Is this young Remy LeBeau, the Ragin’ Cajun? [[image:weaponx01.jpg:Gambit:center:0]] Is this a young Victor Creed? [[image:weaponx02.jpg:Sabretooth:center:0]] Is this a young Fred Dukes? [[image:weaponx03.jpg:Blob:center:0]] Is this a young pre-cancer scarred Wade Wilson? [[image:weaponx04.jpg:Deadpool:center:0]] Is this a teenaged diamond-skinned Emma Frost? [[image:weaponx05.jpg:White Queen:center:0]] Is this a very young Ororo Munroe? [[image:weaponx06.jpg:Storm:center:0]] and finally, bringing it all together in his new movie out next May, is this a young, pre-Logan, pre-adamantium skeleton James Howlett himself? [[image:weaponx07.jpg:Weapon X:center:0]] Snikt.
Continue readingAuthor Archive: hisham
Diedrich Bader Takes Over The Cowl
There is a new Batman animated series in town, and since I’m still not back from lunch and I agree with every word written by Shane about it, I’ll just hand over the microphone to him: [[image:braveandthebold01.jpg:Ollie and Bruce:right:0]]Sherman, set the wayback machine to circa 1985, and a 4 year old Shane is taken to a local department store. Now, it’s lost to the ages, but he must have been aware of Batman via The Superfriends, or the deal Shell had with giving away DC Superhero figures with a fill up (I think I had 2 of everyone). But this fateful day, Shane got his very first Batman comic. It was complimentary that day, and involved 2 stories I can barely remember. One had him facing a fake Wayne Manor, full of androids created by Hugo Strange. The other was the one that sticks more in my mind. Simple grunt […]
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Psst, Computer. Define Dancing.
Dancing: A series of movements… … involving two partners … … where speed and rhythm … … match harmoniously … … with music.
Continue readingWhere Do These T-888 Infiltrators Go To Eat?
These different models of Tee-Triple Eight infiltrators below: they’re a different series of endoskeletons from the T-800 and the T-850 (model 101) from the Terminator movies. [[image:t-888_01.jpg:Bunch of Metals:center:0]] I might have found the exact place where they all go to eat out. [[image:t-888_02.jpg::center:0]] … which is right around the corner in Pandan Cahaya.
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Figuring Out the Y-wing
The third episode of The Clone Wars animated series prominently features the Y-wing fighter defending the Kaliida Shoals Med-Centre. Specifically the Koensayr BTL-B Y-wing fighter, in its intended role as a fighter/bomber. The BTL-B looks much different from the single-seater BTL-A4 variant we saw in the movies. The most distinct feature is that it has full fairings installed, as per the following concept illustration (originally found here): Here’s another angle of the BTL-B. Another feature is the rear gunner’s turret with the bubble canopy. These were originally designed for he original Y-wing designs by Colin Cantwell in A New Hope, but were left out. You can also see that the fairings totally cover the Koensayr R-200 “Ion Jet” engines, even the thrust-controlling vectral frames at the back. Compare it with the BTL-A4 twenty years later in Massassi Base on Yavin 4, below. They’re no longer new and shiny, though they […]
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Escaping the Death Star using Dice
Once upon a time, Sila brought back with her a Star Wars: Escape the Death Star Action Figure Game, which is actually a board game with two sets of rules (an easy and an advanced rule) as well as two Hasbro action figures, a Luke Skywalker in stormtrooper disguise with removable helmet and lightsaber, and a Darth Vader figure with removable helmet (complete with exposed back of head) and lightsaber. It must have been ten years since, and I’ve never actually played it until recently. Because Irfan wanted to try it out. However, I realised that the easy rules were too easy and straightforward, and the advanced rules were too complicated for Irfan. So the gamemaster in my blood took over, and I not only modified the rules so that the difficulty level of the rules are something in between and it’s something Irfan can play and enjoy. Also, I […]
Continue readingSomeone Played With Scissors
So some kid, who lives in this house, who goes to kindergarten found some scissors at school. Then he decided he’d do a little experimenting with the scissors. On his hair. Below is the result of said experiment, which left parents of said kid shaking their heads. [[image:irfan-hair01.jpg::center:0]] This of course led to the barber’s to get everything about the same length, then hope they all grow at about the same rate. [[image:irfan-hair02.jpg::center:0]] That night, when he called his Atok to tell him about his new military do, he spin-doctored it masterfully all on his own, telling Atok that now their hairstyles were the same. Which meant they were one and the same now. [[image:irfan-hair03.jpg::center:0]] I have no idea what the guy sneering on the TV screen is supposed to be doing.
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Classic Conversation
When Shane and I start chatting, we mostly chat geeky. But sometimes it goes way up to epic. It’s about time I blogged about my usual chats with Shane This didn’t really escalate to epic level, but it’s a taste of how our conversations usually go: Hisham: Hey… what would have happened if there were no clouds at night in Gotham City? And Gordon needed to shine the batsignal? Shane: Wouldn’t it hit the atmosphere anyways? Hisham: Still needs something flat for it to project onto. Shane: Good thing Gotham is a dark, fictional city Hisham: With a flat, fictional piece of plexiglass across the sky. Shane: POLLUTION! HA! There! Axis Chemicals has been pumpin shit into the atmosphere for decades Hisham: Well, never let it be said pollution was good for nothing. Shane: This is classic Shane/Hisham convo right here. That last line? Amen. Note: Edited for clarity.
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Bridge Crew of the NCC-1701
….”No bloody -A, -B, -C or -D.” Paramount has been releasing a number of images from the new Star Trek movie, directed by J.J. Abrams the past 24 hours or so. The shooting of the movie has been kept top secret that production photos from it has been scant. This new batch of pictures have now circulated to half a dozen different sites on my RSS watch list and forums. The first I read of it was here, at AICN. Here are two photos from the deluge: Above: “I have a hunger, Jim. I want what’s inside your brain.” Tick-tock. Tick-tock. Tick-tock. Above: “Jim, I’m a doctor… not a Rohirrim. And why do I smell weed coming from Sulu?” I’m not much of a Trekkie since Deep Space Nice ended, but my interest is piqued because the movie will be directed by J.J. Abrams, creator of Lost and Fringe – […]
Continue readingIrfan’s Parents: Year Eight Together
Twelve years ago Ain & I met. Four years later, we got married. Strangely enough this year we remembered our anniversary. As opposed to being reminded by Atok Irfan when he wishes us happy anniversary at night. Happy eighth anniversary, Ain. May we still have each other’s backs and make each other laugh for as long as we live. (And maybe some time after as well) Earlier tonight we celebrated with a dinner outside, compliments of Emma: [[image:anniversary2008_00.jpg:Shane… it’s your T-shirt!:center:0]] [[image:anniversary2008_01.jpg:This time we have Irfan in between:center:0]] [[image:anniversary2008_02.jpg:Are these guys twins or what?:center:0]] [[image:anniversary2008_03.jpg:Gesturing for some reason at the camera:center:0]] Now it’s back to getting Irfan to do his homework…
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A Time of Reunion 2: The Sequel
Last year, we had a gathering up here at the Tenth Floor. This year we found some time to coordinate another, but this time it was after Aidilfitri. So it doubled as an Aidilfitri open house, although theoretically it was not. Starting from 1900 hours the roster started to fill, starting with Kok Soon, then Yu Hoe, Samsul, Laksh, Anson and finally Mei Lin. Last minute cancellations included Kanesh, Sathya and Ah Bau. Ain (aided by Cik Emma and Ciksu F) made rendang for lemang, kuah kacang for nasi himpit and a whole pot full of bihun goreng with tomyam paste. Our support troops, Kok Soon brought a bucket full of chicken and Mei brought dessert. Our just desserts. Will there be more photos next year? Stay tuned to find out… well, next year.
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Manjung District Scout House
Being in the 1st Troop Manjung of the Scouts was great. Some memorable experiences while there. A bunch of us sometimes went down to the district Scout House on Fridays to see if one of the other schools had a camping excursion there. Then we’d sign up to be the camp ground guardians, keeping watch on the campsite all weekend as the kids as they and their respective Scoutmasters went about their work. Last week I went for a quick drive into Kampung Sitiawan where the old Scout House stood, and was saddened by the fact that it stood no more. The camp warden’s house was totally gone. Even the “haunted” trees with the unknown talismans tied to them surrounding the camp ground behind the scout house had been long uprooted. I wonder where the district Scout Troops are based now. Below are photos of the Scout House from behind […]
Continue readingEid Mubarak From Ipoh
[[image:aidilfitri-ipoh.jpg:Greetings from Rapat Setia Baru:center:0]] It’s been already 30 days into Ramadhan and beyond? It’s already Eid-ul-Fitr? How time flies. Greetings from Irfan’s Opah Cu’s home in Ipoh from our family to all three* of you regularly reading this blog. *This number might or might not fluctuate according to the phases of the moon.
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Oh, Snap!
My old Boba Fett figure and Irfan’s new Hulk figure act out the final fate of the galaxy’s most feared bounty hunter.
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Teaching Kids to Roleplay is Only Natural
I have been GMing some very simple scenarios with Irfan. Mostly it’s been dungeon crawls through caves with traps and obstacles, trying to find his way out. Today I read this article from Geekdad written by Daniel Donaho, which has some ideas in how to make things more interesting when playing with children. Here’s an excerpt: The Early Years (4 – 7 years) Is four-years-old too young to play an RPG? Not if you have a couple of older children (say 6 or 7) play with. Of course, if you want children to abide by all the rules exactly and have a detailed knowledge of movement and encumbrance rates and initiative then you are setting yourself and the kids up for failure and a pretty uninspiring time. The focus at this age should be on the “role-playing”, rather than “roll-playing”. You need a game that will take anywhere from 20 […]
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Six Years Old Today
It’s September 21st again and once more it’s time for Irfan’s birthday. Wearing his Iron Man t-shirt a gift from Ayah Cik, he greeted the arrival of his cousin Aiman (as well as Aiman’s parents) with whom he immediately shared his cache of toys. Aiman was overwhelmed by the amount of Hot Wheels collected by Irfan over the years, which Ain had recently kept in a single plastic container. While the kids were playing at (and making a mess of) the living room, Ain was busy in the kitchen producing food, food and more food. Above: Atok and Opah Irfan weren’t able to come (’cause I wrecked their car) but, they’ve prepared in advance with this awesome Spider-Man birthday card. Above: Aiman claps his hand – mostly because of other people prompting him by clapping their hands. Above: Nasi ayam Chinese-style a recipe taught to Ain by Opah Irfan is […]
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