Them Manic Mondays!

Ever had one of those days when that darn Bangles tune keep playing in ya head? Am definately having one today! The only damn thing in my totally blank brain since i woke up today is that damn song on repeat.

After a long and lazy weekend, totally not in the mood to work. Must have banged me head against the bed or something during me sleep. I am mentally and physically drained after a whole fooking month of non-stop work and long weekends in the office.

Also to make time pass by that lil' bit quicker, i've added in the official Dilbert comic strip widget. So use it! Maybe some of you guys might want to add it to your blog so, click on it and hit the grab it tab.

Boy do i hate mondays! This is JonC signing off.

Mondays are not part of the productive work week. - Dogbert's Theory of Mondays, from Dilbert

Bloggin' live from marathon 6 hours k-ok session!

After 3 weeks of constant work and headache with the email & system migration along with changing of seating arrangement (hence the IT fall guy - i.e. me had to repatch half the fooking data and voice ports), its time to unwind. The choice to release my frustration and stress is the ear splitting 6 hours marathon k-ok session in GreenBox in Bkt Tinggi, Klang with me colleagues.

Came straight after work, along with me Dell laptop. Thank goodness for WiFi in this place. ;0) Hence, i'm able to update me long neglected blog live from GreenBox. Muahahahahaha! I love technology. Check out the pic above, me thinks is a perfect illustration of what i am doing now.

Got to sign off before me mates drown me in beer for fooking around with me lappie when i'm suppose to be singin' me lungs out. See ya!

-JonC-

In Memoriam: 15th April 1989, Hillborough - Never Forgive, Never Forget

To my fellow 96 brothers and sisters in red who never returned from that faithful match. R.I.P

You'll Never Walk Alone & Justice For The 96:

John Alfred Anderson (62)
Thomas Howard (39)
Colin Mark Ashcroft (19)
Thomas Anthony Howard (14)
James Gary Aspinall (18)
Eric George Hughes (42)
Kester Roger Marcus Ball (16)
Alan Johnston (29)
Gerard Bernard Patrick Baron (67)
Christine Anne Jones (27)
Simon Bell (17)
Gary Philip Jones (18)
Barry Sidney Bennett (26)
Richard Jones (25)
David John Benson (22)
Nicholas Peter Joynes (27)
David William Birtle (22)
Anthony Peter Kelly (29)
Tony Bland (22)
Michael David Kelly (38)
Paul David Brady (21)
Carl David Lewis (18)
Andrew Mark Brookes (26)
David William Mather (19)
Carl Brown (18)
Brian Christopher Mathews (38)
David Steven Brown (25)
Francis Joseph McAllister (27)
Henry Thomas Burke (47)
John McBrien (18)
Peter Andrew Burkett (24)
Marion Hazel McCabe (21)
Paul William Carlile (19)
Joseph Daniel McCarthy (21)
Raymond Thomas Chapman (50)
Peter McDonnell (21)
Gary Christopher Church (19)
Alan McGlone (28)
Joseph Clark (29)
Keith McGrath (17)
Paul Clark (18)
Paul Brian Murray (14)
Gary Collins (22)
Lee Nicol (14)
Stephen Paul Copoc (20)
Stephen Francis O'Neill (17)
Tracey Elizabeth Cox (23)
Jonathon Owens (18)
James Philip Delaney (19)
William Roy Pemberton (23)
Christopher Barry Devonside (18)
Carl William Rimmer (21)
Christopher Edwards (29)
David George Rimmer (38)
Vincent Michael Fitzsimmons (34)
Graham John Roberts (24)
Thomas Steven Fox (21)
Steven Joseph Robinson (17)
Jon-Paul Gilhooley (10)
Henry Charles Rogers (17)
Barry Glover (27)
Colin Andrew Hugh William Sefton (23)
Ian Thomas Glover (20)
Inger Shah (38)
Derrick George Godwin (24)
Paula Ann Smith (26)
Roy Harry Hamilton (34)
Adam Edward Spearritt (14)
Philip Hammond (14)
Philip John Steele (15)
Eric Hankin (33)
David Leonard Thomas (23)
Gary Harrison (27)
Patrik John Thompson (35)
Stephen Francis Harrison (31)
Peter Reuben Thompson (30)
Peter Andrew Harrison (15)
Stuart Paul William Thompson (17)
David Hawley (39)
Peter Francis Tootle (21)
James Robert Hennessy (29)
Christopher James Traynor (26)
Paul Anthony Hewitson (26)
Martin Kevin Traynor (16)
Carl Darren Hewitt (17)
Kevin Tyrrell (15)
Nicholas Michael Hewitt (16)
Colin Wafer (19)
Sarah Louise Hicks (19)
Ian David Whelan (19)
Victoria Jane Hicks (15)
Martin Kenneth Wild (29)
Gordon Rodney Horn (20)
Kevin Daniel Williams (15)
Arthur Horrocks (41)
Graham John Wright (17)

My New Toy!

Got me brand new toy, a Dell Latitude D630 from me company! Oh happy days ahead until i get tired of it along with my new Sony Bravia 32D300A LCD TV and me spanking new Sony PS3. Well, what a way to blow my bonus, so much to the save for rainy days advice from me parents. Then again thank god for a thing called 0% interest installments.

Sleepless nights ahead trying to play some footie and shoot'em up games. As if the sleepless nights from my office system migration work is not enough. Geeeez! Til then time to get back to work again. Muahahahahahaha!

Oh! before i forget, managed to catch the gut wrenching, heart stopping 2nd leg quater finals at Anfield this morning. Hope i didn't wake any of me neighbours up with my shouting, hehehehehe. Bring on them true blues and devils!

-JonC-

Busy Times Ahead!

Been a while since i updated me blog. Extremely busy with some email and system migration work for my office - cue setting up 35 brand new Dell PCs, download and convert 40 - 50 GB worth of emails, and install the new PC for the users. As of now only managed to finish up 7 units, including me spanking new Dell Latitude D630 notebook ;0). Me and my other 2 colleagues from my HO in Bkt Jelutong is struggling to get everything settle by this coming 11th April!

I'm expecting to stay in me office and OT to atleast 10 pm daily for the next week and a half or so. So if i go missing from the blog and cyber space, pls don't be worried. Hehehehehe. LFC and my social life will have to take a back sit for the moment. Till then take care, and hope to to get back in touch with everyone soon.

-JonC-

All time favourite movies: My Top 5

Ever since AD started the Top 5 desert island CD thing, i've wanted to start a list for my top 5 movies. The following are the absolute top 5 movies in no particular order that i will never ever get tired of watching.

Singing In The Rain - 1952
One of my all time favourite musical. Love the songs and dance routines featuring the legendary Gene Kelly! Any of you remember the scene where he danced in the street under the heavy rain? That scene was later remade into an ad for the VW Golf GTi in 2005. What more can you ask for from a musical? Great music, great dancing and a decentgood story-line about the changing times in Hollywood during the period when "talking" movies came out in the roaring 20s.

Citizen Kane - 1941
One of the first ever black and white movie that i enjoyed. I bought the DVD from ebay and has never failed to be amazed by this Orson Welles masterpiece. The story line of how someone can forgo their entire past to become rich and famous, only to realise that it will bring no happiness on your death bed is timeless and still holds true.

The Shawshank Redemption - 1994
The story of how Tim Robbin's character got wrongly convicted of murder and got jailed for 20 years has captivated me since i first watched this movie back in 1995. I like how, in the most extreme of condition, with hope and a little help from Morgan Freeman's character, our hero can plot his escape from the prison and dish the ultimate revenge to those who took advantage of him throughout his 20 years in the slammers.

Star Wars - A New Hope - 1977
Who can forget about THE movie that basically started the whole sci-fi movie craze? The special effects was out of this world when it first came out. I still glee in delight every time the Star Wars tune and the word starts scrolling up the screen at the start of the movie. I actually enjoyed the Trilogy but since i can only choose one, i settled for the first in the series - the original!


Forrest Gump - 1994
I can't get enough of the IQ level 75 character: Forrest Gump. The story line wasn't the most complex piece of writing but somehow the simplicity of it just never fail to capture my imagination. The feel good factor of the movie never fails to cheer me up whenever i watch it. "Life is like a box of chocolates, you'll never know what ya gonna get" - who knew this simple line will be the basis of a simpleton character that seems to take part in some of histories most unforgettable events? Tom Hanks was worthy of his second consecutive Oscar after his also great acting work in Philadelphia.

Gosh! There's so many other movies that could have easily made it into my list. Some of them includes Gone With The Wind, Casablanca, Jerry McGuire, Mary Poppins, Sound of Music, Breakfast at Tiffany's and countless other great movies. I am a sucker for classics, musicals and feel good movies (including some chick flicks) ;0)

So AD and Mark (you're free add in comments section since you don't blog) you guys know what to do. Might tag even more of you guys and gals later! Have fun...... muahahahahaha!

JonC's 5 Top Albums Ever!

Thanks to my champion blogger of a friend - Anfiled Devotee, i have to bust my brains to come out with my own 5 absolute must have albums. Coming up with this list is harder than i think as the range of music i listen to is as wide as the freaking Grand Canyon! Anything from classical to jazz and rock will keep me entertained as long as the tune clicks with me brain.

1) Nirvana - Nevermind.
The first grunge rock band and song i ever listen to was Nirvana with their angst fueled "Smell Like Teen Spirit" back in '93. A slow starter but still an ardent fan of Kurt Cobain. I was intrigued by the band's start stop melodies before going all out with their guitars blaring. Being a teenager at that time i instantly click with the anti-establishment, social alienation and non-confirmity lyrics. Notable tracks that still relates to my erratic and fiery temper are - Lithium, Come As You Are and On a Plain.

2) The Smashing Pumpkins - Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
The band that had everything in their repertoire - gothic rock, heavy metal, dream pop, psychedelic rock, arena rock and in some instances, electronica. I paid for this double disc album after struggling through a week on bread and instant noodles during my A-Levels college days in Taylor's back in '95. Paying about 70 bucks for this album was a monumental achievement in itself! The songs that got me through my first year in college consists of 1979, Tonight Tonight, Zero, Bullets with Butterfly Wings, We Only Come out At Night, Lily, Beautiful and By Starlight. Again, i was intrigued by the wide ranging arrangement and melodies used by Billy Corgan, James Iha and D'arcy Wretzky (one of the first rock chicks that i dig). I absolutely got blown away by the string arrangements in Tonight Tonight. The song that i relate to most was 1979, it was like listening to the story of my life and the struggle to find myself in the process of growing from a rebellious and somewhat anti-social youth.

3) Diana Krall - All For You - A Dedication to the Nat King Cole Trio.
One of the first Diana Krall cd i ever bought and still rank as my favourite among her albums. After starting my working life back in 2000, i wanted something to help me mellow down and relax after a crazy day at work. By chance i managed to listen to her song over the radio and got hooked on her unique and soothing voice. Had always been a fan of Nat King Cole thanks to me dad and to see the list of songs in this albums made me glee in delight. Favourites from this album consists of the happy songs like Frim-Frame Sauce, Hit That Jive Jack! and Deed I Do.

4) The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds
The American answer to the The Beatles onslaught. Most will question why on earth would i choose this American band who sings about nothing else but surfing, the beach, girls and cars. Well, if you've heard the most notable song from this album - God Only Knows, Wouldn't It Be Nice, Good Vibrations and Sloop John B, you'll understand why i am such a big fan of them. This album has been consistently rank as one of the most influential pop music album ever made. The catchy tunes and vocals arrangement by Brian Wilson (father to 2 of the girls from 90's girl group Wilson Phillips) is awesome and mind blowing. It's been widely publicised that The Beatles' Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album and one of their very best was a direct respond to challenge brought on by this ground-breaking album.

5) U2 - The Joshua Tree
U2 has to be in my list as they are one of my all time favourite band (especially their older stuff). I've always dig the politics infused lyrics by U2 but this album was different because it drew a lot of inspiration from the US - blues & folk music, geography and politics ( the album was specifically aim at the American market anyway). I instantly got hooked on to the 2 most famous songs from this album: With or Without You and I Still Haven't Found What I've Been Looking For. Another notable song was Where The Streets Have No Name. I can't seem to get enough of the hypnotic sounding guitar rifts by the Edge. The "Infinite Guitar" effect was fooking awesome and hounding. I still sing to these song's whenever i hear them over the radio and tv.

Thats the albums on my list at the moment. Countless that i can't seem to think of at the moment. So thanks, AD from making me waste most of my morning trying to crack me brain on the subject matter. :0P

PS - El Terrorista and Unker Bernard, you guys have been tagged to continue this discussion.

**Edited to include the album covers + the tagged bloggers.