Artwork for Hellboy. Though he never draws for Hellboy, but his gritty style seems to fit with the Hellboy's mood and image very well.
From Sin City. Look at the four faces. Same face, same position, but the different shades of shadow seems to animate the face with a grim expression.
From Sin City as well. This is his typical style in the Sin City series, the art style is dark and strong. So distinctive. It is really amazing how he seems to put so much "motion" in a figure that is preparing to leap out from the dark with such simple lines of black and white.
Oh this is simply my favourite. The silhouette of Marv in the rain. Just a lot of white lines in a black background. The way the rain drops hit his coat makes him look so lonely. Like a warrior heading to his death. Lonely and sad.
Taken from Red Robin issue 17, published Jan 2011.
Since one of my new year resolutions is to keep my blog alive, I shall start by writing about why Hard Rock Hotel Penang sucks and I wouldn't recommend anyone (sane) to go there.
First of all, the name of the hotel is just plain deceiving. I mean, “Hard Rock”, what would be the first thing that came to your mind? Rock music right? In order to make sure I am not sounding like I am persecuting the hotel unjustly, I searched for the definition of the phrase “hard rock”, which includes garage rock, punk rock, metal etc. with heavy use of electric guitars, bass and drums. (ie. not just any popular music). I myself would think of Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Def Leppard, GnR etc. Then I searched for the theme of this “Hard Rock Cafe” chain, and I realised that it is a “rock and roll” theme, which is different form “hard rock”, which means it is deceiving from the start, if you know some rock and are following my string of thoughts. Alright, lets settle for rock and roll then. Then I started looking for anything associated with this theme, which baffles me.
Yes, there is a lot of guitars around. A huge guitar outside, guitars on display and guitars printed on the cushion cover, on the pillow case, on the blanket etc. Yes, there are some used guitars and clothes by famous musicians on display, as well as portraits of the Beatles (on top of your bed) and Elvis (in your bathroom). But it is going to take much more than some decoration to convince people that this is a rock-themed place. Where is the spirit man? It just ain't there. And whoever that did those decoration had no idea about rock. At all. There was this display near the entrance with portraits of Elvis surrounded by busts of two Beatles on each side. One would have thought the Beatles to be Elvis's band-member if they didn't know better. What is the rationale of that display? I would wonder. Another thing that makes me feel so disappointed to see a huge statue of Michael Jackson sitting outside the hotel's main entrance. Don't get me wrong, I love that guy! But he is the King of Pop. He really got nothing to do with “hard rock” or “rock and roll”. And that is the only statue in the hotel! Its like going to a “Football Hotel” to see a huge statue of Michael Jordan out there. As much as I like MJ (pun intended), I don't see any business of him being there. In other words, if you are a rock fan, you probably don't want to go there. It is meant for people who feels “shyiok” taking photos with famous musicians' guitars or portraits. That's all.
Such a luxurious hotel, you would probably think that even if you are not a rock fan, you can enjoy a good stay in a good hotel right? Nope, it just ain't worth it. The hotel's location is at Batu Ferringhi, which is kind of far from town and it is surrounded by fancy restaurants. So if you are in Penang looking for good signature hawker food like most Malaysians, you are in the wrong area. They do have a clean beach thanks to their effort of cleaning it up, but the sand isn't particularly fine for one to go there on purpose just because of the beach. The beach faces North, which means one can neither see sunrise nor sunset from the beach, which is another minus point if you are there for the beach. They also have a local band which performs live 6 nights a week. Yes, the same band which doesn't sound good at all. Sigh. The television in the room lags like crazy, due to their usage of a very laggy software. There isn't a bathtub in the bathroom, which is another surprise if you think luxurious hotel should have one without doubt. I would give compliments to their showers though, which is really strong and powerful and relaxing, which reminds me of Tune Hotels. (This is really a compliment. Tune Hotels' showers are really good.)
The buffet breakfast in the morning was totally chaotic, and horrible. There was no one at the counter to check whether you were a guest at the hotel or you just sneaked in for free food. It was totally messed up, as people would just walk in and try to find seats in a over-crowded place. The venue was a open area and smoking was allowed. I could accept separate smoking and non-smoking zones, but the whole area being a smoking area? Dude, you must be kidding me. I thought this is Malaysia we are talking about here. The food wise, is even worse. The choices were few. They have a tray labelled “scrambled eggs” which turns out to be hard-boiled eggs with sambal. The pastry was dry, cold and hard. The fruit juices taste like they are made from concentrates. Their hash browns made me miss Mc'Donalds. You get my point.
All in all, this is a hotel which is well known because of the famous chain of various “Hard Rock Cafe” in the world, but comparing the price and the experience overall, it is just plain not worth it. In other words, if you are going there for the hotel experience, don't go there. If you are going there for the music experience, don't go there. If you are going there for the food experience, don't go there. If you are going there for the beach experience, don't go there. So far the only reasons that I can think of to persuade anyone to go there is that they are a huge fan of branded hotel chains, not a fan of music, don't believe my taste and has tons of money to waste. Well, maybe then you should to go Hard Rock Hotel Penang.
寫給今年的中華盃隊和告老還鄉的我：
又一年的中華盃落幕了，對我來說已經是我到現場的第四次中華盃了。
一年級的時候，我是隨隊，nus拿季軍；
二年級的時候，我是替補，nus拿季軍；
三年級的時候，我是正選，nus拿冠軍；
四年級的時候，我當陪練，nus拿亞軍。
我以前就說過我大四的時候要當中華盃的領隊的，像是完成我一年一年在中華盃“升級”的身份～哈哈。。而且我也知道過了今年，自己就沒辦法像假假一樣，畢業了踏入社會後，還可以和願意花費這麼大的時間和心思來帶這麼一個隊伍。加上我明白beaste前前後後大比賽很多，也累了，因此，我就毛遂自薦地和beaste說我要帶這個隊伍。但後來，因為假假可以帶，所以就讓他帶了，beaste改而叫我當助選員，並有空回去幫你們。你們有假假當你們的領隊，是你們的運氣，他是一個好領隊，甚至我覺得是一個越來越好的領隊。而我，在當了你們助選員、模擬隊、陪練後，看著你們的成長、凝聚、突破，想起以前的我，讓我心裡有所感觸。因此，雖然真正意義上，你們不是我帶出來的，但對我而言，我一樣是像看著自己的弟弟妹妹長大一樣的欣慰。
先講講我過去幾年中華盃的記憶吧。
一年級的時候，我和小明、何月隨隊去看中華盃，我還記得那時的陣容依辯位是劍聲、明敏、恆順、邵哥，替補是重遠。那時候的中華盃是隊裡不怎麽重視的比賽，根本就沒有人帶，fox不在新加坡，比賽基本上是由三年級的邵哥在帶而已。所以當恆順和我都說你們其實是很幸運的，你們應該明白當年他打比賽所經歷過的無奈和無助。（假假：有這麼誇張嗎？呵呵）半決賽時遇上馬大，馬大隊是黃聰涵她們黃金一代那四個女的，題目是“經濟發展和古蹟維護可不可以並行”，我們無奈地敗下陣來，我記得糾結最多的是到底什麼是“並行”。
二年級的時候，我選上了，但和重遠是替補而已，正選是李昂、杜馨、詩書、小明。領隊是假假。那時候fox回來了，但他也沒有很看重這個比賽，整個準備都是很鬆散，很沒有隊伍的感覺，沒有目標，沒有高昂的士氣。半決賽的時候，看著我們兩個半月前剛菜掉的馬大隊，同樣的秋樺、國興、永建，這次卻士氣高昂，勢如破竹，我只能坐在觀眾席裡無奈地嘆息。那種無助誰人知？
三年級的時候，正是我們幾個的巔峰期，我、小明、海洋，還有三個大二石楠、仲鶴、龐穎，選入了中華盃隊。領隊還是假假。而beaste，也是面對自己掌教後的第一個挑戰。大家士氣高昂，在前幾個星期的煩躁、迷失、磨合後，終於在海洋的提出一個問題後，得到突破。他問：“你們有誰覺得以我們現在的進度下去，可以奪冠的？”我們都沒有人好意思舉手。於是大家打開心胸，我覺得那個有隊伍的感覺就是那時開始的。那天是9月16日，我的生日，所以我記得特別清楚。這件事，還真的要感激一向嬉皮笑臉的海洋，突然很認真的以這個問題突襲大家，讓我們都嚇到了～呵呵。。我們還得到了空前的各方支援。大媽、易傑、重遠、假假幫忙準備；嘉菱、依華、王明、婉怡、俊傑、逸帆當我們的支持團，我至今依然非常感激。比賽的成功，在於大媽和易傑的理論、beaste輪流用替補的戰略、假假和重遠不斷地在模擬賽菜我們。。。。
到了今年，我覺得自己以後沒有機會再像今年這樣，陪一個隊伍去比賽幫忙了。比賽結束後，覺得沒有遺憾是假的，但比較多的是愧疚。我這兩天腦海中就是“強制”這個詞！我覺得“方言”這個點，還不是你們的致命傷，而是他們用“強制”這個詞讓你們的一定變得價值很低，讓你們最重要的優勢都沒了。。。我一直當你們的陪練，甚至早在選拔時，我就一直用這一點攻擊你們，但卻沒有好好告訴你們要如何去反擊應對，這一點，我覺得是我的錯，對不起了。如果你們自由辯裡早點說，我們的一定是一種堅持，不是強制的話，整個感覺就不一樣了。（至少我是這樣想的）我覺得這一點你們場上沒有好好反到，讓他們一直說“剝奪自由選擇權”而沒有應對。
但是，我覺得，就像我在判決出來前和你們說的，我覺得你們就是冠軍，因為你們都打出了超水平的比賽。如果硬要選一場比賽當你們的代表作的話，決賽絕對是最精彩的。你們每個人在自己的位置上，都做到了自己該做的任務，扛住了，還打出多波精彩的高潮，讓觀眾掌聲連連。你們雖以微差落敗，但在觀眾和評委心中，都是那麼地令人印象深刻，那麼地值得嘉賞，那麼多的掌聲都是獻給你們的！
給beaste：
辛苦你了！我只能這麼說。你花這麼多時間和精力準備這麼多比賽，根本就不是osa跟你那種微薄的薪水可以衡量的。經常四處奔波，為了辯論而向老闆請假，真的是難為你了！你是一個好教練，我們都感激你！繼續加油！國辯隊加油！
給假假：
從08世辯，08中華盃，09中華盃，10中華盃，你都是我們的領隊，真的是辛苦你了。你還有約當越好的趨勢哦～呵呵。。還記得當時08年世辯半決賽前大家集體崩潰的時候，你安慰了我；還記得08年中華盃，fox在輸了比賽後發脾氣帶隊離開，你可憐地被丟在南方學院一個人等閉幕儀式；還記得09年中華盃，我們奪冠的時候，你那眼眶裡打轉的淚水。我大學的辯論生涯裡，都離不開你的影子，雖然你離開場外，經常假假地難以接近，但知道你心裡是一個善良的好人，謝謝你啊，職業領隊！哈哈～
給阿雷：
阿雷，除了去年debate trip以外，我好像和你也沒什麼合作過。你從去年的不知所云（哈哈哈哈）到今年的最佳辯手，真的是進步蠻多的。當時候選拔成績公佈，你打電話給我，說雖然名單上說名次不分前後，但根據排法，你應該是只拿第三，不是很理想，問我有什麼可以改善的，當時我就想你真的很認真，很有上進心，很不錯！我本來還擔心，中華盃這個隊伍，沒有明星辯手，沒有真正能扛得住大場面的人，但你證明我錯了。你果斷的肩負起隊裡領導的角色，將自己的水平提升到另外一個層次，成為可以信任的好隊友、在危機時大家會望向你的人。鎖定勝局或力挽狂瀾皆在你，這個最佳辯手，是你應得的。比賽前，我覺得你是我學弟。現在，我覺得你長大了。
給小貓：
小貓，在這6個人裡，我和你應該是最不熟的了吧。本來和你就沒什麼合作，加上你本來外表冷冷的，我也不是很搞懂你的性格啦，所以一向也沒很敢和你說話。。呵呵。。這次比賽，你卻讓我想起去年的我。不是明星辯手，卻是一個表現平穩，讓人信任，覺得心安的隊友。但你還有一樣做得比我好的，你自由辯站得雖然不會特別多，但每次站起來，都會讓人覺得你站得很有用，很關鍵。作為隊裡另一個大三，你的確有做到一個值得讓學弟妹們學習的榜樣。
給煒璋：
你是一個很有火的辯手，可惜的是經驗不足，而且容易緊張。在模擬賽和訓練時，都看得出你的想法和反應不錯，要好好利用。經過這次比賽的磨練，你的進步非常明顯，我給你的目標就是：學會放鬆！克服你的緊張，明年中華盃舞台就是你的了。下次比賽，不要再給我看到有線條的襯衫和段襪子！呵呵。。
給依華：
小妹，你是在這6人裡面，應該算是和我最熟的了吧。。從新生賽開始就帶你，你的成長我一點點地看著。你擔心自己肩負比賽壓力而喪失辯論樂趣，我都理解，希望這次後你能明白，辯論的快樂，若是仔細尋找，其實就在其中。之前你和我說你們沒有隊伍的感覺；但比完賽後，我覺得你們有了。看著你們6個人，變成1個隊，在sakae sushi碰杯共飲時，覺得挺感觸的。你在你這屆的確是很優秀，你這次的表現也顯得你越來越成熟了，明年繼續為nus蟬聯最佳辯手吧！哈哈。。
給奕楠：
奕楠，你進隊前，我們在招新時，就說你想國務院發言人/播報員之類的，哈哈。。你這次的比賽，就表現出你在陳詞方面的優勢：溫文儒雅，翩翩風度。你決賽的稿，寫得不錯，沒贏雖然可惜，但也顯示出你這一方面的天份，若要繼續往一辯方面發展，是可以多多加油的。
給泇境：
泇境，和我也是超熟的。。你成為nus十年來第一個上正賽的新加坡人，是你有值得驕傲的地方的。我雖然經常嘲笑你中英文都爛，但你。。。真的是爛啊！！哈哈。。開玩笑。。你這次比賽，沒有像我們之前談的，你一上場就輸了，所以算是不錯啦。。哈哈。。你還是有一點緊張，寫稿方面還要再加強，除此之外，你還是表現得不錯～
給你們6人：
你們雖敗猶榮。你們從6個人，變成1個隊。你們從小學弟妹，都長大了。你們精彩的表現，贏得現場觀眾的尊敬和如雷的掌聲！
順便提一提馬大。
要知道，馬大的那三個欣盈、威德、勁暉，去年大二的時候也是落敗，一年後重整旗鼓，水平大大提升，你們幾個大二的，不要氣餒，繼續加油。馬大的立論，或許我們不喜歡，但馬大很多值得我們學習的地方，我們還是應該要看到的。馬大的一邊，立論清晰，背稿流暢，從來都不會是花瓶，而且幾年來我看過數場馬大的比賽是他們的一辯後我就覺得比賽可以不用看了，水平之高你們可以想像。馬大的辯手，為了準備比賽，那種盡心盡力的程度，是我們無法想像的。馬大的團隊合作，千呼後應，渾然一體，不是經歷多次的訓練時無法達成的。
好了，廢話到此為止。在這裡長篇大論，是要告訴你們，在我心中，你們就是我的冠軍隊！
告訴我的隊友們，謝謝有你們一路的陪伴！
告訴我唯一的領隊，假假，謝謝你無私的付出，這幾年來就像一個大哥哥一樣看著我們的長大！
告訴我的學長姐們，謝謝你們犧牲自己的時間和精力，來幫我們訓練、準備比賽，讓我們獲益不少！
告訴我的學弟妹們，一個隊伍良好傳統的延續，就在於承上啟下，要感激幫助你們的學長姐們，然後像他們一樣地去幫助你們的學弟妹們！
