The Famous Clip From ''Dude Where's My Car?''

Duddddeeeee....sweeetttt!!! Hurhur!

"And Then..."

OMG...this clip from "Dude, where's my car?" really had me in stitches! It's soooo funny...esp the ending where Ashton Kutcher just loses it. Enjoy!

Mac Ad

I saw this Mac Ad at Cityhall Mrt station, and was just so tickled by it. *Sweet!!*
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Do you, iPod, take this Macbook to be your lawfully-wedded husband,
to share your music, videos, photos and podcasts for all eternity?

I do.

Before: Pre-Ikea

A few of you have expressed interest in viewing my new room, the one which I currently have to share with my cousin. Well, let show you the 'BEFORE' pictures first....this is what I had to work with in the beginning. Mind-blowingly, freaking ugly white cell of a room.

Appallingly ugly rite? How to live? *shudders* Tsk tsk!

After: Post Ikea

After some help from Ikea furnishings...this is how the room looks like now. It's not the prettiest room yet, but it's got more colour than before rite? Check out my posters and purple frilly fralla curtains. :)

You can't see it from the pic...but my off-white quilt cover has a beautiful, light gold, embroidered flower motif.

My corner-unit study table, with the mighty, glam MacBook taking 'centre-stage'.

Candle holder, potpourri, and pretty photos on my study table. I love photos...they make a room so much more homely don't ya think? Recognise yourself up there? hehe!
(There are pics of Disclosure at our Esplanade gig, Andrea's wedding, May's Sydney postcard, Rie and Shan at the Langkawi Spa, and my old acappella grp- Gratituous at the Harmony Awards)

Sophie Scholl: The Final Days

"A strong spirit, a tender heart"

"The law changes, but the conscience doesn't"

Please, please, go watch this excellent German film: "Sophie Scholl- The Final Days". It's a true story about Germany's most famous Anti-Nazi heroine/activist. (Synopsis below)
I was pretty much in a daze after watching it.....was very moved and challenged by Sophie Scholl's passion, immense courage (that rivalled her male counterparts), and her strong faith in God. Some considered her a Christian martyr. Bernice and I were solemnly sharing the other day, how we wonder if we could stand up to such torture, if we were to be persecuted for our faith.

I remember watching a documentary on the Discovery channel some time back, about how many early Christians were gruesomely tortured to death for their faith (it's shocking how some humans can be so cruel and heartless). The narrator made this point- those early Christians obviously had a very clear understanding of their belief and faith. Afterall, if you had to die for your faith, you had better know what you were dying for! Early Christians expected persecution! I do wonder if we modern day christians are as passionate and anchored in our faith.....esp with so many churches promoting a 'feel good' brand of Christianity.

I felt myself feeling quite torn when I saw Sophie Scholl praying for God's deliverance from the cruel Nazis in her prison cell.....everyone knew that she was going to die despite her supplications. The most natural question that came to mind was "God, why didn't you rescue your child from the hands of these evil men??" (she was only 21 yrs old)

Then when Sophie bid farewell to her parents, she calmly and confidently said "see you in eternity..." At that point, I remembered what Ps Chris preached in service last year.
God did not promise us physical immunity in this world....we'll still get sick, we'll go through difficult trials, some of us may die for our faith....
But, God has promised us spiritual immunity.....our citizenship in heaven, is a done deal.
Amen!


SYNOPSIS
==========

The true story of Germany's most famous anti-Nazi heroine is brought to thrilling life in the multi-award winning drama SOPHIE SCHOLL-THE FINAL DAYS. Academy Award nominee for Best Foreign Language Film of 2005, SOPHIE SCHOLL stars Julia Jentsch in a luminous performance as the young coed-turned-fearless activist. Armed with long-buried historical records of her incarceration, director Marc Rothemund expertly re-creates the last six days of Sophie Scholl's life: a heart-stopping journey from arrest to interrogation, trial and sentence.

In 1943, as Hitler continues to wage war across Europe, a group of college students mount an underground resistance movement in Munich. Dedicated expressly to the downfall of the monolithic Third Reich war machine, they call themselves the White Rose. One of its few female members, Sophie Scholl is captured during a dangerous mission to distribute pamphlets on campus with her brother Hans. Unwavering in her convictions and loyalty to the White Rose, her cross-examination by the Gestapo quickly escalates into a searing test of wills as Scholl delivers a passionate call to freedom and personal responsibility that is both haunting and timeless.

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Read more about Sophie Scholl and "The White Rose" resistance movement here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophie_Scholl

http://www.sophieschollmovie.com/

Crushed

(Marty looking a bit scruffy. Still cute in my eyes though. If you stare hard enough, he looks a bit like Michael Vaugh. Haha!)

'Tis a sad, dark day
Andrea informed me that Marty Sampson, my favourite worship leader/song-writer from Hillsong Church is getting married next year (not sure to who). He writes such amazing, insightful and sensitive songs. I love his voice!!
Michelle is upset and heart-broken.
Michelle loves Marty.
Marty with the ripped jeans and heavy Australian drawl, with his talented musicianship, with his adorable Rhodes piano, and with his big, passionate heart for Jesus!
Marty who melted Michelle's heart with his beautiful songs like "Home", "Deeper" and "Take All I Am" (his vulnerable falsetto, and simple, heartfelt lyrics at the bridge was killer).
Sigh.
Michelle is very sad.

Looks like there's only Matt Tennikoff and J.D left now. :(
They better not get married any time soon.
Joel Houston can join the list, once he cleans up his act....he's too hairy!!

YUMMMMYYYY!!! (Part 2)

Hillsong bassist Matt Tennikoff. Is 'oh-so-hot!!!' (Ok, this is the ONLY pic I had of him at Hillsong church.....taken from my Sydney trip last year. I know it's not that flattering.) This dude is just the coolest cos he is revolutionising the Hillsong/ United Live sound with his brilliant, insane bass lines. Eg. on "Salvation is here".

Before him, their music just wasn't so happening and funky! Of course, he's pretty cute to boot....in a dark, quiet, cool kinda way. (He sat right in front of me during Hillsong's last worship seminar in Singapore!! Saw him up close! I remember Winnie called him the 'interesting looking one').

Alright, I'll admit...this post was 'pretty blonde'. But hey, I'm entitled to my bim moments! :)

YUMMMMYYYYY!!

This post is for Agent Cheerleader, Agent Ninja and George....my 'Cereal Nazi' friends (they vehemently believe that cereal CANNOT be mixed. Contaminates the 'purity' of the cereal or something. Only exception to the rule is if they are the same colour/flavour/ shape. Erm yeah....go figure!)

And well...so here I am.....defiantly 'blaspheming' against the Koko Krunch again, and having a ball of a time as I revel in the symphony of flavours in my cereal bowl....chocolate (crescent shaped) and honey (star shaped)! HA! Agent Magpie is mixing it all up!!! Again!!


** After Agent Ninja (member of the KKK: Koko Krunch Klan) read this post...she furiously accussed me of being a 'Cereal killer' again, and threatened to "burn me at the stake".

"Miracle"

I'm not really a sports fan/viewer as most of you know. But I lurvveee watching ice-hockey. :)
Well, part of it has to do with the cute guys skating away at high speed on ice...how hot is that? But anyway, I digress. My boss gave me this dvd to watch "Miracle"(2004)....and at first I was kinda reluctant to get down to it. But when I finally did, I was SOOOO invigorated, and inspired by it, that I ended up watching it 3 times!

Here's a plot summary that I ripped off Amazon.com. (too lazy to rephrase myself):
"Miracle- The inspiring story of the team that transcended its sport and united a nation with a new feeling of hope. Based on the true story of one of the greatest moments in sports history, the tale captures a time and place where differences could be settled by games and a cold war could be put on ice. In 1980, the United States Ice Hockey team's coach, Herb Brooks, took a ragtag squad of college kids up against the legendary juggernaut from the Soviet Union at the Olympic Games. Despite the long odds, Team USA carried the pride of a nation yearning from a distraction from world events. With the world watching the team rose to the occasion, prompting broadcaster Al Michaels' now famous question, to the millions viewing at home: Do you believe in miracles? Yes!"

As a coach myself, I really learnt impt lessons from this film. I loved Herb Brooks' creative and dedicated coaching style. He knew each of his players so well, that he knew all the right 'buttons to press' when he needed to get the best out of them. He didn't tell them what they wanted to hear, he told them what they NEEDED to hear. Many people thought that Herb Brooks was exceedingly harsh on his team....but this man truly cared for his team, and believed in their potential, and he did whatever it took, to help them fulfil it- including pushing them to their limits and ticking them off when neccessary.

There was a method in his madness, a reason for everything thing he did.
He had the courage to dream, to challenge the odds, when the rest of the world cowered in fear and self-resignation.

Here are some excellent quotes from Herb Brooks:

Herb Brooks on his coaching style:
"You cannot PUT greatness into people. You have to pull it out, draw it out of them. You have to believe in them, and help them to see what was inside them all along."

"You know, Willie Wonka said it best: We are the makers of dreams, the dreamers of dreams. We should be dreaming. We grew up as kids having dreams, but now we're too sophisticated as adults, as a nation. We stopped dreaming. We should always have dreams. I'm a dreamer."


"Great moments... are born from great opportunity. And that's what you have here, tonight, boys. That's what you've earned here tonight. One game. If we played 'em ten times, they might win nine. But not this game. Not tonight. Tonight, we skate with them. Tonight, we stay with them. And we shut them down because we can! Tonight, WE are the greatest hockey team in the world. You were born to be hockey players. Every one of you. And you were meant to be here tonight. This is your time. Their time is done. It's over. I'm sick and tired of hearing about what a great hockey team the Soviets have. Screw 'em. This is your time. Now go out there and take it."

Conversation with God

One night, I was fighting back the tears, and asking God why I've got to take this road, this difficult broken path, when everyone else has such a simple, easy, straight-forward journey.
I know I'm not supposed to compare myself to others.....everyone's path is different. But I can't help feeling wistful when so many people around me seem to be living 'my desires/ my dreams'. Why God why??

Then in the quietness, God replied: "So that you'll learn the posture of worship."

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Ecclesiastes 3: 1-11 “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven…..He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.”

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Over drinks with my boss another night, he encourages me by saying something like "leaders never have an easy life. Look at all those characters in the bible- David, Moses, Joseph...God was preparing them for leadership through the trials they went through. That was the important moulding period. So well.....I'm glad that you're going through this shit!"
And then he smiled, and I smiled back in return....with tears glistening in my eyes.

When we walk through that broken path, we are irrevocably changed.
I'm finally starting to understand that the true posture of worship is humility.....getting down on my knees. Bowing down all areas of my heart, my life unto God.

Would I want to exchange my painful life experiences for an easier, more conventional ride?
No, I don't think so. The lessons I've learnt in the journey thus far.....are indeed priceless.
Furthermore, all the shit has really shaken and tested my faith, my foundation in God.

Homecoming

MSN conversation between myself and Audrey (still in Brisbane) last nite:

Audrey: I'm coming home next Sun, 3.45pm!! Let's go shwimmming!!
Me: Yay!!! I'm so glad you're coming home, finally!
"This is home truly, where my something something etc etc."
Audrey: Why? Do you worry about the state of my mental health while I'm over here?
Audrey: Why are you singing that? So funny!
Me: Eh no.....it's a selfish reason really. For MEEEEEE!!! I miss you lah!! Oh, the song ah...National Day mah!
Audrey: Yay!

"When did you fall"

I wanna kill May for sending me this song....it's so darn sweet (and witty too) you just die inside. *ouch* Was telling May that I can hear traces of John Mayer and Jason Mraz in the musical arrangement and delivery which was really well done. (Mich gaining new level of respect for Mr Chris Rice)

I can imagine Andrea playing the keyboards on this one....haha!
Ok, somebody just shoot me....this song is really killing me!

http://jazzymoo.multiply.com/music

Chris Rice - When Did You Fall
From the album Amusing

You’re all smiles and silly conversation
As if this sunny day came just for you
You twist your hair, you smile and you turn your eyes away
C’mon, tell me what’s right with you
Now it dawns on me probably everybody’s talkin’
And there’s something here I’m supposed to realize
‘Cause your secret’s out, and the universe laughs at it’s joke on me
I just caught it in your eyes, it’s a beautiful surprise

Chorus:
When did you fall in love with me?
Was it out of the blue
‘Cause I swear I never knew it
When did you let your heart run free?
Have you been waiting long?
When did you fall in love with me?
When did you fall in love?

Make your way over here, sit down by this fool, and let’s rewind
C’mon, let’s go back and replay all our scenes
You can point out the hints, the clues, the twists and the smiles this time
All the ones that slipped by me
I bet my face is red, and you can hear my heart poundin’
Well I guess it don’t matter now that I realize
‘Cause baby I missed it then, but I can surely see you now
Right there before my eyes
You’re my beautiful surprise

Chorus:

Was it at the coffee shop
Or that morning at the bus stop
When you almost slipped, and I caught your hand
Or the time we built the snowman
The day at the beach, sandy and warm
Or the night with the scary thunderstorm
I never saw the signs
Now we’ve got to make up for lost time
And I can tell now by the way that you’re looking at me
I’d better finish this song so my lips will be free

Have you been waiting long, when did you fall in love
I kept you waiting so long, when did you fall
Have you been waiting long
When did you fall in love with me
When did you fall in love?

The Water Is Wide

(Cliffs of Moher, Ireland)

The water is wide I can't cross o’er
And neither I have wings to fly
Give me a boat that can carry two
And both shall row - my love and i

Now love is gentle love is kind
The sweetest flower when first it’s new
But love grows cold and waxes cold
And fades away like morning dew

There is a ship she sails the sea
She's loaded deep as deep as can be
But not as deep as the love I’m in
I know not how I sink or swim

The water is wide I can't cross o’er
And neither I have wings to fly
Give me a boat that can carry two
And both shall row - my love and i
And both shall row - my love and i

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"I've relied on my illusions
to keep me warm at night" - 'Dirty Little Secret' by Sarah McLachlan

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I've uploaded more tracks on multiply:http://www.jazzymoo.multiply.com/music

1) The Water is wide- Live from Lilith Fair (feat. Sarah McLachlan, Jewel, Indigo Girls)
2) I Remember- Damien Rice and Lisa Hannigan
3) Dirty Little Secret (live)- Sarah McLachlan
4) When they ring the golden bells- Natalie Merchant (check out the surprise instrumental at the end!)
5) Shape of my heart (Live)- Sting

As I was listening to "The Water is wide" (it's an English folk song), and all the other songs in the above playlist....I couldn't help but feel that I'm just not the same person I was at the start of the year. Don't worry, I'm not like in depression or anything.....it's more of a reflection. Sorry, music people tend to be an emo bunch.

I think I've lost that sense of innocence, wonder and hope in which I used to view the world.
Will I ever recover it? I honestly don't know.
Will I be able to embrace people as eagerly as before?
Will I ever love and trust as openly as before? I don't know.
When I am finally able to do so, will it be too late?

In my head...echoes of Sting's broken song plays....
"That's not the shape of my heart, that's not the shape of my heart..."

Right now....the water is cold, still ever so cold.
I can't cross o'er.

"Take, take, take it all!"

I'm so addicted to "Take it all" from the new Hillsong album "Mighty To Save"! It's constantly replaying in my head. I especially love the bridge....the words go by so quickly, that I couldn't make out what they were initially. But its so catchy, that I would just sing along to it with 'na na na na'. haha!

(I remember hearing Pam singing loudly to it at the counter of BMI...and wondering how amazing that she actually knew all the words to the song.) Anyway, now I do know the lyrics. hee!

Take It All
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(By Marty Sampson, Matt Crocker, Scott Ligertwood)

Bridge:

Running to the One
Who heals the blind
Following the shining light
In Your hands
The power to save the world
My life

For your listening pleasure...

I've recently uploaded many new playlists to my Multiply site: http://jazzymoo.multiply.com/music

Enjoy a preview of the new Hillsong live album "Mighty to Save", and other tracks by U2, some contemporary christian artistes, Alanis Morissette, Paula Cole, Vertical Horizon, Sarah McLachlan etc.
(if you can't play my .aac format music files, why not try downloading iTunes from apple.com?)