Lars and the Real Girl

As usual, i spent my Saturday afternoon with a solo videoke. Yeah, i had all the Magic Sing for myself. I think I sang 20 songs before my vocal chords started vibrating like cat on nips...

So I switched to DVD mode. i rummaged thru our DVD collection and found a promising new copy.

With well-boiled camote in a bowl, topped with ice cream and yoghurt, i was ready for Lars and The real girl.

I thought it's going to be teeny-bopper comedy but it turned out to be a surprise drama.

Well, okay, so there's comedy all over the place, especially in Lars' office and his interaction with Margo.

The story, set in a seemingly old, close-knit Swedish community in the US, revolves on Lars Lindstrom (played by Ryan Gosling), a young man with a very sad childhood, desperate for affection but disliked intimacy, specially with women.

Lars, however, managed with his phobia and was actually able to get an office job. After his father died, his older brother Gus, now married, came home with his pregnant wife Karin. As soon as Gus and Karen settled in the main house, Lars moved into the converted garage. Unable to interact with Gus and Karin.

One day in the office, Lars saw another officemate (the geek type) looking at life-size sex dolls that can be ordered online. Lars ordered one.

When the doll arrived, Lars named her Bianca. The arrival of Bianca turned everyone's life in the community upside down.

On the first night, Lars came to the main house and for the first time, talked to Gus and Karin about his 'girlfriend'. Lars said that his girlfriend's name is Bianca, who is a Catholic Brazilian nurse and he would like her to stay in the main house.

And so Gus and Karin invited them for dinner. To their shocked, they found themselves staring at the life-size doll to whom Lars is talking affectionately. They all have an uneasy dinner while Lars, for the first time, shows a vibrant and talkative mood. Describing Bianca's background in details.
Gus and Karin tricked Lars into going to the hospital to see their family doctor, who is also a psychologist. They explained beforehand what the case is all about. The pretext is that Bianca, the life-size doll, is sick and needs a weekly check up. Lars was very anxious about it. During this hospital visit, Dr. Dagmar takes Lars into her office for interview. The doctor said that Lars is suffering from extreme delusions, as he really believed that the doll is alive.

Meanwhle, Gus and Karin sought the help of the community elders, including the parish priest as to how to managed Lars' girlfrien. The entire community agreed to help by going along Lars' insistence about Bianca,

Margo, meantime, tried to move on by getting a boyfriend. When Lars saw her with the guy, he felt jealous. When he went home, Lars went into a fit of rage and jealousy. He shouted at Bianca and accused her of neglecting him...

Another day, Margo told Lars the she broke up with her boyfriend. Lars asked her why she took a boyfriend. Margo said because she felt so lonely... Margo asked Lars if he cares for a Friday bowling. Since Bianca has schedules to appear in charity event on the same night, Lars accepted the invitation. They had a great time in the bowling alley. As they went home separately, Lars, for the first time, had the courage to shake Margo's hand.

One morning, Lars woke the household, shouting that Bianca is not breathing. So they called 911. The ambulance arrived and paramedics even put an oxygen mask to the doll's face and rush her to the hospital. This being a close-knit community, everyone played their role. Bianca was wheeled into ICU. Lars told Dr Dagmar that Bianca is dying. The news about Bianca dying spread rapidly in the community.

After two days, Bianca was back in the house and Lars insisted that she is dying. One rainy morning, Lars came down to the porch to find it filled with flowers and get-well-soon cards for Bianca, from the community.

Next day, Karin and Gus invited Lars to go out with them to the lakeshore. Lars refused. But when Karin said that maybe Bianca needs fresh air, Lars agreed.

While in the lake, Lars brought Bianca to the water and declared that Bianca is dead.

They had a funeral service in the church, and a burial for Bianca, beside the graves of Lars/Gus parents.

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Hmm, quite heavy on the psychology side, no?

Lars' delusions with the life-sized doll is brought about by his craving for attention by a female persona in his life. Because he grew up with a father who became a woman-hater and Lars lost touch with intimacy on the female side.

All the story that Lars weaved about Bianca was actually about his own life and his fantasy on what would be an ideal relationship with girl for him.

He thought he is happy with a woman who doesn't annoy him or whose touch do not scare him. But the jealousy against Margo's boyfriend brough Lars to reality and he realized he liked Margo also.

That is why Lars decided to let go of Bianca. The passing away of Bianca gave Lars a feeling of his father's emotion -- how it feels to lose someone you love. But Lars, despite being delusional, accepted the fact the he cannot marry Bianca.

But i think Lars made this story so he can free himself from Bianca and move on with his life, aimed towards Margo. That is why he asked Margo to walk with him after the burial.
------

The arrival of Bianca was actually a blessing in disguise for Lars. She helped Lars undergo a 'healing process' after an abnormal childhood. All the things that Lars wanted to do but unable to do because of his empathy-phobia, like bowling with friends, going to parties, dancing, going to mall and having family dinner -- all of these he finally did, with Bianca by his side. She gave him back self-confidence and empathy. It allowed Lars to express himself and break the chain that bound his emotions all through his growing years.

And Bianca's passing also signalled a 'healed' Lars. Finally able to move on with the real world.

We should expect a happy ending there.
--

Love conquers all. That is what this movie is all about..

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http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0805564/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eivm8o07e0I

Battle Realms: Gaza Map

I have been playing good, ol' Battle Realms in my tiny Axioo laptop during the weekends. Beside my laptop is our DSTV where my eyes shift from time-to-time to catch the news (Al-Jazeera and Euronews).

And since 16 days ago, the news is about the Israeli-Palestinian debacle at Gaza. And as we all know, everyone in the world (except Hillary and Barack) are accusing Israel of committing gencide against Gaza civilians.

From US to Europe, to Jakarta and Philippines, everyone (Muslim & non-Muslims) is on the street to protest the so-called Israeli aggression.

I have this creepy feeling that the world has become anti-Semitic once again... Welcome to World War III.

And welcome to the Battle Realms (BR) - Gaza map.

You see, BR, like other strategy games, have player maps where the player can choose where his battle will be played.

Along this recent events, I will add a special, hypothetical map of Gaza. I am playing Lotus clan, by the way.

--

In Battle Realms, the enemies will usually send a 'probing team' into my territory. And when my guards respond and chase the invaders, an ambush is waiting that decimates my soldiers. To counter this frequent probing attack, i have to make sure my rice harvest is working, water is plenty, and my peasant huts are producing enough peasant to be converted to warriors. And when i have enough of these Unclean ones, Leaf disciples, The Brothers, Zen masters and horse cavalry, then i attack the opposing camps with overwhelming force...

--

The same thing is happening in Gaza. For several months prior to Israel's attack, Hamas were raining rockets to Israel with seeming impunity. Israel had been warning Palestinians and the world that their patience is thinning at such rocket attacks. But no one in the world, except Egypt, bothered to raise a voice to inform Hamas that is provoking a war wih Israel. But of course, Hamas knows Israel will hit back, and they want it to happen.

So after a thousand rocket barrage, and some Israeli civilian injuries and casualties, Israel finally had enough and launch and fierce counterstrike.

Of course, Hamas said hey will not be cowered by Israel's attack and they will meet IDF on the ground and fight to the death.

And so, after successfully baiting Israel to attack, Hamas waits for ambush. But Hamas themselves did not do the ambush -- they are too few and too undergunned to do it.

It is the entire world who ambushed Israel.

Around the worl, including celebrities like Annie Lennox (band Eurthymix) joined in the anti-Israel protest. Everyone condemned Israel as th aggressor and their counter-attack as an act of genocide.

Ok, so let's pause for awhile and re-assess the situation.

If Hamas bombs out a thousand Israelis to kingdom-come, I guess the world will likely say "Ok, Good job"???

If it's Israelis who are getting killed, the world will not mind it -- because they are 'just' Israelis.

Will Annie Lennox protest? Will French Pres. Nic Sarkozy still be the first European leaders to call for a truce?

Will the peace-loving Europeans and Americans protest?

I guess the obvious answer there is 'No".

Possible reasons:
1. Israel has the overwhelming force and it is just right for Palestinians to destroy their state.
2. Too many rich Jewish who can send funds to Israel and so no humanitarian crisis can happen if if Hamas pounds Israel back to Moses' days.
3. The world is afraid of islamo-fascism that no one wants to say it that for peace to happen, Hamas must do a Fatah and learn to live in peace with its Jewish neighbor.

Sure, there is no denying that the war is causing more casualties to civilians than against Hamas. But for Hamas, that is what they want. That is how they planned. Fire rockets from civilian buildings. Hide near cvilian populations. And since Israel will not differentiate a location where the rocket has been fired, Hamas wins world opinion because of Israel's obvious overwhelming force.

And so, assuming Israel will agree to any truce, will it guaranty any peace between Israel and Palestine?

Will the likes of Annie Lennox guaranty that Hamas will stop rocketing Israel?

Becoz if not, war will never end in Near East.

Around the world, sympathy and funds were raised for Hamas, ere, Palestinians. But nothing for Rwanda, Dardur and Sudan. What is happening to these African people are as worst as what happens in Palestine. In Palestine, the images is blurred between a Hamas fighter and a civilian, except for old people, women and children. In these African hotspots, it is clear who are the aggressors and civilians (victims) and what kind of atrocities is committed.

Why no one is sustaining the campaign against the continued genocide in these African hotspots? Why the world is not sending enough humanitarian aid and protection force??

--

Back to BR-Gaza map, there will never be peace because the Gaza civilians (old people, women and children) are always at the mercy of Hamas. No one can complain. No peace is forthcoming to Gaza under Hamas. It is a vicious cycle of violence, attrition war -- until, Israel will have enough and re-occupies Gaza. Hopefully Fatah government will be back in Gaza.

As always, it is the defenseless old people, women and children who bears the pain and hardship of any war as it is in Gaza now.
--
Personally, i claim no admiration for Israel or Jews. But neither for people who makes it their avowed goal for the destruction of another race. If Hamas can do it agaisnst Israel, they will surely do it against the rest of us infidels.

--

Peace, is not the absence of war. It is when nations learn to accept their neighbors and decides to live in harmony with those around them.

Until then, we can only hope that this recent strife will be the last for Gaza 'civilians'.

And for heaven's sake, Annie Lennox, speak at least, so we will know if you are pro-peace or just plain 'rider' on anti-Jewish bandwagon.

--
Back to Battle Realms.

The coming of Windows7

I have always been an avid and 'loyal' Microsoft user since Windows for Workgroup.

I have followed the progression of various flavor and versions of Windows since then. Probably, the only workstation Windows OS that never appealed to me is Vista, and its sidekick, Office 2007.

Vista is such a process and memory hungry OS that i promptly reformatted my laptop and replaced it with XP.

Maybe the murmurings against Vista has become so loud that Microsoft decided to start hyping since last year the 'ultimate' Windows OS -- Windows 7. According to reports, Microsoft's Bill Gates supposedly said that Windows 7 is developed with the user in mind.

But reading the reported 'new features' and features you will not find in Windows 7 makes me think Bill Gates wants us to lose control of our computer system.

Where Windows XP is probably the most user-friendly and the easiest to handle among Windows OS, it looks to that the Windows 7 will be is exact opposite.

Like Vista, Windows 7 is more on graphical and visual - shock and awe, kind of system, designed to make even the most devoted Mac users to blink twice upon looking at the Windows 7 desktop functions. The desktop and the internet browser has merged.
















Like Longhorn before, there are now downloadable 'skins' or 'overlay' for Windows 7. And there is now downloadable beta versions of Windows 7. If you are geeky enough to install it.

Anyways, my friend Wiki has this to say about the vauntd new features of Windows 7:

There are many features new to Windows 7, including advancements in touch, speech, and handwriting recognition, support for virtual hard disks, support for additional file formats, improved performance on multi-core processors, improved boot performance, and kernel improvements.

But i am more interested on the features that will no longer be in Windows 7:

Windows Shell

The file transfer dialogs for copying, moving or deleting do not show the actual file name which is being copied, moved or deleted at that instant.

Active Desktop functionality has been removed. As a result, animated GIF files can no longer be set as the desktop background. No other dynamic web content such as HTML or HTA files can run on the desktop, although Windows DreamScene (released only for Windows Vista Ultimate) allows using videos as the background and dynamic web content can run as part of Sidebar gadgets.

The File Types tab has been removed from Folder Options. This feature was available from Windows 95 up to Windows XP and Windows Server 2003. The File Types tab allowed users to change the file associations for various types of files.

The configuration tab to quickly associate with media file types has also been removed from Windows Media Player 11 options in Windows Vista.

It is not possible to override AutoPlay by pressing the SHIFT key as was possible in previous versions, though it can still be disabled through Control Panel.

AutoPlay settings cannot be configured per-device; they are set globally.

It is not possible to list fonts by similarity based on PANOSE information or hide font variations such as Bold, Italic etc in the Fonts folder.

Menus cannot be set to slide anymore using the user interface. Only the fade effect is available.

The taskbar cannot be dragged to the bottom of the screen to hide it manually.

Toolbars such as "Quick Launch" can no longer be "dragged off" the taskbar as floating minibars or docked to another edge of the screen, though physical folders can be dragged onto the desktop edge in a similar manner. The Language Bar is the only toolbar that can float on the desktop.

It is no longer possible to copy text fragments and other similar objects from a document, and paste them to a folder as a file (called a scrap, but actually an OLE object).

Windows Explorer

It is not possible to display the full path in the title bar when Aero Glass is enabled. When Aero Glass is disabled, the full path can be displayed in the title bar. The full path can be shown in the address bar regardless of the status of Aero, by clicking to the right of the breadcrumbs or pressing Alt+D.

The Toolbar button in Explorer to go up one folder from the current folder has been removed.

This is now accomplished by selecting a folder in the breadcrumbs bar or by pressing together Alt + Up keys.

The ability to customize the standard toolbar's layout and buttons was removed.

Users can no longer make the menu above all other toolbars.

Ability to add a password to a zip file (compressed folder) has been removed. (This has no effect on third-party compression tools, such as WinZip or 7Zip.)

The Common Tasks pane (renamed 'Favorite Links') and the Details pane can be removed only through the 'Organize' button.

Filmstrip view is replaced by the icon view feature which supports multiple sizes, and a new full-screen slideshow mode.

The ability to view and edit metadata stored in a file's secondary stream through the "Summary" tab of the file's "Property" dialog was removed.

The Web Publishing Wizard is no longer available.

Support for enabling a folder for web sharing with Internet Information Services via the Windows Explorer interface was removed.

The Desktop Cleanup Wizard is no longer available.

The "Computer Description" field is no longer shown on the Explorer view of a workgroup.

The Status bar no longer shows the total space used by a folder when displaying a folder's contents or free space remaining on the disk.

The drive mapping dialog box no longer allows a network path to be mapped without assigning a local drive letter to it.

It is no longer possible to add a background to folders via a desktop.ini.

It is not possible to view the Properties of an item in the left pane of Windows Explorer using Alt+Enter.

It is not possible to turn off autorefresh/autosorting of files and folders.

There are limitations to opening multiple files in a single operation, i.e. by selecting multiple files and pressing enter. The "Open" operation is not present in the context menu when multiple files are selected.

Internet Explorer

The ability to customize the toolbar layout is removed. The position of the address bar and the 'command bar' cannot be readjusted.

Internet Explorer is no longer integrated with Windows Explorer. This can also be seen in Internet Explorer 7 on Windows XP and Windows Server 2003.

Image toolbar has been removed. Most of the commands that were on this floating toolbar—Save Picture, E-mail Picture, Set as Background, etc—are now in the context menu that appears when an image is right-clicked.

Offline Favorites, a feature that automatically synchronized and stored web pages for later perusal when not online, was removed in favor of using RSS feeds.

The maximum size for the "Temporary Internet Files" folder (downloaded files cache) is limited to 1024 MB in Internet Explorer 7. This is also true for Internet Explorer 7 on other Windows versions.

For more info, click here.

New Features.

Removed features.

Windows 7 Reviews:

- Microsoft Windows 7 site
- First look at Windows 7's User Interface
- Microsoft Windows 7 / Windows Vienna