A Token of Love

As I start a new journey in my current company, the love of my life unexpectedly gave me this little nudge of encouragement.



Thank you, dearest. Love you always.

Mazinkaiser

Fans of old-school mecha had rejoiced with the release/continuation of the Mazinger-Z saga. Mazinkaiser, a seven-episode OVA (Original Video Animation), chronicled the finale of Kabuto Kouji and the Mazinger team as they battle Dr Hell and his Mechanical Beasts.

This is where Mazinkaiser debuted after Kouji's Mazinger Z was forcefully taken from him and was hurled to a place unknown (to viewers, we knew it to be the secret lab of his late grandfather who built Mazinkaiser).

Again, as far as Revoltech figurines go, the production of Mazinkaiser looks faithful to the OVA. There's a generous amount of standard articulation points expected from the Yamaguchi line, and the colours as well as the details are well detailed.

In a nutshell, you won't have any regret buying this Revoltech figurine.

Toosaka Rin

Fate/Stay Night character, Toosaka Rin is another well-sculpted Revoltech Fraulein figurine but with limited pose due to restricted joint movement. Nevertheless, among the poses you can make Rin do, her 'angry' eyes brings out a forboding air to some stances well.

Nice one from the peeps at Kaiyodo. Looking forward to Yoko of Gurren Lagann now... *winks*

Taming the Midnight Sun

A couple of nights ago, I've gone and picked up the Savvy from my hometown, and boy, was I intimidated when I first saw it. Like a black untamed stallion, there it was, at the porch and feeling restless.

.....okay okay, I admit that I was the one feeling restless :P

Still, this one's a wild thing. Although I've heard Savvy users talk about the AMT system (Automated Manual Transmission), I've yet to kick it into gear to see how it goes. It's somewhat similar to AT (Automatic Transmission), but it's not how you think it is. With AMT, it was a different ball game to me.

After coaxing my dad to join me for a few rounds of cruising in the neighbourhood (and this was at midnight, mind you), I began to familiarise myself with how the car works, though at times, I forgot the light and wiper switches are on opposite ends.

So far, I've taken it out for a couple of spins (including the time I drove it back to PJ), and I'm loving every moment in the driver seat. There are some issues I need to iron out regarding the voltage distribution, grounding and change of the AMT fluid, but these are minor stuff that are easily fixed DIY-style.

All I need now is to stop the urge to wash the car after every drive...

Update: I've installed the voltage stabiliser, and by golly, the gear shifting does feel smoother! :)

Really rad reds

A few months ago, I procured a Shin Getter 1 figure made by Kaiyodo. And what a looker the mecha was! Posability is top-notch, and it comes with a big-@$$ Getter Tomahawk. Too bad I didn't manage to snap a pic of it, but hey, that means I get another reason to take it out again for photoshoot sessions. I really loved the joint-system, and this particular figure can be 'tweaked' to display a lot of poses.

Iron Man came a few weeks ago, but I didn't manage to take many photos of the figure, mainly because it's not as posable as I would like. Nevertheless, the details on it were fantastic. It's now almost a permanent fixture on my office table (literally) riding a World War II Corsair plane.

Might post a pic or two of that if I get any chance to whip my camera out after office hours... :P

Wedding teaser

To Bryant and Karen, I wish you the heartiest joy on your upcoming wedding and congratulations on your marriage. May the Lord shower blessings upon blessings on your lives as both of you take the first step in your new journey as husband and wife.

Anything Butterfly

Butterflies are fascinating creatures, and one of the hardest to capture with a camera while they're in flight - you can't really plot their flight patterns as each one would erratically fly and float in all kinds of directions.

But they are beautiful and can easily mesmerise an onlooker for hours. Butterflies come in all shapes ans sizes, and the colours on their wings are truly unique. It is such an amazement these lovely visions came from a cocoon, metamorphosised from a butt-ugly caterpillar. Well, I guess the adage of "from ugly duckling to beautiful swan" is truer here than anywhere else.

A photography contest themed "Anything Butterfly" was held in conjunction with World Lupus Day. What is lupus? Well, it is a disease that attacks the nervous system and if I'm not mistaken, its telltale signs include a butterfly-shaped rash on the cheeks. Though the disease is found worldwide, not many knew about lupus as it still stayed under the radar all these times.

Revoltech Fraulein: Sweet Dream's Pocco

The month of April heralds the much-awaited Fraulein line from Kaiyodo Revoltech. To date, Pocco is one detailed action figure that marks the manufacturer's matured experience in recreating the female figure from animes.

After this, could Yoko (of Gurren Lagann) be in the production line? One such as myself can only dream Sweet Dreams... =P

Easter presentation: Alone on the Altar

Maestro of the Easter presentation


The account of the events surrounding the passion of Christ paints a sombre portrait of love without limitation, obedience without defiance, and innocence consumed by judgement. Centuries before Calvary, God gave us a glimpse of what was to come. In one of the most tender and poignant accounts in the Old Testament, we see a father, Abraham, leading his only son, Isaac, up a lonely desolate hill. Out of obedience to the Lord, this most precious life, the sole heir to Abraham's kingdom, will be sacrificed on an altar of wood. Through unfathomable heartache, Abraham climbs the mountain, with Isaac close behind, neither understanding what has brought them to this place and time, but both choosing to trust, and with unfaltering faith... they obey. At the last moment God stays Abraham's hand and provides a ram in the thicket to sacrifice in Isaac's place.

Centuries later, it is now another father, the Heavenly Father, who leads His only Son, the Heir to His Kingdom, up a lonely desolate hill to be sacrificed on an altar of wood. Only this time, there will be no last-minute reprieve, no ram in the thicket. What God did for Abraham, He does not do for Himself. It is for the love of each of us that He gives His Child to be offered in our place. God removes His hand of protection and Jesus, the Prince of Glory, obedient unto death, allows the very ones He will die to save, to brutally place Him on the cross. Forsaken and broken, hangs the Lamb of God, alone on the altar.

It is the isolation of Christ that brings to an end our estrangement from the Father. "That God is on one side and all the people on the other side, and Christ Jesus, Himself a man, is between them to bring them together, by giving His life for all mankind." (1 Tim. 2: 5-6).

Through His brokenness we gain wholeness. Through His death we gain life.

Happy Easter, everyone.