The Crime Lab

The Crime Lab is now relocated to>>>>>

http://vividcrimson.blogspot.com/

It’s been a nice two years or so, but now I have moved on. (Sheesh… sounds like someone died or something… :-P)

Please come and have a look around!

Hi. In case you are wondering, from the lack of activity here, I’m still alive. *checks pulse* Yep. Confirmed. Not dead yet. ;-D

Wonder how long it has been since I last updated here? Ah well…

So, what’s been happening? We’ve had our first Saturday replacement school day two weeks ago for the Raya break and tomorrow is the second one. The first half of the day will be dedicated to yet another gotong-royong, where I am among the lucky few who get to spend a day in the supposedly haunted SPBT room (or so Mr Kwok says…), arranging books. But it’s broad daylight, so not much to worry about. Good grief… why am I worrying about ghosts, anyway?

*Ahem…*

Not only that, I don’t get to sleep late this entire weekend. I have volunteered along with a couple other friends to help around for the SPCA camp this Sunday. It’s for kids 10-12… but having only gone once when I was 12, and wanting missing the company of our fellow dogs and cats, I now get to go again! For free! Don’t bother preaching on the ethics behind that cos’ I’m gonna ignore ya’… ;-P

Mid-year exams have come and gone. I’ve done quite better than I ever imagined I would . But of course, now the pressure is doubled to mantain the good results. You think getting 100 in Geografi is such a good thing? Now the teacher bombards me with questions and expects me to know the answers for everything… and it’s so darn embarassing when I don’t… For anyone’s future reference, Kapit is known as the ‘Pelabuhan Sungai’ and never ask me to draw a liku terpenggal.

Oh, and we’ve had two Canadian trainee teachers studying in Australia come and visit our school for two weeks. Both hung around during our art class and one of them took over our P.J classes. THANK YOU, Ms Lisa! For the first time this year, we’ve had a real PJ class instead of having it axed for KH. Now you know we 3B’s are as unfit as -insert suitable noun here-.

Now, something on the ‘not-so-light’ mood… this year’s teacher’s day, was probably one if the most memorable ones ever. To make a long story short, we made a teacher mad and we sang an apology song to her which she said was ‘the most touching speech she has ever heard’ and now her lessons are quite a lot more fun. Thank goodness she hasn’t heard Welcome to the Black Parade before, as that was the song tune we used. She might have been insulted… hahaha. After we sang, she talked to us and half the class got teary-eyed. (come on! be a man and admit it! you lot cried! just like me!) *laughs* woah… this is like therapy. But seriously, that was one teacher’s day I’m not likely to forget. Thanks ya’ll, for being there. You know who you are.
‘When you think the world has turned it’s back on you, turn around… most likely you have turned your back against the world…’

Ok. My maths homework is being blissfully ignored. And I have to go to Youth Park at 3pm tomorrow for the volunteers’ briefing. Better go.

‘My Wish’, by Rascal Flatts. Really good song. We don’t have enough of this kind of sincerity in the world. Too much kiasuism, selfishness and bitterness…
But what was that saying? "I am one, but I am still one. I can’t do everything, but I can still do something…"

"My Wish"

I hope that the days come easy and the moments pass slow,
And each road leads you where you want to go,
And if you’re faced with a choice, and you have to choose,
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you.
And if one door opens to another door closed,
I hope you keep on walkin’ till you find the window,
If it’s cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile,

This is my wish
I hope you know somebody loves you
May all your dreams stay big

Yeah, this is my wish.
_________________________________
Danny: So you’re saying this guy was caught in a bear trap?
Adam: Yep.
Danny: …. You’re crazy.

It all started with a class discussion approximately less
than a month ago, what will we sell for Canteen Day? Suggestions like ‘Song
Dedication Booth’, Jumble Sale and Fried Stuff (you know, those that taste so
good, but are so bad for you…) were quickly brought up and shot down one by one
for some reason or other.

 Then, there was the territorial war over floats and
ice-cream, against another class. We lost.

 Then, just when we thought we were doomed to be the only
class without anything to sell, one mind sparked with a sudden idea. Bookmarks.
Celebrity bookmarks. Who wouldn’t be interested in marking their places in
their books with a picture of their favourite bands, TV shows, etc. etc.?

Little did she know, that ‘bright idea’ was the beginning of
one of the biggest, most troublesome, mentally and physically challenging
activities in one’s school life. That ‘mind’ belongs to me. Who knew one could
learn so much through this… this is my take on the experience.

 Call it greedy, call it crazy, call it overdoing it. Call it
whatever you want. That did not stop our class from planning to sell burgers
and hotdogs, sweets and pancakes for Canteen Day. 

 I have to admit, I was quite enthused about the whole
project at the start. Quickly, I set to work, splitting classmates according to
their respective tasks as well as determining what kinds of bookmarks we will
be selling. The name list filled up after much discussion with the class on
what they wanted to do. Things were going well. Things were going to go well. I
had the wonderful vision of smoothly selling our merchandise in my head. The
keyword is of course, ‘smoothly’…

Back home, I made up the order list for the bookmarks. Days
and days of tedious orders collecting soon followed. We were soon loaded with
over 500 orders. Now the enthusiasm that filled me barely a week ago was slowly
fading. It got dimmer and dimmer as much of our free time was spent playing
around in Adobe Photoshop, designing the bookmarks. (I knew there was a reason
why I joined that computer design class last year! Thank goodness for that!)

Day after day, production was going at a steady, but slow
pace. Many of Pn Pargash’s lessons were stolen from her in order to discuss
what ingredients were needed for the burgers, hot dogs and pancakes. Sponsors
were found soon enough. Money soon became a pressing issue on our minds. My
stomach gave an uncomfortable lurch every time I printed page after page of
full colour bookmarks, with original computer ink. (I see a RM50 note sprouting
wings and flying away every time I change cartridges…) Pancakes were cancelled,
we again lost the territorial war against another class… yeesh… gotta be faster
next time.

Canteen Day drew nearer and nearer… bookmarks were becoming
more and more a part of our lives. With only about 5 people designing and also
5 printing, and one poor girl laminating each and everyone of the bookmarks,
time was no longer on our side. Other school tasks especially homework was
pushed to the back burner, an ever increasing pile of books.

The last couple of days were the worst. Many of us were
pushing overtime… working on the bookmarks into the night. Many among us come
to school the next day with only five hours of sleep the night before. To be
honest, having so little sleep and so much about the bookmarks on my mind for
the past few nights, I began wondering… We’re not directly getting anything
from this, (ok, sure, better toilets will be nice, but can that really make up
for all the studying time we lost? All the homework we haven’t done? All the
money we are contributing?)… was all this slogging really worth it?

The answer is yes. Canteen Day went on this morning. I would
like to say the bookmarks sales went perfectly great, that all the work paid
off, but sadly, no. Sure, we collected a lot of profits, the 150 High School
Musical bookmarks produced for the primary kids disappeared before you can even
reach the chorus of ‘Breaking Free’…

But it can’t all be perfect… there are plenty of mess ups in
orders here and there that we are still trying to clear up… hopefully it’ll all
be done by the weekend. I’m proud to say we have made profits up to over
RM2000, maybe the highest in the school, but I can’t be sure.

So, I would just like to say a big THANK YOU to the whole 3
Biru class for willingly doing your part:

The sweets team; I think your sales went the smoothest. I
salute you.

Esther; for the laminating machine, it took care of a lot of
problems and expenses.

Tricia; for your expert laminating cutting. (Honestly, she
was like a super-efficient robot)

Every single one of you who helped out in cutting, tying and
gluing the bookmarks. There’s so many I can’t write your names… you know who
you are. Without you, those 600 over bookmarks would never have been finished.

The gang that delivered the bookmarks and took orders,
thanks for being so willing to walk all over the school, for both the morning
and afternoon sessions. (Min Yan, Sharvin, Ash and Sheema especially.)

All those who helped to print the bookmarks. Julia, Nadzira,
Hui Lynn, Phaik Chern, Amanda…

All those who designed the bookmarks… Jo, Hui Lynn, Amanda,
Sheema… wonderful designs! (whoever doesn’t say so, I give you permission to
shove the bookmarks down their throats… hahaha… only kidding.)

The research team, Jess and Maria, thanks for flooding my
inbox with so many facts and pictures…

All those in the first shifts today. You did a good job
preparing things so fast, especially the burgers.

All those in the second shift. Very valiant efforts in
trying to get rid of whatever we had left.

All those who sponsored the ingredients needed… well, that’s
everyone actually. Haha…

 Now you see why it was worth it? Nevermind the improved
toilets, there are many valuable things I learnt from this.

One: You can’t please everybody. You can spend the whole
night trying to make a nice bookmark design and someone will still think it’s
ugly. Life is going to be full of times like that. Take all opinions, good or
bad, so you can appreciate what you’ve done, or improve it.

Two: This whole thing was a team effort. No one could have
done much standing alone, but as a team, 3 Biru, we’ve really done a great job.
I have realized from this what good friend you all are. Thanks for all the
support.

Three: Dafi from Akademi Fantasia, Jojo and Rain rule to the
school. Not CSI. I gotta learn to deal with that fact. Hahahahahahaa….

 Once again, THANKS, ya’ll. It’s been fun.

 Tomorrow will be another day of trying to get rid of the
bookmarks we have left over. Brace yer’selves…

 I’m off to watch Heroes now. Bye-bye!

Good song… by Marc Cohen. Thought I’ll share the lyrics with you all…

How many roads you’ve traveled
How many dreams you’ve chased
Across sand and sky and gravel
Looking for one safe place

Have a good week!

After by-passing the event last year, our CGL Canteen Day is back with a vengence.

There will be pancakes, burgers, hot dogs and bookmarks sold on that day…

And ALL that is coming from ONE CLASS!

Talk about overkill… how we got stuck with selling so many things is beyond me… Burgers and hot dogs are less of a burden (physically, but it’s killing our pockets…) as Pak Cik Din will be making them for us. All we have to do is, in the Hokkien term, choot lui (provide the money… but literally translated, it is ‘out money’ hahahah…). Pancakes will be made by a small group of well, the better cooks in the class. Again, the rest of us choot lui.

Ah, the bookmarks… it was a brilliant idea at first, still is, as a matter of fact… but when one starts to dream about printer ink spilling all over the place, ribbons strangling one’s neck, and being laminated, one tends to become concern over one’s mental health…

Our bookmarks aren’t just ordinary bookmarks. They’re bookmarks with movies, celebrities, TV shows and song lyrics of your choice. Coloured ink, nicely laminated, hefty research and pretty pictures all rolled into a 5cm by 14cm piece of paper. All for RM2… I’ll say that’s one heck of a good deal.

And no, it’s not all entertainment… we’re selling bookmarks with witty quotes, famous quotes and wisdom quotes on them too…

We are now completely immersed to the neck with bookmark orders… too bad all the money that reaches our hands aren’t directly going into our pockets… with all this work, I suddenly realize how much we actually care for the school. C’mon! Admit it… We all wouldn’t be working so hard on this if we didn’t want to help CGL, right?
*grins innocently*

Here’s hoping we make it past Canteen Day alive… and the nightmares of re-sized pictures of Hugh Laurie and Rain along with burgers and pancakes chasing us in circles will stop once Canteen Day is over.

Here’s a review on yesterday’s CSI NY Season Three Premier episode. I’m gonna try and write a review for every episode that follows. (Except if I’m super busy, or if my muse has abandoned me like it so often does…)

What a better way to start of a brand new season than bungee-jumping sex off the Brooklyn Bridge? Do people actually do these things?? Completely devoid of all clothing except the bungee jumping straps down a public bridge? And I wonder how the heck they got down, seeing that it was only the two of them dangling over water…

Nevermind that, the case wasn’t about them. It’s about Sam McFarland, who died just as he was about to propose to the girl of his dreams, who’s pregnant with his child by the way. Sam’s a rich guy, he owns the building opposite the bridge, so he gets the building lights on to spell "MARRY ME". However, Sam ain’t all that faithful. He was at the same time hooking up with Erica Lanchester. His initial plan was to dump Erica and marry the pregnant woman, Dori. Erica’s father however, is of course angry about that, hence, he killed Sam by stabbing a broken Statue of Liberty key chain into his gut.

Meanwhile, Case B also involves rich people. (hence the episode name…)Young socialite, Venessa May was beaten brutally to death. We are taken to the world of tequila, drugs, body guards, and well… pillow fights, which was the eventual cause of death. Pfft… Being ultimately jealous of her supposed best friend, Margo Demming challenges her to a pillow fight which got out of hand, literally. And both their body guards were in the room, cheering them on.

The cases were riveting in each of their own way, but not the best. Case A was predictable at best, naturally a father who loves his daughter will do his best to protect her. Case B reminds me a lot of Pink’s song, ‘Stupid Girl’.

One interestng character development in this new season is Mac’s newfound relationship with British M.E, Peyton Driscoll. Barely 2 minutes into the episode, we are treated to a fluffy ‘in-the-bed’ moment which is so unlike Mr. Cool Cucumber, Mac Taylor. Many people will take some time to get used to seeing the usual wise Mac Taylor dropping romantic kisses on Peyton every so often. The relationship would do Mac some good, seeing that he never actually gotten over loosing his wife in Sept. 11. Perhaps we’ll see a much loosened up Mac in future episodes.

Everyone else remains pretty much the same as they were. Flack has made a full recovery, despite having his ‘inwards blown outwards’ in the Season Two finale. Stella is brilliant and wise as usual, maintaining her ways as Mac’s true second-in-command. There isn’t much I can say for Hawkes, except he shouldn’t have shaved off his goatee… We’ll see more of him in future episodes. Lindsay is warming up to her role well and is no longer the ‘new kid’ in the lab. In fact, she’s arguing her cases with extra zest which came off as a wee bit annoying yesterday when she kept on insisting she had the right suspect regardless of what Mac and Stella said. At least she was a little more likeable during the ‘tie’ experiment. Her bright, enthusiastic demeneor couldn’t help but put a smile on my face.

I would have to say the best of all was Danny Messer (And NO, I am not being bias!). He returns to Season Three completely refreshed. I love it when he interrogates suspects. He practically radiates energy when he’s talking, making smart and fast remarks that you can’t help but grin widely over. There is not a single boring moment when he’s on screen. (Once again, NO, I am not being bias…)

Thankfully Dr. Sid Hammerback is still getting his rightful screen time eventhough Peyton has been added to the M.E list. Easily the best quote of the episode was when he was talking about embalming Egyptian dead bodies with Hawkes. The half-scared, half-fascinated look on Hawkes face was hilarious. There was also a new detective on board, Det. Angell, who is a splitting image of deceased CSI, Aiden Burn (intentional casting perhaps?). We’ll see if they keep her around for further episodes. All in all, entertaining episode but hopefully next week will be better.

Ok, I better stop now and get back to bookmark making… Bookmarks, you ask? I’ll tell you all about it when I have the time.

It was that time of year again… Sports Day.

I suppose it’s some kind of unofficial fact that as one grows older, one becomes more and more involved in school activities… Sports Day is no exception. Form One, I was merely a spectator, cheering on my house to win. Form Two, I got to take part in one event, but the outcome of that is just too painful to bring up again, so I won’t…

No question, this year’s Sports Day was much more fun… (using the word ‘fun’ very loosely…)

I took part in the Blue House March Past. We had really nice T-shirts, beautifully designed banners, blue ribbons sewed down our track pants, bright blue ribbons tied to our right arms and blue cloth tied around our heads (recycled cloth from our banners by the way…), the latter two successfully cut off all blood circulation to our arms and heads. Not to mention, we were probably the most hardworking house, having the most march past rehersals despite the cruel hot round mass of gas you call the Sun, having arrived in school at 6.35am to get ready on Sports Day, having screamed the march past chant at the top of our voices.

That said, we didn’t win. Oh well… congrats to Red House for winning and a big shout out to our hard-working commanders, Beng Yen, Malisa and Yee Tang. Sorry we couldn’t reward you for your efforts… maybe next year, eh? ;-D

Another thing I took part in was the Aerobics performance, as I’m sure everybody knows by now… Everyone from 3B and 3H had to take part in this pom-pom waving show with the whole school watching. Laugh all you want! It’s not every day you get to mutate rafia string into big puffy monsters that are as itchy as hell when they brush against your legs! It’s a once in a lifetime oppurtunity I tell you!

I have to admit, Pn Yon picked a really apt song… the lyrics go ‘Hey… what’s going on?’ which is the question on everyone’s mind whenever we mess up a move… there were two songs actually… The second song went something like this, ‘I need a superhero lover, aayyeaaaoohh..’ Only on the day before Sports Day did I finally realize that the singer was singing in English, and not Japanese… go figure…

It was actually quite hectic as the aerobics performance was right after the march past… so the moment Beng Yen yelled, "Skuad, keluar baris!" We made a mad dash for our bags to get out school T-shirts. We took as long as an F1 pit stop to change clothes and rip off our marching decorations, grabbed our pom-poms and dashed halfway across the field to get to the aerobics line…

But after that, things settled down a lot. We just cheered ourselves hoarse as usual, then did the final march past, and sat in the middle of the hot field for prize giving ceremony as usual, and went home.

I dunno ’bout everyone else, but I felt this year’s Sports Day went by a lot faster than the past two years. Fortunately, it wasn’t all that hot during the awards ceremony, which had been well known to cause severe sun burn, or cause people like Chen Ni to turn a brilliant red like a lobster, as Pn Pramot once fondly put it… No, this year was much better. Blue House went up a spot to 2nd and Yellow claimed 1st place yet again. Green was 3rd and Red was last.

So, one annual school event down, plenty more to go… bring it on.

Oh, and count down! 8 more days til’ the premier of CSI NY Season Three on AXN. Yayness!

Danny: He was screwed to death…
Flack: 6.5, Messer… a little sloppy on the landing…

I can’t make the animated icons cos’ I don’t have the videos in the right format. Bah…

So I spent my afternoon making this instead. Hope you like it! Oh, and raise your hands, who thinks my obsession is incurable to the point that Tanjung Rambutan wants to enrol me as their best pupil? *counts raised hands* Yep. That confirms it once and for all. xD

CSI:NY icons! Made them myself! Take them if you like, but please credit. Good for internet forums (if you don’t know how to post them on, just let me know…). I’m working on Animated Icons now… we’ll see how that one turns out… :-b

Hope the quality’s good. I’ve already experimented with them, and they work fine. I’ll make more soon. Much easier and faster to make than wallpapers, since this is so darn small… hehehe…

And some recent quotes that are quite hilarious…
Mac: Come on, how many times do you get to set your boss on fire?
Danny: Alright… but if you go up in flames, I get your office…

and

Stella: They say burning is the most painful of deaths.
Danny: I love it. How do they know? What did they do, take a poll? 64% of dead people surveyed…
         

Ok! Off to tuition now…