Message: Happy New Year!

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Movie: Jack Black's Gulliver's Travels

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**I hope you all have had a great Christmas! And many thanks to Celia for your candies, Christmas card and message!**

I have always been a movie fan of Jack Black, guess some of you can recall that. And yes, I am recommending this movie mainly because of him. He is chubby, but he is hilariously talented. If it wasn't him, I doubt that anyone can make a comedy out of this classic fantasy novel.

Image from wikimedia

Written by Anglo-Irish writer Jonathan Swift in 1726, Gulliver's Travels comes in 4 parts,

Image from innerwildtherapy

1. Part I: A Voyage to Lilliput
2. Part II: A Voyage to Brobdingnag
3. Part III: A Voyage to Laputa, Balnibarbi, Luggnagg, Glubbdubdrib, and Japan
4. Part IV: A Voyage to the Country of the Houyhnhnms

Image from sandboxworld

Jack Black's Gulliver's Travels mainly covers the first 2 parts, which he met the citizens of Lilliput and the giants daughter of Brobdingnag (this was unmentioned in the movie).


What's cool about this movie is not only the special effects of merging big people and small people, but also the creativity of merging modern technology such as robots and handhelds, modern spoken English and modern humour into a story that was written 284 years ago. I have to say I really really like this concept, especially at a time when all our children are no longer involved in childhood tales and literature, this movie definitely revives youngsters interest in the original story.

Comparing the special effects of merging miniature people with big people into the same scene, I have to say Ben Stiller's Night at the Museum 1 & 2 did a much better job than this one. Frankly speaking, I was surprised to find that being a good friend of Ben Stiller, Jack Black didn't ask the help from the Night at the Museum production teams. Although Black has on his side director Rob Letterman's experience from Shark Tale (2004) and Monsters VS Aliens (2009), writers Joe Stillman's experience from Shrek (2001) and Shrek 2 (2004), and Nicholas Stroller's experience from comedian king Jim Carrey's Fun with Dick and Jane (2005) and  Yes Man (2008), the only person who has worked in Night at the Museum 1 & 2 is associate film editor Dean Zimmerman.  Well, I think Black will need more help if he were to make a sequel.

Image from filmofilia

This movie has not been rated highly worldwide, but I suggest you go and watch it. And when you do, bear in mind that this is Christmas and New Year, and you should remind yourself that you want to watch something happy and yet intelligent, funny but not stupid. Jack Black's Gulliver's Travels is not a film anyone should use logic to judge, because it is a children's story, a fantasy novel. Don't try to make sense out of it, because it won't. The movie is there for relaxation and laughs, so just expect to have fun!

I have included a trailer here, but I suggest you not to watch it until you have seen the movie, because it will definitely spoil the surprises in the movie.

Lastly, found a funny, violent, above-18 movie clip of my favourite movie Tropic Thunder while researching for this entry, and here it is!

Jack Black, Ben Stiller & Robert Downey, Jr. at 2008 MTV Movie Awards from Robert Downey Jr

Vocabulary:
miniature -- (adj) [before noun]

describes something which is a very small copy of an object

sequel --  [C]

•

a book, film or play which continues the story of a previous book, etc.

Resources:

Movie: Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian @ Locky's English Playground

http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2009/06/movie-night-at-museum-battle-of.html

Joe Stillman @ IMDb

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0830294/

Nicholas Stroller @IMDb

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0831557/

Rob Letterman @IMDb

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1224299/

Dean Zimmerman
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0956693/

Gullivers Travels - 2010 Jack Black Movie Trailer [HD] [DoS Movies] @ YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNPMHHpU6pk

Movie: Tropic Thunder (For Advanced level) @ Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2009/03/movie-tropic-thunder-for-advanced-level.html

http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/miniature_1
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/sequel

Message: Counting Down to 2011

Image from Art of Suszi.

Image from thestar.com.my

Totally, completely, absolutely NOT in the mood to work. Wondering why there are 4 days between Christmas holidays and the New Year holidays. It is really like a joke for the companies, because the employees are definitely not productive yet should be paid, the clients are on holidays or on "holiday mode", plus water, electricity bills, etc. Yeah, sounds like I have lots of complaints, but really, by the time I return to the classroom tonight, all my complaints will disappear because I am doing what I love to do.

For me, teaching is fun and meaningful, exciting and enjoyable. It is not easy to be able to do what you like to do, let alone love to do.

Image from 98fm.com

2011 is the best time for changing jobs if you have had thought about it. Since the salary scale is on the rise, the economic situation is getting better and companies are rehiring after the financial tsunami, so if you do not like your working environment, it is time to look around and get your CVs ready to hop to a new job.

Image from acetheinterview.com

When I can finally pick up my concentration again, I will continue to teach you how to write a great CV and then a Cover Letter.

Image from 98fm.com

If you need to learn that fast, you can leave me comments to push me a bit.

Message: Merry Christmas to All Readers!

Image from Widgets Lab

Technology: Google Chrome with Google Dictionary, Ad Blockers & RSS

I must say I never like Internet Explorer. Actually, have I mentioned this before? Sorry, I think I am having a little déjà vu here. Oh yeah, I did say that! In the article, News & Technology: Google puts a big bet on Chrome.

Anyway, I think there is something missing from my blog, and that may be an instant dictionary at your double-click. I have been trying to import Cambridge Dictionary but they haven't got a script suitable for this Google Blogger web, so I am recommending something else.

First of all, you need Google Chrome web browser. I say this is the fastest browser in the world. Highly simple and small in size.

Image from Google

After installing Chrome, you can then go to Google Chrome Extension to download the Ad Blockers you like.  I personally use this Webmail Ad Blocker because I hate to see the ads while I am checking emails.

Lastly, you can download the Google Dictionary, and the meaning you want will pop up in a small bubble.

Image from Google

The only thing that is missing is the IPA, and I do hope that some time later IPA will be added, or that Cambridge Dictionary will create a Chrome extension.

Now you can read my blog even faster and learn even better!

Once more extension to add is the RSS Subscription Extension (by Google), then once there is an entry update, the RSS will automatically come to give you a reminder and you'll be able to read what I write with a click away!

Image from Google

Don't wait, download them now!!! Hope you like my Christmas presents for you!

Vocabulary:
déjà vu -- (n) [U] the strange feeling that in some way you have experienced already what is happening now


Resources:
Déjà vu @ Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%C3%A9j%C3%A0_vu

News & Technology: Google puts a big bet on Chrome
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2010/12/news-technology-google-puts-big-bet-on.html

Google Chrome
http://www.google.com/chrome

Webmail Ad Blocker
https://chrome.google.com/extensions/detail/cbhfdchmklhpcngcgjmpdbjakdggkkjp?hl=en

Google Dictionary
https://chrome.google.com/extensions/detail/mgijmajocgfcbeboacabfgobmjgjcoja?hl=en

RSS Subscription Extension (by Google)
https://chrome.google.com/extensions/detail/nlbjncdgjeocebhnmkbbbdekmmmcbfjd

Writing: How to Write A Christmas Card?

Image from  christmastextmessages.blogspot.com

By now, you should be getting some Christmas cards from clients you have worked with. Most of these cards come with greeting by default. "Seasons Greetings", "Christmas Greetings", "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year". If you want to reply them with a Christmas card by mail, just get anyone card and sign your name and the company name, slide it into the envelope, stick the stamp and then send it out.

Boring, but this is what people do.

Image from MySpace Christmas Comments

You may want to add one or two sentences by saying, "It has been a pleasure to work with your company" or "Wish your company continue to thrive!"

But can we be more creative then that?

No one said there has to be rules for the Christmas. I like to send e-cards with meaningful messages, most animated and more environmental friendly. If you like it, you can keep it; if you don't, you can delete it, no pollution, no tree dies.

Image from WWF Hong Kong

Image from WWF Hong Kong

Image from WWF Hong Kong

Here are some great websites with meaningful e-cards:

http://www.wwf.org.hk/en/reslib/ecard/

http://wwf.worldwildlife.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Inspirational_Ecards

http://www.care2.com/send/categories/World_Wildlife_Fund