PokePlay #3: My Thoughts on Pokemon Flora Sky

In today's post of PokePlay we look at yet another awesome Pokemon hack that focuses on the awfully cute Shaymin!

Pokemon Flora Sky

Base Rom: Pokemon Emerald

Pokemon Available: Kanto/Johto/Hoenn/Sinnoh/Unova

Regions Available: New Hoenn





Crowned the Hack of the Month for May 2010, Pokemon Flora Sky is an Emerald hack rom that comprises of Pokemon from all 5 generations. There are two versions to this game: Main Dex and Complement Dex. The main difference between both versions is the Pokemon that can be found. In addition, for the Complement Dex, some levels of the trainers are altered and the base stats of some Pokemon are also adjusted.

The adventure starts in Small Town, where the protagonist has to go search for Professor Birch in Mt. Fullmoon, where you get the Sinnoh starters (or Kanto starters in the Complement Dex version). From here, the protagonist embarks on an adventure across New Hoenn. Meanwhile, Team Magma and Team Aqua have their own plans of conquering Hoenn, and it is up to the protagonist to put a stop to their plans.

Difficulty Level: 3.5/5 mousepads thrown

Not a very challenging game overall, as the trainers levels and Elite 4 are not obscenely high. Interestingly, you get a chance to get the first in-game legendary Shaymin, the titular character of Flora Sky only after 4 badges. The norm in Pokemon games is that legendary events often occur after 7 badges, so it was more of a surprise to me. You are highly recommended to catch it, because it is after all a shiny Pokemon (and a legendary at that).

However, the post game is where the honeymoon period ends though. Levels have been greatly elevated after defeating the Elite 4 for the first time, which can prove to be quite tough for underleveled teams. There's apparently a post-post game if you are interested in getting all the legendaries, but it can be very long and is optional.

A Lvl.46 FEMALE Braviary?!
 I call shenanigans! :0

Gameplay Level: 3.5/5 slickness

Be warned: without a walkthrough or guide you can easily get lost and not sure where to proceed next in the game. This can prove a bit frustrating as you wonder aimlessly not knowing what to do next. There are also minor glitches here and there, but none that are game-damaging fortunately. 

Winter is coming...

Graphics Level: 4/5 Beauty Ribbons

As expected from Gen III games, the hack has maintained the same standard as that of RSE. In terms of Pokemon sprites, B/W sprites have been used and this greatly adds to the aesthetics of the game.





Overall, the gameplay experience has been an enjoyable one. It should keep players occupied to the game for a very long time, in part due to the post game and post-post game events.

My team for Pokemon Flora Sky (as of defeating Elite 4 for the first time):


- Infernape
- Flygon
- Ludicolo
- Ampharos
- Staraptor
- Gardevoir




Link(s):
http://pokemonflorasky.com/

PokePlay #2: My Thoughts on Pokemon Light Platinum

Apparently, 4 months+ of rest has resulted in me making truckloads of spelling errors in the previous post. I will try to cut down on the spelling errors.

That aside, today's review will be on another Pokemon hack that I have played. Introducing Pokemon Light Platinum, which is by far one of the greatest hacks made. Most of the hacks that I have tried so far have utilised graphics and texture packs of the base roms. However, the developer of the game, WesleyFG, has incorporated new sprites similar to that of Gen IV games while using Pokemon Ruby as the base rom.

Base Rom: Pokemon Ruby

Pokemon Available: Kanto/Johto/Hoenn/Sinnoh/Unova

Regions Available: new regions Zhery and Lauren







4 legendaries in the first 2 minutes,
and you wonder why Arceus sounds like a puppy...

Pokemon Light Platinum starts out in a whole new region called Zhery. As with all Pokemon games, the protagonist is entrusted with a starter Pokemon (in this case either Charmander, Bulbasaur or Squirtle). For those who are wondering, it is possible to get the starters from other regions. The protagonist then heads on an adventure across the Zhery region and eventually facing the Elite 4, while coming head to head with the evil organisation Team Steam. With new gym leaders, Elite 4 members and new rivals, this game promises to be one of the best hack roms ever played.

Difficulty Rating: 3.5/5 computer screens broken



A difference of 18 levels. Overpowered much. :/

Not the hardest rom I have played so far, although another set of 8 gyms and Elite 4 in the Lauren region after completion of Zhery region does pose a pretty nifty challenge. Expect to be heavily underlevelled against the Elite 4 of both regions, but with the right moves and Pokemon you should be able to get through easily. (Spoiler: Garchomp is still OP in a game where only moves up to Gen III are available, and it did take a couple of misses and 3 Max Revives to finish it off.)

Gameplay Rating: 3.5/5 slickness


Most of the storyline is quite linear so it shouldn't pose too much of a problem for newer players. One interesting aspect of this game is the presence of new TMs, such as Ice Smash (which replaces Brick Break) and Fire Blow (which replaces Overheat). This turns out to be a double-edged sword. While it is always good to have newly created TMs, it can get a bit cumbersome because most of these new TMs are required to clear obstacles throughout the journey. This means you are forced to use these TMs how matter how bad they are when used in battle. In addition, there are some glitches that should be fixed. One example is that when Electabuzz evolves into Electivire at Lvl.40 (this is because the Electirizer is not available in Gen III so they came up with an alternative evolution method), its level drops to Lvl. 37 and its gender changes and the Nature changes to Quiet (-10% Speed and +10% Sp. Atk). I have also read that users of Pignite will be in shock to find that it evolves into Scolipede instead of Emboar. Turns out the pig was a centipede in disguise after all.

Graphics Rating: 4.5/5 Milotics evolved

One of the game's main attraction is the graphics and sprites used in the games. It gives me a feel of playing a Gen IV game in a Gen III rom. Pokemon sprites in battles are also updated to that of Gen V. Expect to be awed by the beauty of the game.





Overall, Pokemon Light Platinum is a very interesting game if you want a whole new Pokemon game. So far, I have completed both the Zhery and Lauren leagues and will be going for the World Championship. If you love Pokemon and have not played any hack roms yet, this is a good rom to start with.

My team:
- Venusaur
- Electivire
- Milotic
- Typhlosion
- Swampert
- Swellow

Links:
http://pokemonlightplatinum.com/

PokePlay #1: My Thoughts on Pokemon Liquid Crystal

Finally after a hiatus of nearly 4 months, I am finally back and done with my first year of my university course. It feels really awesome to be back. I admit I was too tired to update the blog and left this page in limbo, but the 4 month "break" (not exactly a break since I am busy with assignments and projects instead) has really left me revitalised and energised to start writing again. :)

Anyway, I have been testing out and playing through several Pokemon games for the last 2 weeks. At first I started with the regular games starting from G/S/C, then progressing through FR/LG (FireRed/LeafGreen) and finally concluding at Black 2/ White 2. Throughout the years, the games have undergone a lot of developments, and the Pokemon roster has expanded to 649 Pokemon.

So I was thinking, why not try out some of the Pokemon hacks?

After searching the net for fan-made hacks, I found some surprisingly good hacks, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself whilst playing.

Pokemon Liquid Crystal

Base Rom: Pokemon FireRed

Pokemon Available: Kanto/Johto/ Hoenn

Regions Available: Kanto/Johto/ Orange Islands (partial as of 99% complete version)





Based of the storyline of the 2nd generation game Pokemon Crystal, this hack by LaZ and Zeikku is a complete remake with 3rd generation graphics and game mechanics. The important features that attracted me to play this hack was the availability of the Hoenn Pokemon and the expansion into the Orange Islands.



Apparently all Team Saturn members
are redheads...

As with the original version, we get to play as either a male or female character who gets to embark on a Pokemon adventure that encompasses both Johto and Kanto, and finally challenge against the Elite 4.
While the GSC remake Pokemon HG/SS has considerably far improved graphics compared to Pokemon Liquid Crystal, it is nevertheless a very fun game to play due to slight changes in the storyline and the presence of a new evil organisation called Team Saturn. The plot thickens.


Difficulty Level: 4/5 keyboards smashed



A Lvl. 33 Pidgey in Vermillion? Seriously?

I'll admit it, this is one of the toughest Pokemon games I have played. Firstly, it is imperative that you engage in all the Trainer battles and do a bit of training or you will be severely underlevelled. Levels have also been raised by up to 5 levels for gym leaders and Elite 4 members. With new Pokemon and moves available in Liquid Crystal as compared to the orginal GSC, this game may prove to be quite a challenge. There are also many instances where the Pokemon battles are so tough, that I feel like smashing my laptop screen in frustration. (Example: Umbreon as a staller and dragging a battle for 10 minutes thanks to WishProtect moveset. >:( ) Nevertheless, I relish the challenge of the game.

Gameplay Level: 4/5 slickness



Prepare for a storm.

There have been a few glitches here and there, but none of them are really severe and thus did not affect much of my gameplay experience. As with in Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald, you get to Dive down to the bottom of the ocean to discover new items and Pokemon. In addition, the EXP system has been enhanced to that of Black/White and there is also the Physical/Special Split as introduced in Gen IV games. Altogether, it is pretty much a complete package. Before I forget, there's also the Day/Night system along with the weather changes. This will affect the different types of Pokemon available in specific places. Expect to find yourself drenched in torrential rainfall with lightning during Spring or immersed deep in heavy snow during Winter.

Graphics Level: 4/5

Wow...this is too beautiful.

Considering that the hack is made for Gameboy Advance, the graphics are pretty impressive and well-polished. I really loved the design of the Pokemon Center. <3








Overall, I loved this game. SO MUCH that I actually played through the entire game twice. Anyway my team for the 2nd runthrough (in case if anyone is interested):

- Typhlosion
- Vaporeon
- Dragonite
- Exeggutor
- Slamence
- Crobat

To My Favvies On MM ^-^

Finally a new post in what feels like forever! :D

It feels really awesome to be back, and I am ready for the new year.

And I got truckloads of pictures for everyone!

Here we go...

For Donkers, whose Spug is so squishy that I accidentally popped it a few times...

For Jess, who thought that drawing her icon would be crazy... Keep it up in torturing the newbies.

For Vissy, who is LIKE A COMMANDA :D (finally the whole pic!)

For Sharna, who is trying to get a Pitana avatar. Decided to draw one for you instead but made a few modifications from the original.













For Søren, I can't draw the fox in the end...so I hope a Necronubis would suffice.














For Draguin, who helped me a lot in the forums. Because MM's version of Penngrince is, in my opinion, very ugly (Sorry uken but you probably won't read this anyway), I had to draw my own version. Hope you like it.

I still have a couple of drafts left for a couple of people (i.e. Fris, Issac aka Juice Box, Breaker etc), but I am trying to complete as soon as I can. Hopefully I can get it done by this month. With all the schoolwork flooding in... -.-

Random Post Is Indeed Random

Finally, after such a long while, I am back for a short bit. I guess one can say it's a temporary respite from the daily challenges I face every day.

Anyway,...

A couple of things had happened these last few weeks that left me very dissappointed. But it is through these mistakes that we learn, and we grow to become stronger and better. I shall not bore you with the entire story of these events, because there is no point crying over spilt milk.

Life has to go on, and lessons have to be learnt.

I like helping people. Or rather, I find it a joy to share my knowledge and experience and help people in need. More importantly, I really believe a lot in karma. As a result, I think I am sometimes not very sensitive to how much help people wants. This may sound confusing, but simply put, each person has their own comfort zone. Once you go beyond a certain level which may infringe his/her privacy, the person might not take it that well and think you may have some ulterior motive in helping him/her too much. And that was exactly what happened to me. As much as I believe that my intent is made clear, but because of this, it has caused the whole chain of unfortunate events.

Then comes the next question: when would you know what the person's comfort level is? I think this is a bit abstract to describe, because it really takes some trial and error to discover each and every person's comfort level. Nevertheless, some people do indeed display through physical behaviour and facial expression if they are really very uncomfortable with the way things are going. Therefore, it really isn't very difficult sometimes. I am afraid I had not reached that level yet, but it's a learning experience.

Speaking of which, yes, I took a step back upon what happened. There had been signs prior to all this mess, and I had tried to pull myself away, but it was obviously in vain (I and I did not do a good job of it.). For a few days, I regretted what I had done, and it did make me question the need to be so nice and helpful to people. I did get some advice from a couple of close friends and family members, and I thought it really helped me a lot and learnt a lot from them. Which was why I wrote this entire thing in the first place.

So yup...

I still treasured whatever friendship that existed during that short duartion. I do not want to make any excuses for what I had done, because it is history. But you will always be a friend.

Lasciate riposare in pace.

Coffee Break: Part 1 -Hour of Power FTW!!!!! :)

Basically, for this new short segment that I am introducing, I will take some of those unreleased pics from before, do a bit of touch up here and there before putting it up here. So these drawings actually ended up in the depths of papers piling up on my desk, or they were left forsaken and forgotten in my folders in my laptop. I think it probably won't last long (I would give this a lifespan of 2-3 parts...)Anyway, I've got one here to start the ball rolling...

When: Sometime in June...I don't really remember. If it is buried in knee-deep full of paper, how in world would I remember? -.-

Story: My language skills are not that brilliant, but I will try to bring my point across.

Sometimes, it really fascinates me to see how love can make people do the most illogical and irrational of things. You see someone put in his/her heart and soul to pursue the person he/she likes, doing stuff you will never expect him/her to do. I think love is like some sort of energy pushing you past all boundaries and limits to achieve the unexpected.

Unfortunately, when the crush/target does not recipocrate and eventually reject his/her feelings, the pain and anguish is indeed heartrending. It may come to the point where your heart is just broken and bleeding away. You feel sad, but somehow, no tears seem to flow out from your eyes.

I think this feeling applies to not just a failed relationship (or attempt at having one). Even between a couple, sometimes when one party hurts you so bad, you will experience the same feeling. Of course, this feeling does not apply to only romance. I think there are times when you are really very sad that you really feel your heart is breaking apart.

I admit I never had a proper relationship, but having seen too much of it, I kind of empathise with them. That was why I sat down to draw this. Anyway, I was undergoing some transition in drawing style, which explains how this picture seems a bit incomplete. I was testing out how to draw the eyes in another way (one which I would eventually and currently adopt), to mixed success. :/ On another note, this was done very swiftly within one hour. Not because I remembered it till now, but because I actually stupidly wrote on my sketch:

"DONE IN ONE HOUR WOOT!!!"

Why is it not released: Even till now, I still had second thoughts about putting this up. One reason is that I am actually worried that people will think I have a personal problem, relationship issue or whatsoever. And I find the end-product a bit...flawed (being a quick paint job, I wasn't expecting to be awesome, oh well... -.-)

I Am Back...! And This IS Why I Am Away For So Long

Aside from studies and stuff, I have been trying out a couple of stuff on PAINT.net.

And I thought that changing the blog design will be a good idea as well.

Enjoy the new cover!

Meanwhile, I need to catch some sleep...the overall effort is too tiring for me...ZZZ

15 June 2012 -- A Dark Twist To The Tale -- Snow White & The Huntsman

Fairy tales have always fascinated and entertained us when we were young, hence remakes of these classics would undoubtedly lead to many comparisons. We have already known for quite some time that there would be two remakes of the classic fairy tale Snow White in 2012, Mirror Mirror (which was released on March and was supposed a light-hearted take of the story by the Brothers Grimm) and Snow White & The Huntsman (which was released this month).

I missed out on watching Mirror Mirror, partly because I am not a frequent movie-goer. However, my friend recommended watching Snow White & The Huntsmen during a get-together session, so I proceeded to watch only my 2nd movie within the last one year.

In all honesty, I was skeptical of how the movie will turn out, particularly when Kristen Stewart was cast as the female lead Snow White. I am not picking on the casting of the Twilight starlet, because I think she is a pretty good actress but she needs to work on her facial & emotional expressions. (Fanboys don't bash me, please. :3)The movie also features Charlize Theron, who portrays the evil stepmother/queen, as well as Chris Hemsworth, who decided to leave Mjölnir in Asgard and is here as the huntsman. 

Unlike the original tale, this incarnation takes on a darker theme but basically follows the same story arc. Snow White's mother died when she was young, leaving her under the care of her father, who is the King. When Ravella (Theron) married the king and murdered him in cold blood on their wedding night, everything changed. Snow White was held captive in the North Tower for years but managed to escape when the evil Queen, in her pursuit of beauty and power, decided to kill her. She made her way into the Dark Forest but was tracked by the huntsman. The huntsman however decides to join forces with Snow White to overthrow the evil Queen's reign, a la Joan of Arc's style.

On the whole, the movie was not too bad, but was not exactly an entertaining 2 hours as I would have hoped. Charlize Theron's powerful performance as the evil queen Ravella was, in my opinion, one thing that stole the show. One can really feel the hatred and embitterment in Ravella as her pursuit for beauty and power (which includes sucking the lifeforce out of virgins and flowers) drove her to insanity and eventually became her undoing.

Chris Hemsworth also did a good job as the huntsman with a traumatic past, providing scant reminder of the hammer-wielding demigod he is now famous for in the Marvel franchise. On the contrary, Stewart's potrayal as the title character somehow pales in comparison, but nevertheless still a convincing one. Unfortunately, as we all know (and should have figured)...

When Snow White is scared, =.=

When Snow White is angry, =.=

When Snow White is happy, =.=

When Snow White is in a coma, ... =.=

While Snow White & The Huntsman may be the most entertaining flick I have watched, it does offer a welcome alternative to movie-goers. Don't give it a miss! :)

FIFA 13: Finally, no Rooney on the cover photo! :P

After the considerable success of FIFA 12, which introduces many new features that enhance gameplay, it is now time to put our focus on the next instalment of the FIFA series, FIFA 13. FIFA 13 seeks to capture all the details of real-life soccer, and has announced a couple of innovations that serves to further improve on the already impressive features of FIFA 12. This includes Tactical Free Kicks and 1st touch control. As to how these features really influences the gameplay, we would have to wait until further details have been released.

And yes, for the first time, Rooney did not feature on the cover photo (although this requires confirmation) and Messi takes over as the poster boy! Not that I dislike Rooney, but he has been on the game covers since FIFA 06. Surely a change would be welcome, wouldn't it? :)

EA Sports has thus far released a trailer of the highly anticipated game, and here's a tongue-in-cheek review of the trailer by KSIOlajidebt. Don't take the jokes too seriously though. :P

Replay! -- Games Worth Re-Visiting! :)

I admit I am bored to death.

Yes, I remembering writing about me giving a review of "The Avengers", but in the end I decided not to. Sorry. :3

Anyway, I thought of revisiting some of the games I have played before. Man, they brought back so much fun memories. Among all, two games really stood out for me. So...here we go!

1. Robot Unicorn Attack

I played this game back in 2010, and it was indeed great fun. Unfortunately, it got monotonous after a while and therefore I stopped. Robot Unicorn Attack was released as a online video game in February 2010 by Spiritonin Media Games. Basically, the user controls the movement of a unicorn and the objective of this game is to last as long as possible without crashing into any obstacles (something linke Nyancat or Techno Kitten Adventure). The game gets increasingly difficult as the its pace gets faster, making it more challenging to get past the obstacles. The players has three lives (or "wishes", as it was referred to in the game) and the total score is tallied from all three turns.

Fast forward 2 years, and I am playing its remake of the original - Robot Unicorn Attack Evolution. While gameplay is identical to the original, the fun aspect of the remake is that the Robot Unicorn evolves into other robotic animals after a certain number of stars broken in a row.

Other than the excitement of finding out the subsequent evolutions of the robotic unicorn, as well as the fun of dashing past obstacles as the game picks up in pace, this game is attractive due to its looping soundtrack. As you play, the soundtrack "Always" by the British band Erasure keeps playing until you crash and burn. You know the one that goes:

"Always, I wanna be with you

And make believe with you

And live in harmony harmony oh love~"

Yup that's the one. In case this does not ring a bell, allow me to present you the video of this song! :P

In addition, there are also two other remakes of the game, namely "Robot Unicorn Attack: Heavy Metal" (featuring the song "Battlefield" from German metal band Blind Guardian) and "Robot Unicorn Attack: Christmas Edition". Try them at your own leisure. :)


2. Facade



Not something you
should say during a visit to your
 friend's house...

Unlike Robot Unicorn Attack, Facade is an artificial-intelligence based game created in 2006 by Michael Mateas and Andrew Stern. In this game, the player will reprise the role of  a close friend of Grace and Trip, a couple who recently invited the player to their home for cocktails. This pleasant gathering, however, is somewhat damaged by the clear domestic confrontation between Grace and Trip upon the player's entry. Hence, the objective is to interact and "speak" with the characters, and thereby solve their conflicts, or driving them mad (and risked getting chased out of the house).

The huge selling point of this game, is definitely its natural language processing features and other advanced AI routines involved to provide and enhance a real-life experience for gamers. This also meant the scenario will play out randomly & differently every time users play the game.

However, being a naughty little brat 6 years ago, I would exploit the system and do/"say" wierd things to get them irritated. Nearly every time, I would get chased out of the house beacuse I was deemed "rude and vulgar". However, I did succeed in completing the story once, but I shall not spoil the good ending - it's up to you to find out. :)

2 Weeks, 2 Gatherings! :)

It's been a pretty busy two weeks! Despite such a packed schedule, I was glad to find time to get together with my friends!

5 May - The Ultimate Sports Session!

We had the first of our gathering within 6 days at HomeTeamNS @ Bukit Batok. Honestly, after a long hiatus from gym work, I felt inflexible & was severly lacking fitness. My thoughts of whether I can still survive a badminton match without getting floored were quelled when I seemed to have regained A BIT of my touch. Unfortunately with the awfully hot temperature and poor fitness, I was exhausted after a while. T.T Nevertheless, it was fun as we get to talk and play at the same time.

After two hours of badminton, 4 of us proceeded to play bowling while the remaining two went for swimming instead. I wasn't able to play bowling, but it was still fun to see the rest pit their skills against each other. (In truth, only one of us really knew how to play, but that mattered little as we all were so exhausted from 2 hours of badminton that we can barely focus.)

The three macho men who are bowling (includes diva pose).

Our final scoreline, not surprising since everyone is beat -.-

So 6 days later...

11 May - The Ultimate Makan Session

So after spending so much energy 6 days ago, there is no doubt we should gain back what we have lost! :D

So the 4 of us (me, Zhi Hui, Huay Peng and Eunice) gathered at J-Cube (which is fast becoming a popular among youngsters) to have dinner. Dian Feng came slightly later as he was working overtime. We had dinner at Nando's before going to watch the highly anticipated "The Avengers"! :)

Spot the difference(s) between the signs above and below!

Sitting at a table near the skating rink...and seeing them spin circles (and fall) in front of me. @.@

Shopping spree before the movies! YEEEEAAAAARRRGH!

That's it for now. I guess I'll write about my thoughts on "The Avengers" in my next post. In the meantime, remember to watch this space! :)

So, I Heard You Guys Talk About Salt Lamps...

Recently I have been hearing a lot about salt lamps, particularly from some of my friends. Hence, I decided to check out what it is.

So, what is a salt lamp?

A Himalayan salt lamp is basically a lamp carved from a large colored salt crystal, with an incandescent bulb or a candle inside. These lamps emit an attractive glow and are often used as nightlights or to as ambient mood lighting. Largest producers of the salt lamp are located in places like Poland, Pakistan and Iran.

Prior to understanding more about salt lamp, all I know about Himalayan salt, or Halite to be more precise, was that it is used as a food seasoning, for example the Bolivian Rose salt. Compared to using normal salt, Himalayan salt can better enhance the flaour of the food and brings out a more natural taste. Therefore, using Himalayan salt as a light source is a pretty new concept to me (you may find me a bit ignorant, but then and again, there may be others who still do not know about this. :P).

Note: Some things, for instance the salt lamp, may not work for you but may work for others. Everyone is entitled to their views and opinions. In short, to each his own.

How does the salt lamp work? All we know is that it leads to negative ions in the surroundings, but how? A quick search does provide some information, although not all are entirely true.

There were a couple of websites that the heating of the salt would lead to the release of ions. This is not true, or at least my chemistry knowledge tells me so. Sodium chloride, or NaCl is a ionic compund in which the Na⁺ and Cl^- ions are held together by strong ionic bonds in a ionic lattice. To recall, the size of both  Na⁺ and Cl^- ions are relatively small, thus the ions are closer together and the ionic bonds are stronger. Hence, large amount of energy is required to overcome the strong electrostatic attraction. Thus, the idea of heating of the crystal salt to release ions is not possible.

I am more inclined to think that this has nothing to do with the breaking of ionic lattice of sodium chloride. Rather, it's due to the ability of the salt crystal's ability to absorb moisture in the air (the polar water moleculars get attracted to the ions due to ion-dipole reaction, as the O end of H₂O) Due to the heat of the lamp, the absorbed moisture retained in the crystal will evaporate, and the evaporation of water may have led to the production of negative ions.

The main attraction of the Himalayan salt lamp is perhaps its therapeutic properties. Firstly, it acts as a natural air purifier as the anions released will help remove dust particles in the air. Research has shown the flow of negative ions collide with the dust particles, hence giving the suspended particles a charge as well. The charged particles then bind together, and eventually these clumps precipitate out of the air. The cleaner air also leads reduced susceptibility to sinus, migraine headaches allergies and hay fever and asthma attacks. Henceforth, this also explains the basis behind the invention of air ionisers. While electronic ionisers cost around the same as their natural counterparts, it has been linked to the release of ozone which has detrimental effects on the human body. The Environmental Protection Agency's report on the the effects of ozone determined that a marked level of cellular damage was observed after only four to five days of exposure. According to reports published by Spiritual Endeavors, an online health advocacy and information resource, ozone has been shown to stimulate the body's production of Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF), which can cause cancerous tumors to develop from seemingly healthy body tissue.This could possibly be one reason why many would opt for the natural salt lamp instead.

Secondly, the Himalayan salt lamp has been linked to improvement to mental & physical health, allowing users to feel more alert and relaxed. Scientific studies conducted have supported this claim. Our living environment today has far more sources of positive ions than in the past, causing an imbalance in the atmosphere. Most notably, electrical appliances such as television sets, radios and computers are the greatest sources of positive ions, which is responsible for the deteoriation of our physical and mental well-being. The biological impact of cations was revealed in a research done in 1976, when researchers measured the metabolic changes in mice in response to changes to ion charges. When exposed to cations, the rats showed increased aggression and shorter lifespan.

Another experiment was further conducted in Germany by researchers at Goldstein and Lewin Dept of Medical Research to substantiate the claim. Similar to the experiment in 1976, rats exposed to cations showed a spike in their norepinephrine level after a while, but as time passed, a state of exhaustion can be observed in the form of a lowered norepinephrine level. (Norepinephrine is a hormone that triggers the fight-or-flight response, which in turns causes vasodilation and increased heart rate.)

As such, the negative ions released by the Himalayan salt lamp would help balance out the positive ions in the surrounding air, allowing users to have greater sleep quality and greater vitality. It works the same way as taking a refreshing breath of the sea breeze during a walk along the beach!

Another explanation as to why the salt lamp can improve our mental health could be due to the light emitted by the salt lamp. Its warm glow provides an ambient mood, allowing used to feel more relaxed and comforatable with their surroundings. (Although this is not scientifically proven, but this is most likely why salt lamps can also be found in message and therapy spas.)

21 Mar 2012 -- Like A Boss! Episode 04: Cubes and Chevrons

After our last gathering a month ago, we decided to have another one at JCube this time. Unfortunately, Kwang Yueh was unable to join us this time due to work commitments... T.T

Anyway, JCube is the latest shopping centre located at Jurong East. Most people will perhaps remember its predecessor, JEC (Jurong Entertainment Centre) as it featured the Fuji Ice Palace, one of the only two ice rinks in Singapore. However, it was demolished in 2008 and finally made way for JCube after 4 long years. JCube was officially open on 2 April, and he current shopping mall now consists of 5 floors , as well as a rooftop landscaped plaza.

Before, it was the Jurong Entertainment Centre...

Now it has evolved, into JCube!

In addition, the ice rink has been refurnished and expanded to a bigger size, making it Singapore's first Olympic-size skating rink. For moviegoers, JCube seeks to provide you with one of the best movie experiences as it is now home to the first IMAX theatre in the suburbs.

Anyway, we had lunch at Manhattan Fish Market before exploring the shopping centre. We were amazed by the size of the skating rink. It is really, really HUGE! Unlike the previous ice rink which was much smaller and occupies one floor of the building by itself, the new skating rink is now surrounded by two levels of shops and restaurants. As the skating rink was closed on the day we were there, we were unable to get into the rink to play. Hence, all I got were pictures from outside the rink...

After exploring the mall for around nearly two hours, we went off for our next part of our gathering -- Karaoke at The Chevrons! This was a bit unplanned though, so we got a bit lost trying to find our way to Chevrons by foot (although we had fun along the way, doing funny things like taking random pictures etc.). After walking for half an hour (which was much longer than expected as my GPS said we should have reached within 10 minutes) and 1.1km later, we reached The Chevrons.

Inside the Aviary KTV, we were in for a surprise as we were told that Joshua's and my dress code was improper -- no short pants allowed. We had to rent pants for $3 each. T.T

Still, we had fun singing for two hours. Due to a sore throat, I was able to sing a lot, and it didn't that they were picking a couple of Aerosmith songs. So I had to make it up by doing a horrible imitation of Abracadabra and Bubble Pop, to everyone's "approval" (no pictures though, sorry.).

Rare Talents in FIFA12 Part 2: Winter Roster Update

With the Winter Roster Update coming in, there have been changes to the ratings of many players in the database. For those who may not know, players can update their squads by going to "Customise FIFA -> Edit teams -> Change squads/rosters -> Download updates". Once it’s done you’ll have the latest squads! :)

Meanwhile, we shall focus on some brilliant young players that can be found in this new patch, and also revisit the players that have been previously recommended to see whether their stock has rose and fallen.

1. Gabriel (Juventus) 66 -> 88

Juventus was quick to sign 17 year old Gabriel Appelt Pires before many other big clubs could do so, and The Old Lady had reason to be. This talented central defensive midfielder, signed along with his older brother Guilherme, was described as a "champion" by top European transfer guru Ernesto Bronzetti.

In FIFA 12, the Brazilian has a good passing range, with both his Long Passing and Short Passing stats above 70. Furthermore, his Ball Control and Vision stats are a whopping 72, pretty promising for a young midfielder who can dictate play in the heart of midfield and switch from defense to offense with his incisive passes. He can also shut down opponents pretty quickly with his decent tackling and intercepting abilities, so he's a definite must-have for FIFA 12 career mode players.

Before I forget, check out how he pressured Ronaldinho off the ball in a match against Flamengo (at around 0:35)


2. Nicola Leali (Brescia) 67-> 88

Prior to the Winter Roster update, the 18 year old Italian goalkeeper has an overall rating of 61 and a potential of 79. After the patch, he has grown to an overall rating of 67. Why is there such a big change over just half a season?

With clubs such as Sporting CP and Juventus (again!)tracking his progress, the Under-19 Italian custodian possesses great agility, a great sense of positioning and catlike reflexes, reminiscent of a young Buffon. With the club initally struggling, Leali has brought great assuredness between the sticks, and has helped steer the club to 7th place with his strong performances in goal.

In FIFA 12, what stood out for him was his Jumping and Reflexes stats, which are at 73 and 72 respectively. Other essential goalkeeping stats such as Handling, are all above 65 (with the exception of Kicking, which is a poor 55). Not bad for a 18-year-old.

3.  Mattia Destro (Siena) 72-> 87

Need a goalscorer? This Siena striker is the answer for you. On loan from Genoa, the 20 year old started his career in Ascoli. He moved to Inter in 2010, where he flourished under their youth system. He then moved to Genoa as a make-weight for Andrea Ranocchia's transfer to the Nerazzurri. The Italian was also capped at every level from U-16 to U-21.

In the game, Destro is perhaps one of the most promising goalscorers in the game. With both Positioning and Finishing stats at 78, expect this hotshot to score many goals for your team. He is also pretty quick (his Acceleration and Sprint Speed are at 79) and has pretty good Heading Accuracy.  His lethal finishing, combined with his quick feet, definitely makes him one of the most exciting attacking talents in the game. His only weakness is his Long Shots, but expect that to improve.

After discussing about the footballing talents that emerged after the patch, let's take a look at my previous recommendations after the winter update:

Roderick Miranda (65 -> 78) (Overall =, Potential -11) By far the most disappointing change, but oh well...
Federik Sørensen (73 -> 83) (Overall -1, Potential -4)
Cristian Pasquato (73 -> 86) (Overall -1, Potential +2)
Fernando Lucas Marins (71 -> 83) (Overall +1, Potential -4)
Daniel Johnson ( 60 -> 77) (Overall & Potential =)

So Many Things, So Little Time!

With so many things happening these couple of weeks, there's simply no time to update my blog!

I was randomly searching for things to watch on Youtube, when an interesting title caught my attention.

The title read, "Nonsensical Saints Row The Third". Now, we know that 'Saints Row: The Third' is an action-adventure open world video game which focuses on the urban gang war between the Saints (i.e.players) and three other gangs (namely the Luchadores, Deckers and MorningStar). With such a dark and violent theme, one would wonder how nonsensical it can get. After watching the first video posted by gamer Nova, I couldn't stop laughing from start to end. The silly/ridiculous things that Nova and his friend Spoon did in the game, as well as their enthusiastic commentary, blended well with the game's knowingly crazy and juvenile sense of humor. This series consists of 68 episodes, and I guarantee that each episode is fun-packed.

To watch the videos, simply click on this link and have fun!

Meanwhile, I had also been waiting for the highly anticipated Angry Birds Space to be released, and it has finally hit the Apple App Store on 22 March! This time, the battle between the Angry Birds and the pigs takes place in a whole new galaxy. Prior to the game's release, Rovio has released a couple of trailers which introduced the new birds (including the Ice Bomb Bird and Lazer Bird, among many others), and also featured a demostration of microgravity by NASA astronaut Don Pettit. Check out this video to see the physics behind the latest installment from Rovio:


That's it for now! Meanwhile, back to episode 36 of "Nonsenscial Saints Row The Third" for me...

12 Mar 2012 -- Like A Boss! Episode 03: And We Thought Aaron Is Going To Study Overseas...

Well, turns out he is going to tour Central Europe first before studying. (-.-)|||

Anyway, before he set off for London two days later, we decided to go for a gathering. We met at ION Orchard this time, and Joshua couldn't join us because he has counter duty that night. Upon Kwang Yueh's recommendation, we decided to have Xiao Long Bao at Paradise Dynasty.

When we reached the entrance of the restaurant, we were surprised by the large crowd outside the restaurant. As such, we had to wait for about 30 minutes before it's our turn. In the meantime, we just sat outside the restaurant and chatted...

Since our aim is to eat Xiao Long Bao, there was no doubt that the first thing we had on our wishlist was the best selling  Xiao Long Bao Sampler set. It comes in 8 different flavours, ranging from the simple original flavour, to the more creative flavours such as Cheesy and Foie Gras. Priced at $13.80, this set of Xiao Long Bao never failed to surprise us with its unique tastes.

We also ordered 2 sets of the original flavour Xiao Long Bao. The skin texture and thickness was just right and the soup inside had a rich flavour which complemented well with the moist pork. Well worth the $9.80 we paid for 10 pieces. :)

I also ordered the La Mian in Signature Pork Bone Soup served with Pork & Vegetable Dumplings. The silky handmade noodles did not disappoint and has a firm texture. The pork bone soup was also awesome as it tasted just nice and not too salty for me.

I enjoyed my dining experience at Paradise Dynasty, and I thought it was well worth the wait and money. I definitely would make a return for it! :)

Draw Something: The Ultimate Craze In Office!!! o.O

It's been a while since I posted! I have been pretty busy these days, hence the blog was not updated for quite a while.

A craze has been sweeping over my office for these past week or so. Everyone has been drawing stuff on their phones. Soon, even I got swept into the craze. :)

Introducing "Draw Something", a Pictionary-like game which is available on iOS and Android! It is created by the company OMGPOP and has taken the world (or least my office) by storm. Nearly a month into its release, it has garnered up to 6 million downloads. Awesome stuff for a newly released game!

Why is this game so addictive? Well, it is simple and social. You don't have to be a brilliant artist to play this game (although having an artistic vein will be a bonus for friends to guess the object you are doodling.). Armed with only a simple colour palette with 4 colours (black, red, yellow and blue), you are ready to impress people with your artwork! Depending on your difficulty level, the person who manages to guess the drawing will get a certain number of coins as rewards. 1 coin is given for Easy level, while 3 coins will be given for the Hard level. These coins can in turn be used to buy stuffs such as Bombs (which allows you to re-shuffle the words allocated to you for drawing if you are stuck) or to expand your colour palette.


The viral factor of this game lies in the fact that it allows you to engage with your friends on social networks, allowing players to enjoy the game with a very large circle of friends. You can have many sessions with your friends at one time, so there is no need to worry about running out of slots.

Here's a short video on the game


Anyway, if you are addicted to the game, you can also try the Facebook version called Draw My Thing. It's slightly different from the original version, as the Facebook version allows you to compete against random users as well.

Meanwhile, back to the drawing board for me! :)