Something only Singaporean males know.

The uniform looks different. The helmet looks lighter.

SCS is new. It was SAFINCOS during my time. Yes, a mouthful.

ORD is new. It was ROD to me.

However, the scenes are familiar except for the SOC (standard obstable course). Looks like it is more fun. OK, I better not say anything else in case someone issues me a challenge to try it.



Maybe, I should go catch the movie.

Related post:
AK71 gets recognition from the government!

Wilmar: Settling dust?

Bollinger bands are very popular in TA. Upper band acts as resistance and lower band acts as support. Look at Wilmar's daily chart, we see that price has pushed past the lower band. This gives us a very bearish picture. Support is weak. It also tells us that the counter is deeply oversold but remember that in very bearish conditions, oversold can stay oversold. It really doesn't say anything else.

Conventional TA tells us that we should buy when price breaks the lower band. This is to take advantage of oversold conditions. The belief is that, eventually, price would return to the lower band and then the middle band. The operative word here is "eventually". When exactly? Your guess is as good as mine, is it not?

Anyone who bought Wilmar's shares three sessions ago as it closed below the lower band at $4.70 would be licking serious wounds as the counter closed at $4.14 in the last session. Selling pressure has been enormous as share price went much lower.

The Lord Buddha said that nothing is permanent. Similarly, buying or selling pressure would come to an end one day. As our resources are limited, we want to buy when the selling pressure has dissipated.

Volume would be a good indicator if the sellers are done. In the last session, although Wilmar's share price closed lower, volume was less than half of the preceding session's which saw a huge gap down in price. A black spinning top was also formed and spinning tops, whatever the color, are usually signs of indecision on Mr. Market's part. Indecision in a downtrend? Doesn't that sound like good news for long holders? However, we should remember that one stick patterns are not very reliable. So, I would take this with a pinch of salt.

If price continues to decline with smaller magnitudes as volume reduces further, it would be a sign that selling pressure is dissipating and that the counter's share price could be looking for a floor, if not the bottom. This is when I would add to my long position. Bear in mind that it does not mean that price has bottomed as we can only call a bottom once it has been formed. Yes, only hindsight can call a bottom and hindsight, apart from being academically attractive, isn't terribly useful.

Dust is very much still in the air here and although it might not be in the same league as Long Men Ke Zhan's sandstorms, visibility is still not good enough for me. I am staying indoors for now.



Related post:
Wilmar: Mr. Market reacts to weaker earnings.

Marvel's The Avengers!

I wanna watch this!

Marvel Studios presents “Marvel’s The Avengers”—the Super Hero team up of a lifetime, featuring iconic Marvel Super Heroes Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow.

When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins.

Starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner and Samuel L. Jackson, and directed by Joss Whedon, “Marvel’s The Avengers” is based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series “The Avengers,” first published in 1963 and a comics institution ever since.

Prepare yourself for an exciting movie, packed with action and spectacular special effects, when “Marvel’s The Avengers” assemble in 1 May 2012!

Check out "Marvel's The Avengers" Official Facebook page and play
Marvel's The Avengers Online Game Slider Puzzle: here.

Tea with AK71: Reel fight to real fight!

I enjoy Chinese period drama. I enjoy Chinese pugilistic movies with good kung fu too. Two actors I particularly like watching in such movies are Donnie Yen and Zhao Wen Zhuo whom I recently found out is called Vincent Chiu.

Donnie Yen

I don't usually follow the entertainment news and I usually skip the "Life" section in The Straits Times. Due to this, I have been said to have no life by some friends and family members. Nice pun.

However, the recent fight between Donnie Yen and Vincent Chiu which apparently has been going on for weeks finally caught my attention. If it gets the attention of AK71, it must be BIG!

Vincent Chiu

I don't know either man personally, of course, and whether it is a clash of egos or if there are some serious and valid grievances, I do not know. You guys go read the reports and decide for yourselves. Apparently, the dispute created flaming in cyberspace that would make the Great Fire of London looked like a harmless campfire.

What caught my attention and created a deep impression was a remark by Vincent Chiu:

"All ten properties I bought at a low price in Beijing are now worth six times more.

"Even if I stop working, I won't have any difficulty getting by," Chiu told the media recently, in response to Yen's announcement that he would take Chiu to court.

Passive income in the form of rental income plus capital appreciation of 500%! Impressive. Vincent Chiu is not just an accomplished martial arts pugilist, he is also a savvy investor.

Read the article: here.

Beauty & the Beast, the 3D experience.

Walt Disney Animation Studios’ magical classic “Beauty and the Beast” returns to the big screen in Disney Digital 3D™, introducing a whole new generation to the Disney classic with stunning new 3D imagery.

The film captures the fantastic journey of Belle (voice of Paige O’Hara), a bright and beautiful young woman who’s taken prisoner by a hideous beast (voice of Robby Benson) in his castle.

Despite her precarious situation, Belle befriends the castle’s enchanted staff—a teapot, a candelabra and a mantel clock, among others—and ultimately learns to see beneath the Beast’s exterior to discover the heart and soul of a prince.

Featuring unforgettable music by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, and an enormously talented vocal ensemble, “Beauty and the Beast” was the first animated feature to receive a Best Picture nomination from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and is also the first animated feature to cross the $100 million plateau in its initial release.

For trailers and more, visit Disney Studios Singapore: here.

A movie: The Iron Lady.

I just watched "The Iron Lady" in which Meryl Streep plays Baroness Margaret Thatcher, the powerful former leader of Great Britain. Meryl Streep's performance was entrancing and she got the accent down pat!

It was a sad movie in the end but it was a sadness with an air of dignity.

Many things that Baroness Margaret Thatcher stood for in the movie resonated with me and I feel that Singaporeans or anyone, for that matter, would benefit from her wisdom.

This left the deepest impression on me:

“What I do think is a man should be encouraged to stand on his own two feet. Yes, we help people. Of course we help people, but for those who can do, they must just get up and do. And if something’s wrong, they shouldn’t just whine about it. They should get in there and do something about it. Change things.”

I have, whenever and wherever appropriate, made comments to the same effect.

When people tell me that they are just average people and that they cannot achieve financial freedom, I tell them to stop being average. Be more than average. Often, we are our worst enemies.




Related posts:
1. Do you want to be richer?
2. Envious? Find our own way.

A movie: John Carter.

From Academy Award®–winning filmmaker Andrew Stanton comes “John Carter” — a sweeping action-adventure set on the mysterious and exotic planet of Barsoom (Mars).

“John Carter” is based on a classic novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs, whose highly imaginative adventures served as inspiration for many filmmakers, both past and present.

The film tells the story of war-weary, former military captain John Carter (Taylor Kitsch), who is inexplicably transported to Mars where he becomes reluctantly embroiled in a conflict of epic proportions amongst the inhabitants of the planet, including Tars Tarkas (Willem Dafoe) and the captivating Princess Dejah Thoris (Lynn Collins).

In a world on the brink of collapse, Carter rediscovers his humanity when he realizes that the survival of Barsoom and its people rests in his hands.

Watch the trailers at Disney Studios Singapore: here.

The Muppets movie!

Jim Henson created the Muppets in the mid-1950s and The Muppet Show ran from 1976-1981.

The Muppets have long been known for their big musical numbers and Disney’s The Muppets movie not only maintains the tradition but also takes it to new levels with original songs, audience favorites and signature classic covers.

This is the first Muppets movie in 12 years and throughout the whole filming process, the Henson family has been on board together with the cast and crew.

Find out more about the movie which will hit the big screen on 8 December:
http://sg.churpchurp.com/AK71SG/share/muppets

Enjoy the movie!

A movie: Real Steel!

When I was at the movies earlier this week, I saw the trailer for "Real Steel". Wow! I am so going to watch this!

This is a story set in the near-future where the sport of boxing has gone high-tech. It stars Hugh Jackman as Charlie Kenton, a washed-up fighter who lost his chance at a title when 2000-pound, 8-foot-tall steel robots took over the ring.

Now nothing but a small-time promoter, Charlie earns just enough money piecing together low-end bots from scrap metal to get from one underground boxing venue to the next. When Charlie hits rock bottom, he reluctantly teams up with his estranged son Max (Dakota Goyo) to build and train a championship contender.

As the stakes in the brutal, no-holds-barred arena are raised, Charlie and Max, against all odds, get one last shot at a comeback.

I like this kind of inspiring stories and with robots thrown in, the little boy in me cannot resist it!

Play the Real Steel game and win movie premiums.
Check it out:
http://sg.churpchurp.com/AK71SG/share/realsteel

A movie: Space Battleship Yamato.

I watched "Space Battleship Yamato" today and thoroughly enjoyed it. It is somewhat different from the anime I watched as a young boy but that's to be expected since the anime spanned tens of episodes and the movie lasted only 131 minutes. Here is the official website of the movie: http://yamato-movie.net/en/movie.html

After watching the movie, I was so full of nostalgia that I decided to search for the anime I watched as a young boy. I found what I was looking for on YouTube and would like to share here with readers who might have the same feelings that I do. You know what, I like the anime more. ;-p

English version (known as "Star Blazers") here:


Japanese version (the original "Space Battleship Yamato") here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDLifAZiRrg&playnext=1&list=PL025131FA84B9B71F

Hint: The Japanese version is better. More authentic. Enjoy. :-)

A movie: Pirates of the Caribbean 4.

I just came across this. When I watched part 3, I was wondering if there would be a part 4. I enjoyed all three parts so far and Johnny Depp is one of the best actors around. He is Captain Jack Sparrow.  I cannot imagine anyone else in the role. Part 4, I will have to watch. Enjoy the trailer:

Tea with AK71: Harry Potter at Bugis.

Day 3 of my vacation. I sent my car in for maintenance and took a bus to watch "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1" at Bugis. I was somewhat apprehensive because I have read some not so good reviews about the movie but I was convinced by a friend that I should watch it for myself to form my own opinion. Being a fan of Harry Potter, it didn't take too much effort to persuade me.

So? I think it is quite good but the pace could have been faster and there should have been more effort to educate viewers on certain background information. Even if someone had watched all the first six instalments, without having read the books, he could have been quite lost in certain parts of the movie. Personally, I read all the books a long time ago and I had to try quite hard to remember certain bits myself. Anyway, I guess I would have to wait for Part 2 now. In the meantime, I might read the books again.

Holographic wanted poster of Sirius Black, Harry's godfather. Cool! This was angled from the left:

This was viewed head on:

This was angled from the right:

 Gallery of Harry Potter movie posters.

 Harry Potter et al flying up the escalators!

Related post:
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I

I read all the books and it was the first attraction I went to when I visited Warner Brothers' "Movie World" in Gold Coast years ago. Spent lots of A$ on Harry Potter merchandise when I was there too.  Barking mad, I was.  Barking mad, I probably still am.  J.K. Rowling made so much money out of this but she deserves it.  I am gonna watch this one, for sure. Brilliant!

Theatrical Trailer @ Yahoo! Video

Official HD Trailer @ Yahoo! Video

A movie: The Last Airbender.

I have watched the animation series and I have played the game on the Nintendo DS.  It's time to watch the movie!

A movie: Inception.

Went to the movies today and at the end of it, I told my friend whom I watched the movie with that it has been a long time since I watched a movie that required some effort to understand. Once I understood the theory which was the backbone of the movie, I enjoyed it.  5 minutes in the real world would yield 60 minutes in the dream world.  So, if we dreamt while we slept for 8 hours, imagine how much time that would give us in the dream world.  The movie I am talking about is "Inception".

It gets weirder.  Dreaming within a dream would give us even more time in a deeper dream world.  A dream within a dream within a dream could give us decades in an even deeper dream world, allowing much more time to do all the things we ever wanted to do.  Of course, these things would be accomplished in our dreams and not in the real world.  That gives a twist to the saying: "In your dreams!", does it not?

This also reminds me of a saying by Zhuang Zi, "Was I a man dreaming that I was a butterfly or was I a butterfly dreaming that I was a man?"

All said, it is nice to have dreams.  Just watch out for the nightmares.

Official website: Inception.

A movie: "The Sorcerer's Apprentice"

Cool! I must try to catch this one:

Tea with AK71: Movie going.

When I was a NSF years and years ago, a common activity in the evenings was to go to Yishun 10 and watch a movie.  In those days, we could buy a stored value card and it was only $5.50 per ticket, effectively.  Then, some criminally minded tech genius found out how to clone the cards and Golden Village stopped the sales of such cards. Pity.

If the camp was not so far away from my home in those days, I might not have gone to the movies so often.  I would have preferred to go home in the evenings, I guess. Since we had to go back to camp by 11.59pm at night, it just didn't make sense for me to make the long commute both ways.

I remember one evening, I went to the cinema and found that I had watched every single movie there was to watch at the time.  Yes, even those which I didn't think I would enjoy, I'd watched. That's how good a customer I was for Golden Village then.  During that time, I got used to watching movies on my own and actually enjoyed it.

I don't go to the movies as often nowadays.  If I do go to the movies, I would go with friends or family. However, I recently watched a movie alone.  That was IP MAN 2.  Watching a movie alone again brought back memories of my NS days. I might watch Shrek 3 alone too.

A movie: Ip Man 2

I watched part 1 and I am definitely watching part 2!  I am a huge fan of Donnie Yen!!!

《葉問2》電影預告 @ Yahoo! Video

A movie: How to train your dragon (Part 2).

LP commented last night that he found this movie very good.  I agree.  He got to watch the 3D version.  I'm envious.  I was going to watch the 3D version but I had discount coupons and they could not be used for the 3D version.  I am so tempted to go back and watch the 3D version.  Watch the movie a second time? Why not?  I remember some of my female (and male) friends watched "Titanic" four or five times!

'Dragon' wings it back to No. 1 with $15 million
'How to Train Your Dragon' wings it back to No. 1 with $15M; 'Back-up Plan' finishes second
David Germain, AP Movie Writer, On Sunday April 25, 2010, 2:27 pm EDT

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- "How to Train Your Dragon" continues to breathe fire at the box office, while newer releases are mostly blowing smoke.

The DreamWorks Animation adventure took in $15 million to reclaim the No. 1 spot in its fifth weekend of release. "How to Train Your Dragon" opened in first place in late March, then dropped back into the pack. But it has held up strongly and climbed to the top again amid a flurry of so-so new releases.

The tale of a Viking youth and his pet dragon raised its total to $178 million and is on its way to becoming a $200 million hit.

Premiering weakly at No. 2 with $12.3 million was Jennifer Lopez's romantic comedy "The Back-up Plan," released by CBS Films. Another comedy, Steve Carell and Tina Fey's "Date Night" from 20th Century Fox, held up well to finish at No. 3 with $10.6 million, raising its total to $63.5 million.

Among the weekend's other newcomers, the Warner Bros. action flick "The Losers" flopped at No. 4 with $9.6 million. Disney's nature film "Oceans" had a solid opening for a documentary, coming in at No. 8 with $6 million.

"How to Train Your Dragon" nearly regained the No. 1 spot the previous weekend but wound up a close second to Lionsgate's superhero comedy "Kick-Ass." In its second weekend, "Kick-Ass" slumped to No. 5 with $9.5 million, down 52 percent from its debut, lifting its total to $34.9 million.

Read complete article here.

Related post:
A movie: How to train your dragon.

A movie: How to train your dragon.

I know this has nothing to do with the stock market but we need to unwind and not think of the stock market all the time, right?

I am sharing this with all my readers:



Uber cool! I must watch this movie!