:

After her cremation at the Seoul Memorial Park, she will cross over to Japan with her family where there will be another funeral with her family, friends, and acquaintances in Japan. After that, she will be laid to rest there.

All members Ashley, Sojung, and Zuny will be participating in saying farewell. After the funeral finishes, we will inform you on the members’ progress and whether they will be discharged from the hospital.

We hope you will remember the bright and pretty faces of both members RiSe and EunB for a long time. We also ask that you continue giving a lot of support and prayers for the people who are sadder than anybody else: their family and the members Ashley, Sojung, and Zuny.

Many South Korean celebrities and K-Pop idols alike took time off their busy schedules to say their last goodbyes to RiSe. Some of the South Korean entertainment icons that attended RiSe’s wake are such as:

Of course, the remaining Ladies’ Code members Ashley, Sojung, and Zuny were also present.

As heartbreaking as it sounds, this would be the second time Ashley and Zuny are attending a fellow member’s funeral in just the span of a week. We cannot imagine the immense amount of sadness that they must feel.

RiSe’s funeral rites were held by Rise’s mother, grandmother, sister, brother, and other family members yesterday.

Let’s now take a look back at EunB’s and RiSe’s lives, in loving memory of the girls. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families, friends, fans, and loved ones of both EunB and RiSe, and the remaining Ladies’ Code members.

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#INFINITE: K-Pop Idol Boy Group Drops Music Video Teaser For “Bad”

Inspirits are more than ready for INFINITE‘s long-awaited comeback, as Woollim Entertainment has once again teased the boys’ comeback concept by offering us a glimpse into the official music video for “Bad”, the title track off their upcoming album titled “Reality”

Fans went into a frenzy on the interwebs as the boys looked downright cool and charismatic in the newly-released teaser video.

According to a music industry official, the group has been recording songs for their new album and undergoing preparations for “2015 INFINITE 2nd WORLD TOUR – INFINITE Effect”, their 2nd world tour which will kick off on 8th and 9th August 2015 at the Olympic Park Gymnastics Stadium in Seoul.

A representative of Woollim Entertainment confirmed on 2nd July that the group will release their new album on 13th July (Monday). The representative added, “They will carry out broadcast promotions on the week of their comeback”.

The release of the new album will mark INFINITE’s first comeback in a year as the members have been focusing on their solo activities since releasing “Be Back” as a group in July 2014.

“Bad” has been confirmed to be the title track of INFINITE’s comeback album titled, “Reality”. It is a song written, composed, and arranged by Rphabet, the producer who also produced INFINITE’s dramatic number, “Destiny”. He was also revealed to be the producer of “Betting”, the intro track of the new album.

Leader Sunggyu recently made his solo comeback with his 2nd solo album titled “27” while Hoya and Dongwoo made a comeback as hip hop duo INFINITE H with their 2nd album titled “Fly High” in January. INFINITE F (made up of members Sungyeol, L, and Sungjong) also made their Korean debut with a single album titled “Azure” last December.

L is currently starring in SBS drama “The Time We Were Not In Love” and Sungjong recently joined the line-up of MBC’s popular military training program “Real Men”.

Similar to their 1st world tour “One Great Step”, the group will be touring around the world to perform for their fans. The tour schedule has yet to be released.

Do you think INFINITE will drop by Malaysia as part of their world tour? Would you like them to? Let us know in the comments section below.


Henry Golding The New James Bond? Here’s His Thoughts

Daniel Craig is coming to the end of his James Bond run. And with the release date for his last Bond film, “No Time To Die”, coming closer at 9th April 2020. Rumours have started to spread on who will be the next to don the British icon.

While many names are being considered to take up the role, from Tom Hardy to Idris Elba, one name seems to stick out to the surprise of many. That is the relative newcomer to the scene, Henry Golding, who made his big screen debut in 2018’s “Crazy Rich Asian” and is now seen on “Last Christmas”.

During a recent interview with Jimmy Fallon on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon”. The host noted that the actor should be the next James Bond, and even showed his Vegas leaderboard on odds of him getting the role. He then picked Idris Elba out of the bunch, before letting loose on his thoughts of the role.

He said, “If you’re a male movie star, it is literally the most iconic role possible. You’d be an absolute idiot not to sort of think and aspire for a role like that. I mean, who knows?”

Of course, it would be too early to say if the 32-year-old would get the role or not. But it might not be too far fetch, as the Vegas leaderboard Fallon brought out did show him having a 10 to 1 odds. And with the role being as prized that it is, the odds seems pretty good.

Add in to the fact, that Golding is a person that has been jumping at every opportunity given to him, it might not be too long before we’ll be seeing ourselves an Asian James Bond.

If you’re curious about the interview, then check it out in the video below:

So what do you think about Henry Golding being chances of being the next James Bond? Do you have a better person in mind? Feel free to let us know all about it, in the comment section below.

Source: Cinema Blend. Featured Image: Just Add Color.

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Ernest Zacharevic’s Iconic Street Art In Penang Vandalised – Again

Word on the street is that Lithuania-born street artist Ernest Zacharevic‘s public artworks are being targeted by vandals, and it’s not the first time. Ernest, who worked hard at creating a series of street art murals and installations depicting scenes of everyday Malaysian life in Penang, Malaysia, intended for them to be a surprise in secluded spots.

Before 2012, the town had no public art or graffiti that allowed the local and tourists alike to interact with the works. These “spots” in and around Penang town have since become popular photography spots.

Unfortunately, despite drawing large crowds to the iconic murals, not everyone has been showing the same level of respect and appreciation for Ernest’s works.

In 2015, the murals along Campbell Street and Armenian Street were spray painted with ”#4.0” in yellow. One of the said murals was Ernest’s “Little Children on a Bicycle”. As a result, George Town World Heritage Incorporated (GTWHI) had to work with Ernest to get rid of the yellow paint and salvage his work. In January this year, Ernest went back to Penang to retouch and restore his paintings.

Sadly, the murals are once again being vandalised – splattered with wax, splashed with curry, spray-painted yellow, and covered with advertisements.

The Penang Island City Council (MBPP) Conservation Department director Noorhanis Noordin said that the council had already spent 25% of its RM100,000 annual maintenance allocation to restore vandalised street art this year. “We will usually remove the unwanted marks before contacting the artist to come back and help restore the damaged part,” she said, adding that MBPP is also planning to place additional surveillance cameras along the roads with street art.

Sources: FMT, TRP / Featured image: MalaysiaZINE.


Dr. Soo Wincci Unveils Brand New 360 Degree Music Video

Malaysian award-winning singer Dr. Soo Wincci (蘇盈之) has finally unveiled the result of her Master project at Berklee Valencia – a special 360 music video which she dedicates to her fans titled “We Are Inwinccible”.

The unique music video was completely shot, composed and produced by the former beauty queen with help from her Inwinccible team, and it is something she made specially to her fans “with zero cost but with endless efforts and heart”.

A post shared by Soo Wincci (@dr.soowincci)

“Hopefully you all will like it and it’s time for me to go full force with my international entertainment career! I promise I will work harder especially for my beloved country Malaysia!” Soo said in one of her Instagram post.

The EDM-themed song also features traditional instrument like Erhu and piano with rap and backing vocal by Shoom and Carolina respectively.

Soo Wincci is one of the few Malaysian artists to release a 360 music video. Others are Yuna, Bunkface, Joe Flizzow, and De Fam.


Toilet Water Used To Brew Starbucks Drinks

Customers at a branch of Starbucks are fuming after finding out their drinks were made from toilet water. Baristas at the coffee shop in Hong Kong have been brewing up cappuccinos and mochas using water from a grotty gents since the store opened – two years ago.

According to reports, the city centre Starbucks was built without a water supply. Instead staff have been forced to make regular runs to a nearby multi-storey car park, where they filled up huge vats from a tap that’s just feet from a urinal. The water was apparently filtered before it was used to make drinks – but experts insist harmful germs could still have found their way into customers’ drinks.

Professor Ben Cowling from the University of Hong Kong’s School of Public Health, told HK Magazine filtration would only kill some bacteria. He added, “If the staff need to frequently visit the toilet, they may increase the risk of bringing other pathogens from the washroom into their food and drink preparation area”.

The truth was uncovered when a staff was filmed making one of 70 daily trips to the toilet to stock up on water supplies. Footage was posted on website Apple Daily, angering regular customers – who have logged onto Starbucks’ Hong Kong Facebook page to register their disgust.

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The firm has since replied with an apology, writing on its page:

Please kindly accept our apologies for the concerns raised by the coverage on the water source at the Bank of China Tower store. While the water used at that store was drinking water and certified as safe, we would like to clarify any misperceptions, as quality and safety have always been our top priority. We are now using distilled water to serve that store while we work with all parties on acceptable options.

According to reports, managers at the branch have been visited by inspectors from Hong Kong’s Food and Environmental Hygiene Department – who have issued them with a formal warning.

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Concert Review: Mayday Parade Brought Nostalgia Back At Rockiss Rock On Festival

If you were a teen growing up in the late 2000s, emo music was probably a part of your life at some point. The booming era for black eyeliner, skinny jeans, and hair dye; emo culture is something we often look back on in either fondness or grimace (especially if you had kept with the trend of flat ironed fringes!)

Over the weekend, all emo dreams came to life at Rockiss’ Rock On Festival 2019. Held at Taylors’ Lakeside University, the festival had Mayday Parade and With Confidence as the headliners alongside with seven local acts. As this was Mayday Parade’s first time back since 2014, there was quite a buzz amongst the emo community!

Don't miss out on catching all these amazing bands live in one festival this 27th of April @ Taylor's University Lakeside.

If you haven't gotten your tickets, be sure to get yours now while tickets are still available at https://t.co/qwX4nzZWEJ 🤘🏻 pic.twitter.com/mUnqcoblAl

— Rock On Festival MY (@RockOnFestMY) April 10, 2019

Walking up the stairs towards the Grand Hall, echos of guitar riffs, thumping drums and cheers could be heard from a distance. Fans had already gathered a small crowd in the hall in the afternoon, hours before the main acts were to come on. The local bands a lot of energy to the place, despite the size of the audience.

Among a few notable acts included An Honest Mistake, Patriots and Oh Chentaku. An Honest Mistake’s frontman Darren was ever the charmer, interacting with the crowd to get them more hyped up— and even dropping a few flirty lines here and there. Patriots brought energy like never before, even giving a hand to the crowd for supporting the local industry for coming early to see them perform.

A post shared by An Honest Mistake (@ahmband)

The line up ended with Oh Chentaku, who tied everything up perfectly. With sheepish mentions of how lead singer Myo was actually an alumnus of Taylors (“Any hospitality kids here?”) and how he used to skip classes to play snooker, there was no mistaking the confidence that he brought to the stage. The years of experience truly shows in their case, as the band has come such a long way in terms of musical maturity. With impressive vocals, Oh Chentaku gave an effortless performance.

As the hours went by, the crowd slowly grew larger. There was no denying the anticipation as each local band finished their set, signalling how Mayday Parade’s set was inching closer. What was previously gaps in the crowd were replaced with new fans, all sandwiched next to each other to get a good enough view of the stage. A mix of excitement, adrenaline, and sweat; the crowd were getting antsy for the highlight of the night to begin.

When With Confidence came on, immediate change of atmosphere.

The Australian rockers gave us a taste of pop punk from down under, with the charming lead singer and bassist Jayden Seeley throwing compliments to the crowd after each song. Guitarist Del noted excitedly that he saw monkeys earlier today, saying how much he enjoyed being in Malaysia. Fans were yelling back at them, jeering at how Malaysia’s heat could not compare to Australia’s and the band laughed along, agreeing. The band gave it their all, played with full energy. Playing songs from their new record as well, With Confidence did not compromise when it came to terms of delivering a full performance. Familiar jams such as “Godzilla” (which Jayden played since a fan asked for it!), “Jaded”, “Dinner Bell” and “Voldemort” got all the pop punkers singing along.

Jayden teased and hyped the crowd for Mayday Parade as well, getting everyone even more worked up. It seemed to have done its job as it gave the crowd the energy rush they needed. When With Confidence left the stage, there was a different feel to the air. Everyone knew what was coming, and it was what they were waiting for all night.

Chants of “Mayday! Mayday!” even rung out at first as their staff members rushed about the stage, soundchecking all the instruments for the members. Mayday Parade felt like a different league altogether. The moment the massive Mayday Parade banner was raised to replace the previous Rockiss backdrop, the excitement felt was almost spilling over at this point.

When the lights went off, members Brooks Betts, Jake Bundrick, Alex Garcia, Jeremy Lenzo took their positions and started playing the intro of “Never Sure”–the first track of their latest album, “Sunnyland”. And then came lead singer Derek Sanders, long hair bobbing as he jumped around the stage in his floral shorts and bare feet. As they launched into the song, confetti cannons shot through the air, truly signaling the beginning of the night.

As Derek asked the crowd how they were feeling tonight, they started playing the second song; “Jersey”. This was when the crowd truly started freaking out, singing their hearts out along to the song off their debut album. Switching it back to the newer stuff, “It’s Hard To Be Religious When Certain People Are Never Incinerated By Bolts Of Lightning” came next before playing the classic, “Black Cat”.

After four fast songs, the band slowed things down with “Hold Onto Me” to let the crowd catch their breath. Derek got an acoustic guitar out as well, teaching the crowd how to sing along to the chorus of “Piece Of Your Heart” before actually playing the track. He even asked fans if they liked emo music, which was of course met with enthusiastic cheers. “I’m right here with you guys,” he replied. “Always have been an emo kid, always will be,” said the 32 year old with a smile, as he started strumming some short covers of emo bands such as “I’m Not Okay” by My Chemical Romance.

Deciding that the crowd had enough time to recharge, Mayday Parade went in hard with the youthful “Jamie All Over”. The entire hall was screaming along to the lyrics, echoing the line, “Please don’t tell me that I’m dreaming” as they jumped along to the pop punk anthem. The band surprised fans even further by playing something off their Pop Goes Punk compilation: their rendition of Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used To Know”. The energy didn’t stop there as they played “Anywhere But Here”, a powerful single from their second album, and “When You See My Friends”, an emotionally charged song from their third self titled album.

The moment the keyboard was lifted to the front, everyone knew it was time for Mayday Parade’s classic sentimental songs. True enough, first up came “Miserable At Best”–which is arguably the band’s most notable song. This was a true throwback to the classics, a song where almost every person present knew all the words to and were singing along passionately to the words of heartbreak. “I can live without you but,” sang Derek, with the crowd completing the line for him: “Without you, I’d be miserable at best.”

“Stay” came on next, which had a slow beginning on the piano before it’s raw chorus came in. However this signified the end of slow songs, as the keyboard was removed and “Three Cheers For Five Years” was played next. Being the first song ever written by Mayday Parade and was considered their debut in the pop punk scene, it was especially moving to see them perform it with such vigor even after 13 years. Ending their set with the 2012 anthem, “Oh Well, Oh Well”, the band got everyone jumping on their feet to the song before ducking out behind the stage for a quick break.

As shouts of “Encore!” grew louder, the members graced their presences on the stage for the last time to perform the final song of the night. “This song goes out to anyone here who’s in a dark place or going through a hard time right now,” said Derek as he raised the mic towards his lips. Wrapping the night with “I Hate To Be You When People Find Out What This Song Is About”, Mayday Parade sealed it with a kiss of nostalgia by ending it with yet another classic.

A post shared by Putra Aedeel (@puts_94)

All in all, Mayday Parade brought their A-game for the show. Despite not playing anything off their fifth album, “Black Lines”, their choice of setlist for the night was perfect to get the crowd going. Paying close attention to their breakout and debut album, “A Lesson In Romantics”, all the attendees at Rockiss Rock On Festival 2019 were brought back to the late 2000s and simpler times.

With promises of coming back to Malaysia soon (and not making us wait another 5 years) we just can’t wait to see them have a whole concert of their own. To that, we say, three cheers! ?

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4Minute’s Gayoon Celebrates Birthday In Malaysia!

4minute celebrated Gayoon’s 23rd birthday while the K-Pop idol girl group was here in Malaysia for the K-Pop Dream Concert. The effort to make her birthday a memorable one was all thanks to 4Minute’s Malaysian fans, who presented her with a cake in the shape of a “4” for 4Minute.

After which, Cube Entertainment tweeted, “The 4minute’s double peace sign selca that came from Malaysia! Happy birthday to Heo-phrodite! The #4minute members are celebrating Gayoon-goddess’s birthday with the cake from Malyasian fans”.