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Fragrance Mists and Body Mists Review

2025-03-30T14:57:00.008+08:00

I tend to acquire decants and samples when I'm in a midst of a crash out (I'd buy actual perfumes whenever I'm in dire mental straits if my funds allow me but it does not!), so might as well put my quick thoughts about them. I'll try to update this list as I try new ones.

Bath & Body Works

☆☆☆☆☆ (I have repurchased these)

Wild Honeysuckle - FANTASTIC! One of their more complex fragrances that I've tried. Honey right out of the gate. Smells briefly of kisses (type of aroma beads that was popular in the 90s). Then you get a burst of overwhelming jasmine flowers before settling in to subtle medley of florals. Disappointing longevity however, even for a fragrance mist. Wish I could find something that smells the same but would stay much longer.

Moonlight Path - Smells like powdery, musky flowers. Some people would say old lady perfume but this is actually one of my favorites. THE PERFECT BEDTIME SCENT! One thing I've learned is scents either get reformulated or discontinued all the time. So if you find something you really like, purchase extra ones if you can!

Fresh Cut Lilacs - I don't think I've ever smelled real lilacs (I live in hardiness zones 12-13) so I'm not sure how close it smells like to the real thing but this is a nice, understated scent for when you're craving florals but fear it may be dizzying for other people

☆☆☆☆ (Probably will repurchase)

Twilight Woods - GREAT! This was also released on November 2009 the same month as the first Twilight film. It has a nice powdery, musky floral scent. I also do get a bit of coconut even though I usually hate coconut on fragrances (even though I normally slather VCO before going to bed as a treat because it remind me of bico / bibingkang latik)

Pearberry - Pleasant pear-berry-floral shampoo scent. It's a bit generic, but I do like it!

Rose Water & Ivy - I've received this as a gift, it has a lovely, albeit generic rose scent with a fresh aquatic property. Very light enough to layer and to use as a room spray.

Brightest Bloom - Smells similar to Daisy, which I used to love. That's also why I knocked one star off, because if you love how it smells, it's best to get Daisy for longer wear time. But, if you get bored with scents easily or you want an affordable dupe this is a great option

Fall in Bloom - This is also a shampoo scent to me. I've read that it's similar to Burberry Her (which I don't know how it smells but looking it up online it seems it's a fruity floral gourmand), and this is just floral to me

Pumpkin Pecan Waffles - No smokiness and very little spice on this one. Just pure, creamy pumpkin. I would say I like the other Pumpkin scent a bit better (which I rated 3 stars), but I find this has a better longevity out of all BBW scents I've tried. I am also over my gourmand phase so this makes me nauseous now so I'm ready to knock out 1 or 2 stars out of it except it's a bit of a crowd pleaser

☆☆☆ (I'd be happy to receive as a gift but I won't buy them again)

Rainkissed Leaves - Losing my mind because everybody says it's green but it is just watery, white florals to me (lily in the valley and very soft touches of jasmine). It's a nice enough scent I guess and I actually do like simple scents (have half a mind to bump this up a star)

Marshmallow Pumpkin Latte - Opens up in cinnamon for me, but settles into a sweet and smoky latte.

Fresh Sparkling Snow - Very apple-melon out of the bottle but settles into a nice melon sorbet with a hint of floral on your skin

Blueberry Sugar Pancakes - Smells exactly like blueberry pancakes

Strawberry Poundcake - Smells exactly like a sweet strawberry cake (filled with sweet strawberry jam, not the actual tart fruits)

☆☆ (Smells nice but I won't miss it)

Juniper Breeze - Fresh and clean (and aquatic) comes to mind. Another crowd pleaser

In The Stars - Smells like sweet latex which a lot of people seem to like.

Dark Kiss - It's very sweet, not exactly dark in any way

☆

Cucumber Melon - It's just like cucumber water with a hint of melon

Warm Vanilla Sugar - I think this one cured me from my vanilla obsession. It's nice but I'm ready to move on from vanilla

Victoria's Secret

☆☆☆ (I'd be happy to receive as a gift but I won't buy them again)

Bombshell Nights - Nothing too special. Didn't really smell like I thought it would, it is just woody floral to me

Very Sexy Night - It's a typical shampoo scent. I've been overusing the term shampoo scent, but it's a compliment really, saying this is pleasant enough. I'm getting a bit of mango?? Then a weird sour note (might be the plum? it's a listed note). Once the sourness passes, it dries down nicely

Very Sexy Dare - I don't know why they keep calling this 'Very Sexy' when there is nothing sexy about it. It's a bit nauseating for me at first (citrusy-nutmeg) but once you get past that is it enjoyable and dries down very similar to Very Sexy Night (curiously, Very Sexy Night dry down is more citrus while Very Sexy Dare is a bit more floral but they have that sweet, latex smelling note that makes it both similar). So I might be stupid for only realizing this now, but they probably work with the same base or same accord in the Very Sexy line (I had 'Very Sexy' a while back, but hated it so much because of the pepper, I honestly can't remember how the dry down smells and now I wish I could compare it).

☆☆ (Smells nice but I won't miss it)

Green Pear & Citrus - I'm starting to think my (scent) dealer might be giving me bootleg products because I can't find this one on Fragrantica. It also smells like coconut oil which settled into a tart citrus

Negative ☆

Very Sexy - Hate it very peppery

Candy Baby - Hate this with a passion!! My father received it as a gift and he over sprays this thing (he has a sweet tooth and seemed to have discovered a passion for sickly sweet scents in his 70s).

Beach Life Virtual Resort: Spring Break - Opening and Editing The .BLE Game Files

2025-01-31T00:42:00.004+08:00

images taken from the game and from the game manual

I have an itch to play Beach Life every now and then. The last time it happened, I found a band-aid solution to guests complaining about high prices. I wanted to make more changes if I could but I couldn't find a way to open and read some of the script files.

There are some files in the game that are readable on notepad (GameParameters.pis and the other .pis files on each scenario and sandscenario folder) but when you try to open up the .ble files, you only see random symbols.

I've tried tools that I've seen recommended online (Game Extractor, Ghidra, Offzip to name a few). Admittedly, I did just glaze over them because I know nothing about reverse engineering a game and didn't know what to do. I have an inkling to play it again recently, and I decided to try an idea that has been looming over my head but have been avoiding....

The GameParameters.pis file had a header containing the file name, and I noticed the repeating symbols on the .ble files is likely a header with the file name as well, so armed with those clues I decided to just decode the symbols manually. Surprisingly, it worked!!

To make your own changes:

First make a backup copy of the file you want to edit, and then make at least another two copies that you will be editing (place them in a different folder then just rename and place one file back in the folder when you want to test it out).

Second, download a hex editor (I use HxD)

Below is the file containing the symbols and the corresponding letters/numbers. Just use CTRL R (on HxD) to replace all the symbols with a letter/number (please ensure 'search direction all' and 'case sensitive' are ticked).

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1petGksIhPG6R6WiBHBwpYZqY1kXVhdjV/view?usp=sharing

It may seem a little tedious but it doesn't take a lot of time (probably ten minutes tops). I know there are probably easier ways to just change all the symbols in one go but I like that it turns red on HxD when you change something because the text stands out (as opposed to it just being all black text). Trust! It's so much easier to read it that way. Please note when you save the changes, all the text turns black and you CAN'T UNDO so I recommend opening up at least two copies of the file you are wanting to edit (one where you just replace the symbols with letters and numbers for reference and one file where you actually save the file and make the changes).

So, after replacing the symbols on the first copy of the file, just read and find out which values you'd like to change. Take note of the Offset (kind of like the line number). Go over to your other file, and make changes on the line you'd like to edit.

FOR EXAMPLE

You want to change the hotel guest capacity. The current max is 100. Take note of the offset, which is 0001EDE0. Go to the other copy of the file and go to the same offset.

A little note: making changes can make the game crash; I've previously tried to make the guest capacity 999 but it crashed once I created a new sandbox game. I've then tried another smaller number and it works ok so far. Creating backups is very important!

Getting back to it, to change the value from 100 to 300, edit ÎÏÏ into ÌÏÏ (from the ble_lettersnumbers.txt, 0 is Ï, 1 is Î, 3 is Ì etc.). After replacing the edited BuildingList.ble file on the game folder, the changes should be there the next time you open up the game.

Also, please note I haven't really made a lot of changes myself and haven't done a lot of in depth testing in game yet as I have just literally did this a few days ago but I wanted to make a post

So far, the changes I've tried on the BuildingList.ble file

- hotel guestcapacity (crashed upon startup on 999, 300 working ok so far)

- fail age for all buildings (the default is 2, I changed it into 9. I'll be trying a higher number next after testing this out more in game); you could also edit the fail percent - average was 5-10% and 0 percent for some buildings like the hotel. I haven't done a lengthy gameplay yet to see a difference

- maxstaff for all staff houses (I tried 20, even though it displays in game that you can hire up to 20 it prompts you that you can't hire more than 11)

changes I've tried on the SandboxE_guests.ble file

- surname, femalename and malename (just for fun)

- beautytol (for all guest types), I haven't changed this because the default for the SandboxE_guests was on a range of 9.000000-33.000000 which is is already low but if you've read my other post where I replaced the sandbox guests ble file with the guests08.ble file, I was going crazy because the guests08 people were more loose with their money but had high scenery requirements - and no wonder because upon looking at the file their beautytol ranges (depending on the guest type) it was around 80.0000-118.00090!

- pricetol (for all guest types) , the default for this file was approximately 0.900000-1.400000 while the guests08 people had an average of 1.10000-2.100000

I haven't found a way to make the cheats often referenced online (allbuildings, costa del dosh and quick quick quick!) work, but changing the buildtime value on each building can make structures build faster.

I mainly focused on opening the buildinglist.ble and sandboxe_guests.ble file because I only wanted to make a few changes, I did take a quick look at the other files (except the .biz files on the scenario folders, because the file size was large and it was taking me ages and there were far more characters in use that I haven't decoded) and here is a quick description from what I've seen:

- ble files inside the scenario folders mainly loads the guests and staff scripts starter buildings, weather and hazards schedule

- guest and staff files inside the object folder mainly contain animation scripts

Vintage Avon Perfume - Tempo released in 1978

2025-01-21T22:13:00.003+08:00

I've read somewhere that Avon used to do "inspired" perfumes of popular fragrances (they don't do an actual dupe wherein it would smell too similar) so I was wondering if Avon had a scent that was inspired by Lauren (by Ralph Lauren)

They had a fragrance that was released the same year as Lauren, called Tempo. I couldn't find a comprehensive list of notes online, just vague descriptions saying the top notes are orange blossom, middle notes woody with moss for base. Still, it was also chypre like Lauren and I happen to come across .33 FL oz bottle for around $6 so I went ahead and purchased it.

The verdict: it wasn't like Lauren at all but it is still quite lovely. It makes sense they were marketing it as a fun and upbeat fragrance because there certainly is an energetic feel to it. My nose isn't good at picking up individual scents (I think I did pick out jasmine?), but I would describe it as a powdery woody unisex fragrance.

It has the infamous FD&C Red No 4

I've been trying to make my own blend of Lauren using perfumes, essential and fragrance oils (unsuccessfully so far). Interestingly, one of the blends I did smelled similar to a dried down Tempo also after drying down. The original blend (in which I just mixed up perfumes) smelled nothing like Tempo, but it did after I added the following:

Lemongrass (I was trying to substitute it for galbanum because I couldn't find it locally)

Neroli

Spearmint

Mimosa

Ylang-ylang

Ho Wood (I was substituting for Rosewood)

Cedarwood

Sandalwood

Vetiver

Oak Moss

Lauren by Ralph Lauren (Vintage Fragrance Released in 1978)

2024-01-26T14:07:00.206+08:00

I find myself thinking about this perfume a lot. I've gathered it was very popular in the 80's and was still quite popular when I was a kid in the 90's. My mom didn't actually liked it much (she got it as a gift) although later on, she became a huge Ralph Lauren Romance and Glamorous fan.

I do think both of those perfumes smell nice but in my opinion, they don't hold a candle to Lauren. To me, Lauren actually embodies romance and glamour. As a kid, I would always gaze at my mom's vanity, thinking about how elegant the dark burgundy bottle looks and how it smells so "grown up". Mexican telenovelas were really popular at that time and I remember in María la del Barrio, María (played by Thalía) detected a different perfume on Luis Fernando (Fernando Colunga). She found the same scent on the new nanny's room (Penélope Linares played by Ana Patricia Rojo Stein). I'm pretty sure it was Lauren judging by the shape and colour of the bottle and cap. Anyways, María threw the bottle into the ground, shattering it. Penélope was so real for dabbing on some of the spilt perfume on her (waste not!) and having bought a whole new one just in time for her date with Luis Fernando. While Lauren was marketed for the classic all-American Ralph Lauren woman, coming to think of it, I feel like it has a bit of a seductive femme fatale quality (not unlike Penélope with her long legs and iconic red hair and bangs).

I heard that the reformulation (also discontinued) doesn't smell close to the original. Quite understandable due to current ingredient restrictions but it's just weird to me that in the 21st century we can't recreate it. I feel like with the amount of technology we have available it should be pretty plausible to recreate scents. Do you think it's cost production that's holding it back or is it really impossible to recreate certain scents? And do you guys think they will release a limited edition bottle with a better reformulation on its 50th anniversary in 2028?

By the way, if you want some information on how to date a bottle of Lauren (especially if you're buying one online) or you just want to know more about Lauren in general, please read this fantastic post from this blog Cleopatra's Boudoir

https://cleopatrasboudoir.blogspot.com/2017/10/lauren-by-ralph-lauren-c1978.html?m=1

Here is another informative blog that led me to date our Lauren bottle down to the year (my mom had one that was manufactured from 1995!)

https://raidersofthelostscent.blogspot.com/2024/04/some-brief-notes-about-dating-ralph.html

I find that Issey Miyake's 'A Scent' and Hugo 'Femme' doesn't smell exactly like Lauren but it scratches some of the itch. 'A Scent' can easily overpower 'Femme' so when mixing them I like to keep the ratio 1:2 or even 1:3 in a smaller 5ml bottle, you can check the quality after 24 hours but it may still be muddled so I suggest letting it meld together for a week or longer.

Other perfumes I've seen that are recommended by other people online:

Victoria's Secret Very Sexy - NOT REMOTELY CLOSE!! It was very peppery. I wonder if the person who said this meant VS Very Sexy Now or some other Very Sexy flanker. The 2008 one seems close (Top Notes: Melon, Red Apple, Pineapple, Bergamot - Middle Notes: Magnolia, Peony, Jasmine - Base Notes: Peach, Vanilla, Musk)

Rosa Novella by Santa Maria Novella - I saw two people claiming that this smells like Lauren; I've never considered Lauren a dominant rose perfume so I had doubts but this was such a niche recommendation so I tried finding a sample (which ended up pricier than what I usually pay for samples because this perfume isn't available in my country!! I had to go by a reseller so this one hurted a bit) and I should have trusted my gut loool. I think they've mistaken Lauren for Romance! I still have a bottle of early 2000s Romance, although I personally can't detect patchouli on it but these two are closer together than Lauren-Rosa Novella, although I would like to point out Rosa Novella opens up with a bitter note and VERY patchouli with some rose and dries down into a sweet-spicy, kind of creamy scent (lovely!!) while Romance opens up in a rosey floral with a pinch of spice but dries down very clean and almost ozonic.

Liz Claiborne for women (the one in the triangle bottles) - haven't tried; I've brought this up personally to someone and she exclaimed how she also loved this perfume back in the day but she didn't say if it smelled like Lauren now it's awkward if I bring it up again

Kate Spade TRULYGracious - haven't tried

I'm desperately trying to find something that smells similar because the vintage bottles are expensive on eBay. If any of you guys know of anything similar (or any ideas on layering different perfumes to get something close), please share them in the comments.

For reference these are the prominent notes in Lauren:

The New Perfume Handbook describes Lauren as such:

'Lauren' A 'fruity-fresh' floral perfume devised by Parfums Ralph Lauren in 1978 with the creative perfumers of IFF. Fruity green fragrances in the top notes, including tangerine and lemon, give way to a cool floral heart of ylang-ylang, mimosa, orange blossom and marigold, with base notes of cedar, sandalwood and oak moss. The flacon, in the form of a crystal cube, was design by Bernard Kotyuk.

Groom, N. (1997, pg. 184). New perfume handbook. Springer Science & Business Media.

Notes according to the Fragrantica website:

Top Notes: Green Notes, Clary Sage, Brazilian Rosewood, Pineapple

Middle Notes: Lilac, Lily of the Valley, Bulgarian Rose, Cyclamen, Jasmine, Violet

Base Notes: Carnation, Oakmoss, Sandalwood, Cedar, Vetiver

Notes according to the Basenotes website:

Head: Orange, Pineapple, Tarragon, Petitgrain, Spearmint, Marigold, Galbanum, Rosewood

Heart: Bulgarian Rose, Violet, Lilac, Jasmine, Lily of the Valley, Cyclamen, Daffodil / Jonquil, Clove

Base: Cedarwood, Oakmoss, Sandalwood, Vetiver, Musk, Carnation

Other notes people online mention:

Melon / Cantaloupe (highly likely, commonly mentioned)

Freesia (highly likely, commonly mentioned)

Apple

Black Cherry

Watermelon

Hyacinth

-----

SOME NEWS (2025)

I google Lauren periodically and tell me why I've only seen they have it on their website? The reviews suggest this page has been up for years and there was a screenshot from 2019 on the Wayback Machine but it is genuinely the first time I've came across this. It's not available for purchase but perhaps they're trying to gauge interest?

Here is the link

https://www.ralphlauren.com/women-accessories-fragrance/lauren-eau-de-toilette-spray/0001477926.html

Ralph Lauren is the Fragrance Foundation's (FIFI's) pick for 2025's Hall of Fame honoree. This is probably a sign for them to bring back some of their iconic fragrances.

-----

SEPTEMBER 2026 THOUGHTS

Y'all!!! I do not even think Lauren has a pineapple note bc I've just mixed two perfumes that were nectarine and mimosa forward and they smell reminiscent of pineapple! Not exactly like straight pineapple juice but more like a general fruit juice with a dominant pineapple flavor or when you've spilt some pineapple juice on your clothes earlier but there's a faint scent remaining. I'm very surprised that it's so sweet and fruity! Cantaloupe also seems very promising as I've been doing some mixes and the creaminess of the cantaloupe once it dries down reminds me of a note in Lauren.

Fasting and Autophagy

2023-12-31T22:10:00.001+08:00

24-48 hours is commonly cited as the time frame for autophagy to kick on animals. Research on humans still needs to catch up, and here are recent studies regarding how many hours of fasting does a human need before autophagy begins:

Time-Restricted Feeding Increases Autophagy in Humans: This 2022 study published in "Cell Reports" observed increased autophagy markers in participants following 18 hours of daily fasting within a time-restricted feeding window. Notably, it highlights the flexibility of individual responses, requiring further personalized approaches

Intermittent Fasting Does Not Trigger Autophagy in Human Skeletal Muscle: This 2023 study in "Cell Reports Medicine" found no significant changes in autophagy markers after various lengths of intermittent fasting in participants. It emphasizes the need for context-specific investigations depending on tissue and individual variations.

The Impact of Diet and Exercise on Autophagy in Human Skeletal Muscle: This 2023 review in "Frontiers in Physiology" summarizes different factors influencing autophagy in human skeletal muscle, acknowledging limitations in our current understanding and emphasizing the need for further research on dietary interventions and exercise protocols.

Main Takeaways:

There is still no definitve answer

Unfortunately, there's no single established duration for optimal autophagy in humans. Factors like individual metabolism, health status, and diet can impact when it starts.

24-48 hours might be an overestimate

While this window may hold true for some, evidence suggests autophagy might begin sooner. Investigated the effects of intermittent fasting (16:8) and exercise on autophagy markers in healthy adults. Results showed increased autophagy markers after 16 hours of fasting, suggesting earlier onset than previously thought.

Longer fasts don't necessarily equate to more benefits

The optimal fasting duration for autophagy in humans likely varies. Extended fasts (beyond 72 hours) may not offer additional benefits and could even be detrimental depending on health conditions. Some studies examined the impact of prolonged fasting (5 days) on muscle protein synthesis and autophagy in healthy young adults. Found increased autophagy markers but also protein breakdown, highlighting potential drawbacks of extended fasts.

Consider alternative methods

Aside from fasting, other practices like exercise, calorie restriction, and specific dietary protocols may also stimulate autophagy to varying degrees.

Snow White: The Fairest of Them All (2001)

2023-11-10T20:58:00.001+08:00

Snow White is one of my favorite fairy tale characters. I wonder why no one is making anything about Rose Red (Snow White's sister on an entirely different version of the story) but I'm really excited about the new Disney movie coming out. Honestly, Halle Bailey's Little Mermaid is one of the best Disney adaptations I've seen in YEARS so I have high hopes for Snow White.

In the meantime, I'd like to say that the 2001 film version of Snow White will always have a special place in my heart. Not just because I had a huge thing for Kristin Kreuk back then. I even made her photo as my profile pic in a social networking site (I think it was Hi-5 or Friendster). I wasn't trying to catfish anyone but I guess Smallville isn't as popular as I thought because no one clocked it as her. I had hordes of people trying to hit me up loool.

Look at that face card

This movie wasn't as gruesome as how some versions of the story goes but they were really able to flesh out the tale without offering an explanation as to the hows and whys. I don't know how else to put it but the movie feels straight out of a story book.

No rhyme or reason, just vibes.

For some reason, I find the whole glass shard in the eye thing a bit unsettling (I can't stand eyelashes on my eyeballs). The prince, trapped in the bear form, licking the ice encapsulating Snow White like a Tootsie Pop to reach the center (Snow White) for a kiss was a nice touch.

Best Swedish Comprehensible Input Shows and Youtube Channels

2023-10-20T20:15:00.012+08:00

This is giving me The Sims 1 / TS1 vibes

I'll be talking about my comprehensible input journey a bit but if you want to go straight to the series and Youtube channel recommendations, just scroll down.

I have been learning Spanish for 2 years through Memrise and Duolingo and I feel like I've wasted time. When I am on the app, I pick up the right answers but in real life, I can't come up with basic words on my own. Losing streaks on Duolingo and reviews piling up on Memrise was also becoming stressful for me so I have been looking for a "painless" way to learn languages. That's when I came across the Youtube channel 'Dreaming Spanish'. Pablo (he started Dreaming Spanish) is highly discouraging things like looking up words in the dictionary, watching subtitles in your native language and reading in your target language (not until you reach an advanced level).

I wanted to try learning another language from scratch using this approach (I ended up choosing Swedish). But it was hard to find an extensive resource for comprehensible input with complete beginners in mind. Disregarding some rules from Dreaming Spanish, I looked up common words and tried to learn them first before watching videos but I still found most videos challenging for me. To be honest, even some shows that are for kids were hard for me to understand especially if there isn't enough for me to go on (how the scene is set, the characters actions and expressions etc.) but here are some that I found that was ok for my level:

Tjejer / Killar (SVT)

https://www.svtplay.se/tjejer

https://www.svtplay.se/killar

This is one of my favorites because of how easy it is to understand. The actors are kids so they tend to speak a little slower. This show confirmed my suspicions that my ass could never be a parent. These kids were stressing me out big time by being bratty and annoying but it was still entertaining to watch. There is a bit of continuity with some of the episodes so it's best to watch it in order. For some reason, it doesn't play in order on the SVT Barn website (it goes from last to first) so I recommend watching on the main SVT website or app.

Svenska Med Anastasia (Youtube)

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SvenskamedAnastasia

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/svenska_med_anastasia/

You can also find SFI grammar lessons on her Youtube channel but I find her videos about everyday life very helpful in learning vocabulary that I actually need. Most of her shorts / reels is also on her instagram page but some of the longer videos (like going on vacations, going to the supermarket etc.) are on Youtube.

Greta Gris / Peppa Pig (Youtube / SVT)

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@gretagris-officiellakanal1050

Their Youtube channel is a bit annoying because they upload the same episodes over and over but this is one of the easiest material for beginners. I tried watching other cartoons that were on SVT (like Paddington etc.) but I found them difficult to understand. With Greta Gris, you could get a grasp of what's happening without knowing much words. They also tend to repeat words and phrases a lot. You can also watch Greta Gris on SVT Play but you need a VPN

Bolibompa Baby (SVT)

Fun fact, Bolibompa is older than Barney! Not so fun fact, SVT has retired Bolibompa this 2023 (the videos are still up on SVT but I don't think they are doing more videos). I haven't actually watched a lot of Bolibompa videos because it was a bit overwhelming where to start. Also, not everyone can stand watching videos made for toddlers. At the very least, I recommend listening to nursery rhymes, especially those that are somewhat handy to learn (like små grodorna).

Klassen (SVT)

https://www.svtplay.se/klassen

I've only watched season 1 and season 2 so far (you need a VPN to view season 2) but they have a different cast for the other seasons. It's kind of a mixed bag, some episodes I know exactly what's going on and sometimes I have no idea what just happened. It's a light show centering around teens. Personally, it was interesting for me to get a glimpse of what their school life is like because it's a lot different from what I grew up with.

Otajmat (SVT)

https://www.svtplay.se/otajmat

The cast is around the same age as in Klassen, but since this is more of a comedy show it was surprisingly easy to understand. They play really good music in each episode too.

A little note on SVT Play:

Some of the shows can only be accessed with an ip address based in Sweden. When Drag Race Sverige was ongoing, I purchased NordVPN so I can watch it. Personally, I would wait for my Swedish to improve before I invest regularly in a VPN subscription so I can maximize it. Most of the series I've mentioned above are just readily available on the website or app. They have a lot of other shows for kids too but didn't really enjoyed watching some of them but you might find something else you like!

Vlogs that I watch:

Louise Jorge

https://www.youtube.com/@louisejorges

I began watching from her coming back to New York vlog where she switched the language back to Svenska (some older videos are in English) but nowadays I've backtracked to watching her vlogs from the beginning. Even if the speed of her talking is normal (meaning FAST), I feel like there's actually a lot going on in the vlogs for me to get a gist of what's happening. In general, her videos are about fashion, traveling and living in New York (and her life in Sweden in the older vlogs).

Emma

https://www.youtube.com/@studentemma1631

She stopped vlogging after graduating but there's more than a hundred videos to go through especially if you want to get a glimpse of what a regular college student life is like (she started her vlog shortly before she went to university).

Lisa Truedsson

https://www.youtube.com/@lisatruedsson

Her vlogs are about her life in Paris (she also recorded her life as a university student in her older vids).

I really like watching 'slice of life' type of vlogs and I wish I could find a Swedish (speaking) channel of someone living in Korea or Japan (in a girlypop kind of way). If you guys know of any, let me know please!!!!

Beas Liv

https://www.youtube.com/@beasliv

I have LITERALLY browsed more than 20 Swedish vloggers on Youtube and most of the time there isn't much going on for me to pick up context clues. This channel is one of the first that I've seen with videos that I could understand (especially the Tinder experiement ones or videos where she tests foods from Walmart, Mcdonald's Dubai etc).

Some other Youtube Channels

Peter SFI

https://www.youtube.com/@petersfi6089

Some say that you should avoid comprehensible input videos that teaches grammar but I like watching Peter SFI. Somehow it's understandable despite me not knowing much words. The words are also pronounced slowly and are enunciated clearly.

Fun Swedish

https://www.youtube.com/@FunSwedish

Their videos are in English but they make a lot of interesting videos on various subjects (vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar, culture, pop culture etc.). I actually discovered SVT Play through this channel because they've mentioned Julkalender (the first one I've watched was Kronprinsen som försvann 2022 and Mysteriet på Greveholm 1996).

Slow Swedish with Katrin Berndt

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/@KatrinBerndtSWE

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/slowswedish_

This channel has been on hiatus but luckily, Katrin has started to make Youtube videos again with a lot of really helpful content on Instagram.

Swedish with Cova

Youtube

https://m.youtube.com/@swedishwithcova

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/SwedishWithCova

There isn't a lot on her Youtube channel but there are more videos on Instagram. She also frequently does mini quizzes through IG stories

Agaton Linguistics / vardagmedsvenska

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/@agatonlinguisticssvenskala1663

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/vardagmedsvenska

Again, there isn't a lot of videos on Youtube and Instagram but it's one of the channels / IG pages that I wish there was more content.

List of other Youtube channels in Swedish

I don't really watch these - either it's hard for me to understand or it's not my cup of tea although I admit I did kinda just glazed over the channels in this list. Some of the vlogs below are popular and I frequently see recommended elsewhere so I might try watching again in the future:

Slice of Life (???)

Felicia Bergström

https://youtube.com/@FELLSIS

Kammi

https://youtube.com/@KammiRosenskjold

Amanda Lundgren

https://youtube.com/@AmandaLundgrens

LAKI

https://youtube.com/@lakidoris

Alexandra Nilsson

https://youtube.com/@AlexandraNilsson

Wilma Holmqvist

https://youtube.com/@WilmaHolmqvist

Sara Songbird

https://youtube.com/@SaraSongbird

Linn Ahlborg

https://youtube.com/@linnahlborg

Therése Lindgren

https://youtube.com/@ThereseLindgren

Alice Stenlöf

https://youtube.com/@alicestenlof

Beauty / Fashion

Misslisibell

https://youtube.com/@MissLisibell

Antonija Mandir

https://youtube.com/@AANTONIJAMANDIR

Linda-Marie Nilsson

https://youtube.com/@LindaMariie

Bianca Ingrosso

https://youtube.com/@BiancaIngrossoOfficial

Nathalie Danielson

https://youtube.com/@Nattid01

Felicia Aveklew

https://youtube.com/@feliciaaveklew

Comedy

Sam Pettersson

https://youtube.com/@SamTheMans

Hampus Hedström

https://youtube.com/@HampusHedstrom

Family

Familjen Lundell

https://youtube.com/@JockeJonna

Food / Cooking

Filip Poon

https://youtube.com/@FilipPoon

Zeina Mourtada

https://youtube.com/@zeinamourtada

Camilla Hamid

https://youtube.com/@CamillaHamid

MatGeek

https://youtube.com/@matgeek

Testing Stuff vlogs??

Vendela Nilsson

https://youtube.com/@VendelaNilsson

Moa Lindgren

https://youtube.com/@MoaLindgren

Manfred Erlandsson

https://youtube.com/@ManfredErlandsson

Beach Life Virtual Resort: Spring Break Guests Complaining About High Prices Fix

2023-09-15T23:40:00.022+08:00

------ UPDATE 24TH JANUARY 2025 ------

I've managed to read some of the .ble files

I will be putting it in another post

Beach Life Virtual Resort: Spring Break - Opening and Editing the .BLE Game Files

------------------------------------------------------

Beach Life is a business strategy PC game by Deep Red Games (now called DR Studios) and Eidos Interactive. It was released in 2002 and I was still young when I first played it lol. I know there are a lot of similar games but at the same time I haven't really found something quite like it so I get a hankering to play every five years or so.

I usually only play sandbox mode but I noticed that eventually guests start complaining about high prices after day 10. It's frustrating because it comes to a point where guests flat out refuse to buy so you have to keep lowering prices (or rebuild it again). I find the accommodation blocks especially INFURIATING. When guests start complaining about the accommodation blocks, chipping off $1-2 isn't enough and you have to keep on lowering it!!! I'm not really sure if you have to let them stay for free eventually because I'm usually sick with the game at this point.

I haven't figured out a way to edit most of the game files and scripts yet, but there are two things you can do to make sandbox guest stop complaining about high prices (only do one)

First Method

Just go to where the game is installed (usually Program Files or Program Files (x86) ) then Eidos Interactive/Beach Life/Data/Scenario

You'll see all the scenario and sandbox folders. Just pick any sandbox folder and edit the .pis file

sandscenario1.pis (sandscenario2.pis sandscenario3.pis.... etc. depending on the map) file. You only need to use notepad or notepad++.

Edit line 9 where it says "data/Script/SandboxE_guests.pis" into "data/Script/Guests08.pis"

You might get a prompt (both on Notepad++ and on the folder) that you need administrator permission etc. Just click continue or yes.

Basically, it just replaces the default sandbox guests with guests from map 8 Lotto. Guests from the Milk It scenario have a lot of money (literally one of the objectives is to earn $30000 in one day) so I figured they are less likely to complain about prices.

Second Method

A much faster way would be to move SandboxE_Guests.ble, SandboxH_guests.ble and SandboxM_guests.ble (you can find them on the data/script folder) somewhere as backups, then make three copies of the Guests08.ble file in the same folder. Rename each copy into SandboxE_Guests.ble, SandboxH_Guests.ble and SandboxM_Guests.ble so you don't have to edit each file in every scenario sandbox folder.

To test it, I played on number 2 - Cachet, which is a good sized medium map. You can put all buildings on it and still have some room for around 4-6 accommodation blocks. I also used money cheats when playing with both default sandbox guests and guests08 because I wanted to build everything quickly.

I'm currently on Day 31 and I've noticed guests haven't complained about prices yet, although they stopped remarking about how cheap it is after day 10 (except for newly constructed structures). Other differences I've noticed are:

- There seems to be more women than men. With the default sandbox guests and same buildings I get a good mix of sexes but after changing it there's usually 20-40 more women so I had to change things around (demolish cocktail bar; only wet-tshirt contests; build more party boats etc.) to close the gap

- You need more scenery than usual. Default sandbox guests usually comment how good the scenery looks at around 80-100 scenery objects. I was losing my mind because I had more than 150 and they were still complaining. I put a bunch of fountains and billboards on empty spaces. It looks hideous but after 190+ guests were happy.

I was trying to get the scenery rating up quick haha

- Guests tend to complain more about litter. Litter usually becomes an issue for default sandbox guests if there's more than 50 but I'm getting complaints at around only 20-30 litter objects.

I haven't played beyond Day 31 yet, but I'll update if anything of note happens.

I'm not sure if I'll ever find a way to edit the files but there are a lot of things I want to change like more freedom in building placements, not having to maintain structures a lot, possibly update the graphics etc. so I hope someone else takes this up as a project haha!

Currently I have 15 mechanics on different shifts (I usually set 24 hour buildings and power generators with inspections every 4 hours, normal buildings every 6, then staff buildings every 12) and I still have a lot of maintenance issues! Have you found a strategy with maintaining buildings that work great?

World Masterpiece Theater - Marco 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother

2023-07-21T22:24:00.000+08:00

I have started watching World Masterpiece Theater animes on Youtube in Spanish for comprehensible input. I've seen several of their animes as a kid. They're well loved in many countries so I highly recommend them.

I nearly dropped this series because the episodes uploaded on Youtube has really awful audio quality and while I get the gist of the story, I struggled a lot with understanding the conversations especially in the beginning but I'm glad I decided to finish it.

It's quite far-fetched for a little boy from Italy traveling solo all the way to Argentina in search for his mother to be happening in real life but I would personally file this anime in the 'slice of life' genre (and a historical one at that!). It was fascinating to see adults offering Marco wine and him chugging it down. I'm not sure if that's an Italian thing or if it was just commonplace back then (keep in mind this anime was released in 1976). I also remember this scene where Marco and his friend got scammed out of his ship fare so they decided to hunt the guy who scammed them in the shady part of town where they proceeded to get hurt and they beat the crap out of the scammer in return. Marco stepping foot into the immigrant ship also stood out to me, because everybody on that ship looked gaunt and very tired. I've read somewhere that even regular transatlantic voyages were tough back in the day (health wise due to poor hygiene, contamination and poor nutrition on board).

I also like the small details in the anime, especially when Marco got to Argentina. They showed the salt flats, gauchos, ostriches (? not sure but they said avestruces), there was even one scene where the locals seems to be drinking yerba mate (they didn't specifically mentioned it but they were drinking something out of the gourd cup).

They really took a short story and fleshed it out and the attention to details is outstanding. Highly recommended!

Spot Reducing Fat

2023-02-10T22:54:00.001+08:00

I've heard someone say that fat loss is more like tearing a page from a note book rather than sculpting out clay. Where fat comes piles on (and comes off) is primarily determined by genetics and hormones.

HOWEVER there's constant search for more effective fat-loss solutions. Recent studies and trials haven't shown substantial success in achieving true spot reduction. However, some advancements offer nuances to consider:

1. Localized Fat Mobilization

Studies on cold therapy (cryolipolysis) and radiofrequency show small-scale fat reduction in treated areas like the chin, abdomen and thighs. These methods potentially break down or mobilize fat cells in the targeted area, but the overall fat loss remains modest and doesn't guarantee fat will only be lost from that specific area.

This seems to work best if you have minimal fat or minor sagging. I've watched countless of videos of overweight / obese individuals that have undergone non-invasive procedures and haven't really seen significant results.

2. Exercise-Induced Lipolysis

While specific exercises won't spot reduce fat, strength training combined with a balanced diet can help build muscle in specific areas, potentially giving the appearance of fat loss as muscle definition increases. \

3. Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES):

Studies exploring NMES, which uses electrical currents to stimulate muscle contractions, show some promise in localized fat reduction, but the effects are small and require further research.

All of these methods require additional lifestyle changes like healthy eating and regular exercise for any significant fat loss. Plus, a lot of these new non-invasive fat loss and fat melting procedures are still under investigation for its long-term effectiveness and safety.

As always, consulting a healthcare professional is crucial before trying any new weight-loss approach.

The First Slam Dunk and is The Second (Third, Fourth, Fifth) Slam Dunk Happening?

2023-02-02T09:53:00.004+08:00

Inoue Takehiko - Slam Dunk

I've been waiting decades for this!

Even though the ending of the manga was bittersweet (albeit very realistic), I still wanted the rest of the manga to be animated. Although, if I'm being honest I also want a continuation (even more than the '10 days after' sequel because I really want to see Sakuragi fully recovered and back to his shenanigans)

The First Slam Dunk is a 2022 Japanese animated film based on the wildly popular Slam Dunk manga. Written and directed by Inoue Takehiko, the film focuses on Ryota Miyagi (his childhood and his older brother Sota) and the Shohoku vs Sannoh match.

I was actually a bit bummed that I haven't gone to the fan screening (in the Philippines, regular ticket price was 400 php, the fan screening one was 1200 php but you get a caramel popcorn, t-shirt, poster and keychain so it's worth it). If there is going to be a fan screening in your country, PLEASE GO!

There are rumors going around that there are going to be five movies, and The Second Slam Dunk is going to focus on Hisashi Mitsui (my favorite character apart from Hanamichi).

This isn't my own theory I'm just reposting rumors going around on some Japanese websites.

Based on basketball positions:

Point Guard = 1st (Ryota Miyagi)

Shooting Guard = 2nd (Hisashi Mitsui)

Small Forward = 3rd (Kaede Rukawa)

Power Forward = 4th (Hanamichi Sakuragi)

Center = 5th (Takenori Akagi)

I think this is an interesting take. The movie ended a bit abruptly like it was set up for a sequel, so I'm not surprised if there's going to be another movie. Thinking about the manga there really wasn't much that happened after the Sannoh game it was mainly just depressing stuff (Shohoku losing the next game because they were all dead tired from the Sannoh match and Sakuragi wasn't there, the seniors except Mitsui retired from the team to focus on graduating, Hanamichi is still in rehabilitation for his back etc.). However, a lot of people are theorizing that along with each member of the team's backstory (and perhaps a bit of their future like we've seen with Miyagi in The First Slam Dunk), some of the important games are going to be reanimated.

Predictions what the matches are gonna be:

First Slam Dunk - Sannoh

Second Slam Dunk - Shoyo (retelling)

Third Slam Dunk - Ryonan (retelling)

Fourth Slam Dunk - Toyotama

Fifth Slam Dunk - Kainan (retelling)

I've just read details regarding the production of The First Slam Dunk and Inoue Takehiko is very meticulous. He started working on the script in 2015 and the animation process started in 2018. While the movie is a huge hit, the production process took a long time so I'm not sure how long we have to wait for the sequels if they're even happening.

I'll post again if there is any updates regarding a second movie but what do you guys think?

Movies Round Up 010 (Dracula Untold, Van Helsing, Little Vampire)

2023-02-01T10:26:00.058+08:00

Dracula Untold

"Dracula Untold" is a 2014 action horror film directed by Gary Shore and starring Luke Evans as Vlad the Impaler, the historical figure who served as the inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula. The film tells the story of Vlad's transformation into a vampire and his battle against a Turkish sultan who threatens his kingdom.

Was surprised to see Paul Bullion in this (even though his character died right away)! I didn't really know what to expect while watching it, but I liked it. The part where he was making all the dying, wounded people into vampires to get revenge was very satisfying. The ending was set up for a sequel and I watched this around the time (2021) there were rumors regarding Dracula Untold possibly getting picked up again for a sequel but it seems it's unlikely to happen. Still, I imagine it would be something along the lines of Dracula and Mina (Sarah Gadon) starting to cozy up then Master Vampire (Charles Dance) will be pulling Dracula aside saying "it's time". "It's time" meaning he plans to cover the world in darkness and whatnot. Dracula, distraught, thinking that was all in the past, and he doesn't want to slaughter people and lose Mirena again. So he would have to find a way to destroy the Master Vampire himself.

Van Helsing

"Van Helsing" is a 2004 action horror film directed by Stephen Sommers and starring Hugh Jackman as the titular character, a monster hunter who is sent to Transylvania to defeat Count Dracula and his undead minions.

The scene where they first came to the village was very cringe. Anna Valerious was giving very stereotypical Eastern European bombshell in a vampire parody porn film. Like... I'm not sure if Kate Beckinsale was instructed to act like that or if that's her own interpretation on the character but she needs some sort of compensation or huge tip. Anyway, this movie isn't the best and it won't leave you in awe, but it grew on me and I would say it is enjoyable (dare I say camp??). The overall soundtrack is very nice but my best sound bit in the film was Journey to Transylvania by Alan Silvestri, it's one of the most memorable movie music I've heard in a while and really hypes up the scene.

Little Vampire / Petit Vampire

Petit Vampire

Little Vampire is a 2020 French animated film directed by Joann Sfar and was based on her comic book series Petit Vampire.

I thought this was another remake of 'The Little Vampire' (2000) which gathered unfairly low reviews but I was mistaken. I didn't like how Gibbous was terrorizing them for god knows how long and have tricked many people/beings to become bugs but he got rewarded with a hot girlfriend in the end. Also, Petit Vampire was a little annoying (bratty and spoiled). But I did like how some parts of the film truly feels like it was straight out of a storybook.

Movies Round Up 009 (Ava, Man from UNCLE, Top Gun)

2023-01-28T14:26:00.005+08:00

Ava

"Ava" is a 2020 action thriller film directed by Tate Taylor and starring Jessica Chastain as the titular character, a deadly assassin who is targeted by her employers when she fails to complete a mission.

Looking at the movie poster I thought it was gonna be a cliche, glamorous female assassin type of film but to be honest I was a bit disappointed that it wasn't. The plot wasn't very interesting. I get that the lead is going through some things, but her character wasn't really presented in such a way that you would care what happens to her. It wasn't entertaining (not funny, not action packed, not a tear jerker etc.) or visually stunning.

The only thing that stood out to me is the wardrobe, regarding how realistic it is (in a bad way). In real life, a lot of people are sloppily dressed especially when they're just at home or when running quick errands. In most movies, people do dress normally but in a kind of 'we're expecting guests but keep it casual' type of way. I can't really explain it well. As soon as Ava whipped out that ratty looking cold shoulder asymmetrical top, it does really feel like she's someone I'd bump into somewhere in Massachusetts.

Man from U.N.C.L.E

Man from UNCLE

"The Man from U.N.C.L.E." is a 2015 action comedy film directed by Guy Ritchie and based on the 1960s television series of the same name. The film stars Henry Cavill and Armie Hammer as Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin, two agents from rival superpowers who are forced to work together to stop a mysterious international criminal organization from using nuclear weapons.

Too bad that Armie Hammer may be a p*rpetrator (there's still an ongoing investigation) because a sequel would have actually been nice. Henry Cavill's voice isn't really working but the effort is appreciated. The outfits on the female leads were great. I was really surprised that Elizabeth Debicki, the woman who played Victoria Vinciguerra was only 25 years old when the film came out. I don't know how old she was supposed to be on the film, but I really thought she was in her 40s (not in the way that she looks, but in her demeanor). My best sound bit from the movie was when they were infiltrating the island. I thought to myself it would have been good to experience that scene at a movie theater.

Top Gun (1986)

Top Gun

"Top Gun" is a 1986 action drama film directed by Tony Scott and starring Tom Cruise as Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, a talented but reckless Navy pilot who is sent to a specialized training program known as Top Gun to hone his skills and become the best of the best.

Supposedly, Top Gun was the movie that shot Tom Cruise into fame so I had high expectations but it was very underwhelming. Also, I don't really know if this is how some straight men are but it does feel like a caricature at times (like how stereotypical tough, straight men act).

Movies Round Up Ep 008 (Malena, Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon)

2023-01-18T09:09:00.001+08:00

Recently, I've been rewatching some movies that I've seen a long time ago which I haven't seen in ages.

Malena (2000)

Directed by Giuseppe Tornatore and starring Monica Bellucci

"Malena" is a 2000 Italian romantic drama film directed by Giuseppe Tornatore and starring Monica Bellucci. The film is set in Italy during World War II and tells the story of a young boy named Renato, who becomes infatuated with a beautiful woman named Malena, who becomes the object of desire for many of the town's men.

I remember really loving the movie when I first saw it as a teen. However, over the years I've been hearing a lot of criticism about the film (its focus on objectification of women and that's it's trying too hard to be an art film etc.) so I was wondering if it was as good as I remember. After rewatching it, I can say that I still really like it. Monica Bellucci is really gorgeous, the story hinges on her attractiveness, or else it won't really work. I mean, sure there are a lot of beautiful actresses they could have chosen for the role but it was really believable for HER to be desired and envied by the town.

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (2006)

Directed by Tom Tykwer and starring Ben Whishaw, Dustin Hoffman, and Alan Rickman

"Perfume: The Story of a Murderer" is a 2006 German period psychological crime thriller film based on the novel of the same name by Patrick Süskind. The film follows the story of Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, a brilliant but troubled perfumer who becomes obsessed with capturing the perfect scent and will stop at nothing to achieve it, even if it means committing murder.

I think a friend told me to watch this many years ago, which I did. But I'm only finding out now that it was based on a book. I thought the movie was excellent, and movie adaptations are usually inferior than the book in most cases so this is a very exciting discovery for me.

Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (2000)

Directed by Ang Lee and starring Chow Yun-fat, Michelle Yeoh, and Zhang Ziyi

"Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" is a 2000 martial arts film directed by Ang Lee and based on the Chinese wuxia novel of the same name by Wang Dulu. The film is set in Qing Dynasty China and follows the story of two skilled warriors, Li Mu Bai and Yu Shu Lien, who are drawn into a complex web of love, betrayal, and vengeance when a powerful and mysterious sword known as the Green Destiny goes missing.

I know I said I've been rewatching movies, well I lied (sort of). I've seen clips of this movie on Youtube a number of times (mostly the fight scene between Zhang Ziyi and Michelle Yeoh) but I haven't really seen it in its entirety.

I personally think while it has its moments, the plot itself is a little weak. But the storytelling is great so I totally get why it was a box office hit. They really popped off with the whole desert sequence, it's the most visually striking part of the film for me.

The Metamorphosis - Franz Kafka

2023-01-08T13:51:00.003+08:00

I had this book for a long time. I didn't even know what it was about, I just liked the cover (I also have other 'Pulp! The Classics' books).

I wanted to get back into reading, and this seems like a quick read (just a little over a hundred pages) so I decided to give it a go.

Gregor Samsa is a young, hard working travelling salesman. One day, he woke up feeling odd and to his horror, he turned into a large bug (didn't exactly say what but most people think of him as a roach).

I HATE bugs, cockroaches to be specific but I do feel sorry for him. Not just the fact that he turned into a roach but his family kind of discarded him because he's not useful anymore and he turned into a burden. I don't even think it's been a full year but they're already at the end of their limit. But at the same time, I do understand his father and sister. On the surface, caring for him doesn't sound like a lot (just give him rotten food and keep him confined in his room) but they couldn't fully move forward with life with Gregor at the back of their minds. They all had to get jobs to survive yet someone still needs to be at home at all times (probably to ensure Gregor doesn't escape or to ensure someone won't discover him accidentally). I think, they had to isolate themselves from their family and friends. It may not seem like much now, but clearly the uncertainty of how long do they have to keep their lives on hold is weighing them down.

Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but Gregor seems a little obsessed with his sister (Grete). Not just because he has to rely on her for food that he became weirdly attached. Even early on in the book, there's just something about the way he talks about the sound of her skirt, and being surprised at her getting dressed quickly, it makes me feel that he pays a little too close to her habits and presence.

His injuries and lack of appetite aside, maybe being a bug shortened his life span? I think he would have died earlier, if he haven't kept holding on to the last bit of humanity he has, the memory of his family. Otherwise it's a bit coincidental for him to die on the same night he heard his family talk about how life would be better without him.

Goya Winter Chill Milk Chocolate

2022-12-28T16:05:00.022+08:00

Goya Winter Chill Milk Chocolate with Pure Peppermint Extract

I don't think this is new because I frequently see the 'Very Berries Yogurt Infused White Chocolate' one in groceries but this was my first time seeing this.

It more or less tastes like how a normal mint chocolate goes except it has this crunchy/chewy red bits of peppermint candy.

Description on the package:

Milk chocolate comfort made cooler with a generous infusion of pure peppermint extract. Sit back and chill with this minty milk chocolate marvel.

Ingredients:

Sugar, Vegetable Fat, Milk Powders (Skimmed Milk Powder, Whey Powder), Peppermint Crunch (Sugar, Butter, Peppermint Oil, Sodium Bicarbonate and Artificial Allura Red Color), Cocoa Powder, Emulsifiers (Soya Lecithin, Polyglycerol Polyricinoleate), Flavors.

Nutrition Facts:

Serving Size: 1 piece (35g) No. of Servings per pack: 1

Calories: 178kcal Calories from Fat: 80

Total Fat: 9g Saturated Fat: 8g Trans Fat: 0g Choleterol: 3mg

Sodium: 36mg

Total Carbohydrates: 22g Dietary Fiber: 1g Sugar: 19g

Total Protein: 2g

Calcium: 95mg Magnesium: 18mg Phosphorus: 81mg

Shows Round Up 008 (Resident Alien, Upload, Miracle Workers)

2022-12-05T05:18:00.000+08:00

Resident Alien (2021)

Resident Alien

This isn't a nonresident alien H-1B visa type of situation - it's about an actual extraterrestrial being that came to Earth to kill humans. His ship crashed and the device he needs to destroy the human race got lost. The alien killed a certain Dr. Harry Vanderspeigle (Alan Tudyk) and assumed his identity so he can look for his missing device and rebuild his ship in peace. When the town doctor unexpectedly dies, they enlisted Harry's help to do an autopsy and was subsequently asked to fill in the role while they look for a replacement. "Harry" just has to blend in until he finds what he's looking for. Unfortunately, one of the kids in town (Max Hawthorne played by Judah Prehn) has that rare genetic mutation that makes him able to see through the alien's disguise.

I wasn't expecting much, but this turned out to be one of my favorite shows in 2021! It's just so funny. The actor playing the alien/Harry is brilliant. I also don't know why I like the "adult beefing with kids" trope so much haha. I'm not done watching Season 2 yet but it's very good as well so far. I think the only other show from Syfy that I've watched was The Magicians, which was simultaneously unsettling and great so maybe I should try watching their other shows too.

Upload (2020)

Upload

The idea of living (possibly) forever in a virtual world is certainly intriguing. Preserving our consciousness may be the closest thing to immortality we can achieve. But it may not turn out how it's all cracked up to be.

Nathan Brown (Robbie Amell) is a young, promising computer programmer that unfortunately dies prematurely. His wealthy girlfriend uploads him on Lake View. There he meets his "angel", Nora (Andy Allo) - a living customer service rep. Despite struggling with their own life/afterlife problems, they grow closer together. They both started noticing odd circumstances surrounding Nathan's death and they're determined to find out the truth.

The plot seems interesting but it didn't really stood out to me. I still watched the second season of the show though, so it's not really bad or anything.

Miracle Workers (2019-2021)

Miracle Workers

When I started watching this, I didn't know it was an anthology so I was a little sad I won't get to see more of their characters in season 1 (which is still my favorite season, thus far).

Season 1 is about heaven running like a very bureaucratic organization; every little thing on Earth has its own department. Eliza(Geraldine Viswanathan) has recently transferred to The Depart of Answered Prayers, the only other worker there is Craig (Daniel Radcliffe), who spends a painstakingly amount of time fulfilling petty prayers. Eliza found out that there are many rules as to answering prayers, that most of them needs a miracle and are marked "impossible" and forwarded to God (Steve Buscemi). God wants to blow up Earth to build a new restaurant but decided to strike a bet with Eliza if she could answer one impossible prayer, he will not destroy Earth.

Season 2 is titled 'Dark Ages' and Season 3 is called 'Oregon Trail' (where the clip of Daniel Radcliffe going around dancing to She'll Be Coming Round The Mountain while wearing assless chaps came from).

Shows Round Up 007 (Sweet Tooth, Secrets of Sulphur Springs, The Baby-Sitters Club)

2021-08-11T17:11:00.002+08:00

Sweet Tooth (2021-)

The DC comic book the series was based on was made in 2009 but the story eerily resonates today.

Most of the human population died due to the mysterious pandemic called "The Sick". Together with the inexplicable phenomena of part human and part animal babies being born, the world fell into chaos. We see a man leaving the crumbling world behind and going deep into the woods, with a hybrid baby with him - Gus (Christian Convery). With each passing year and despite his father's warnings, Gus grows more curious of the world beyond the woods. Without spoiling too much, Gus left the woods to search for someone, together with Jepperd (Nonso Anozie). Gus discovers that in the outside world, hybrids are feared by humans and are hunted by the "Last Men" (to dwindle their numbers and to experiment on them).

This is one of the best shows from Netflix that I've watched this year. It has all the ingredients for your typical post-apocalyptic / dystopian story and yet it's fresh and not totally depressing to watch. It's aimed for a younger audience and yet it isn't too juvenile for adults so it's very enjoyable. Glad the second season is in the works!

Secrets of Sulphur Springs (2021-)

Griffin Campbell (Preston Oliver) and his family moves into a run down building that used to be a famous hotel. His father, Ben (Josh Braaten) went camping here as a kid and wants to restore the Tremont Hotel to it's former glory. To the rest of the town, the Tremont Hotel is haunted, and perhaps even cursed by Savannah Dillon (Elle Graham), a camper who disappeared there 30 years ago. Griffin meets Harper (Kyliegh Curran), who happens to be obsessed with Savannah. While they explore the Tremont together, they stumble upon a hidden nuclear fallout shelter in the basement. They find another exit and upon crossing it, they were transported 30 years back into the past.

It was alright. I don't have a lot of expectations but I was actually curious to see how things would turn out. Although I'm not sure what they would need a second season for (I mean obviously they set up the last episode for another story arc, but they could have just also ended the story there).

The Baby-Sitters Club (2020-)

I read a lot of Sweet Valley Twins and Goosebumps back in the day but I don't know why I've never read a Baby-Sitters Club book. The Netflix adaptation is set in modern times. I must say the poster looks really nice!

Kristy Thomas (Sophie Grace) wants to start a baby sitter's club after seeing her mom Elizabeth (Alicia Silverstone) struggle to find a baby sitter at the last minute. She enlists the help of her shy best friend, Mary Anne (Malia Baker) and the popular artsy girl, Claudia (Momona Tamada). Claudia introduced them to Stacy (Shay Rudolph), a rich girl from Manhattan who also joins their club. Elizabeth announces that she's getting married to her boyfriend Watson (Mark Feuerstein), which made Kristy upset. As for their babysitting business, it's not going so great despite promoting their services. They receive their first call from Watson. Kristy refused to baby sit for him but eventually, Mary Anne goes. Kristy spies on Watson's house and was discovered by his neighbour. After confessing about what she did to her mom, they somewhat made up. Watson spread the news about their baby sitting services and they started getting more customers. Dawn (Xochitl Gomez season 1 / Kyndra Sanchez season 2), a newcomer from Los Angeles also joins their club.

I remember thinking the show was alright when I was watching it (although Kristy could be annoying at times) but I honestly can't remember most of the show. The second season is out already but I'm not sure if I'm gonna watch it.

Movies Round Up Ep 007 (Thirteen, Kids, Not Another Teen Movie)

2021-08-10T20:43:00.001+08:00

Thirteen (2003)

Thirteen really feels like I'm at someone else's house, watching a teenager getting high and having fights with her mom. Kind of unsettling. It may seem that Tracy (Evan Rachel Wood) spiraled so suddenly (she laid eyes on Evie one time and started throwing out her stuffed toys etc.) but it becomes apparent that she has some other underlying issues. Whether it's what made her vulnerable to Evie's (Nikki Reed) influence or if she was just using those as an excuse to act out, we'll never know. My teenage years wasn't as extreme, but I did a lot of stupid things. I remember thinking it wasn't a big deal doing this or that but in hindsight it's a bit scary how susceptible and reckless teenagers can be. I sympathize with Tracy and Evie but I kind of want to deck them at the same time.

Kids (1995)

This one was hard to watch. There's a story going on but it feels like there's no rhyme or reason. It's not visually appealing either. I absolutely did not wanted to get dragged around New York by Telly (Leo Fitzpatrick) and Casper (Justin Pierce). I felt sorry for Jennie (Chloë Sevigny) because she's so young. As an oldie ™ there's nothing for me to take away from this film but teens can pick up some things from watching it (drugs, excessive alcohol, unprotected sex isn't all that and you may not think bad things will happen to you just because you have been careless just "once" but the possibility is always there, and that perhaps it's a great idea to explore other hobbies).

Not Another Teen Movie (2001)

I've always avoided Not Another Teen Movie. It seemed like a dumb parody but I've been seeing screenshots of Chyler Leigh (of Supergirl / Grey's Anatomy) as Janey Briggs around and got curious. I forgot how much gratuitous nudity there was in films like these *cough Chris Evans banana split cough*. It's nothing special but it´s not as bad as their Rotten Tomatoes rating would suggest. And if you're a fan of Chyler Leigh or Chris Evans you might find it interesting to watch some of their earlier movies like this one.

Movies Round Up Ep 006 (Midsommar, The Da Vinci Code, Suspiria 1977)

2021-08-07T23:34:00.005+08:00

Midsommar 2019

Florence Pugh as Dani

I don't know if it's just because I had high expectations, but it was disappointing. It just felt unnecessarily long and what's this I'm hearing there's even an extended director's cut 😬. Why didn't they noped out of there the second they saw Hårga? I get that some people live in communes but they really have a cultish vibe from the get go. Also, no offense to Americans but I find it hard to believe not a single person in their group whined about things like food, lodging, etc..

I'm curious about some things though. It was mentioned that it's a special celebration that occurs every 90 years. The 9 day festival aside, they do celebrate midsommar yearly. Although the May Queen didn't necessarily have to be from the outside they bring in new people every now and then (even if they're not all killed, some would stay in there as new members of the family etc.). How would they explain all the missing people? People go missing all the time sure, but if it happens constantly won't someone bound to notice? I mean, it wasn't covered in the film, but even if the "pilgrims" specifically chose people who have little to no family/friends surely a handful of people must know that they went to Sweden and never came back? I went to google to read on reviews, meanings, analyses and interviews with Ari Aster to see if I'm missing something because I don't get why people like it so much. The director saying he sees the movie as a fairy tale is an interesting take. I may have to rewatch to appreciate it more but I just don't have any desire to, at least not so soon.

Might as well talk about this, but after reading about lush caves in Minecraft, I've learned about the Swedish illustrator John Bauer (one of his paintings, "Stackars lilla basse!" made an appearance in Midsommar, and his "Oskuldens Vandring" inspired the lush caves biome). His painting was used in a shampoo bottle and commercial in the 1970's / 1980's (it says 70s on the Swedish wiki and 80s on the English one). The brand is Timotei / Timotej. The ads itself had someone with a long blonde hair and white clothes but I'm trying to find a photo of the actual shampoo bottle with Princess Tuvstarr on it. All the old bottles that I've seen only has an illustration of a flower on it. The print ad below is from 1977 and the TV commercial is from the 80s

The Da Vinci Code 2006

I remember liking the book when I was a teen but I was too young to watch it at the theaters back then and I guess it slipped my mind as I got older. Finally decided to watch the film and it literally took me several days to finish it. I was thinking the movie had no business to be nearly 3 hours long but I didn't realize I was watching the extended version (I'm dumb).

It's probably more than 15 years since I've read the book so I know what the story is about but I forgot all the details. I guess making the movie made sense at the time because the book was popular and controversial but I'm not sure if it holds up more than a decade later. I've read the summary of the book afterwards and it seems they didn't stray far from the story. However, it wasn't as interesting as I remembered and it felt that they just slapped on a popular actor for the movie and that's it. Not sure if it's because I know what's going to happen at the end but it was underwhelming.

"I've never met a girl who knew that much about a cryptex."

Suspiria 1977

When I was looking for a movie to watch, I was choosing between the original Suspiria film or the 2018 remake. One look at the movie stills from the 1977 film, I knew I had to watch it. It certainly didn't disappoint and I'm actually surprised at how much I ended up liking it. The cinematography is just stunning. I really loved the colours and specifically, how the first murder scene was shot. Of course the effects look flimsy in todays' standards, but it still did a good job in creeping me out and making me nervous, especially when Sara (Stefania Casini) fled to the attic. If I have to nitpick, the first two murders completely outshine the ending sequence, I think. And also we didn't see much of Olga's (Barbara Magnolfi) character? When Suzy (Jessica Harper) first entered Tanz Dance Akademie (the name reminds me of Dance Dance Revolution lmao) we only saw a glimpse of Olga talking on the phone and when she went up the staircase. But with that black dress and thigh high slit she absolutely ATE. From the way it was set up in the earlier in the film, it felt that they were going to involve her more in the story later on but no. In my mind, she knew about the coven and is wanting to join. Anyway, it's an absolute delight to watch. I will definitely be binging on other Dario Argento movies soon.

HOG Round Up 001 (Grim Legends: The Forsaken Bride, Dark Parables Curse of Briar Rose and The Exiled Prince)

2021-07-17T16:37:00.001+08:00

I was talking with someone about playing hidden object games back in the day (around 15 years ago - ah, simpler times) so I decided to play some.

Grim Legends: The Forsaken Bride

The reviews on Steam were overwhelmingly positive, so I chose this as my first hidden object game in years. I don't think finding extra hidden stuff were the norm way back but I find that this seems to be a thing in newer hidden object games. I didn't manage to get all the faeries/spirits and elusive objects when I played but it's fine.

The story was cliche but I was already expecting it. I wasn't a fan of everyone's character design in the game (I remember this one where you have to match the make up with the other twin and the make up was purple eye shadow and frosted violet lipstick lmfao) but the rest of the graphics were ok and quite crisp/vibrant. There was a variety of puzzles and they were pretty straight forward.

Dark Parables: Curse of Briar Rose

You're in this alternate universe set in current times where you, as a detective, has been tasked to investigate Sleeping Beauty's castle because the briars are growing at an alarming rate and is projected to take over the city in a few days.

My eyes were really straining at times while looking for items because the graphics were a little blurry for today's standards (also my eyesight isn't the best). This game is over a decade old though so that's to be expected. They also had this neat little extras. Wallpapers are standard in HOG but I like how they have included three (short) versions of the Sleeping Beauty story to read.

Dark Parables: The Exiled Prince

At first, I thought it was weird that The Frog Prince had several "princess cottages" at his kingdom. I realize he's been alive for centuries, and 5 lovers seems minuscule considering the amount of time. But then I found out, every girl he loves ends up getting the curse and I'm like??? Why did he continue getting wives even after realizing that. Also, the princess cottages were some sort of bedroom/shrine for each girl which sounds obsessive to me. Like, who even built those structures for him, who had he commissioned to build that doll version of Snow White etc.

I had this post in my drafts for a while and I realized that I didn't finish writing it. To be honest, I forgot the rest of my thoughts for this game since it has been a few months. However, I really like the fairy tale angle of the Dark Parables series and the continuity. I may pick it up again someday as well as try the other games in order.

Shows Round Up Ep 006 (Ghosts, Truth Seekers, Inside No. 9)

2021-01-27T20:16:00.001+08:00

Ghosts (2019) BBC

Characters from top left - clockwise: Mary, Kitty, Pat Butcher, the Captain, Julian Fawcett MP, Robin, Mike Cooper, Alison Cooper, Humphrey, Lady Fanny Button and Thomas Thorne

A married couple (Alison and Mike) unexpectedly inherits an old house. Instead of selling the property, they decided to renovate the house themselves in hopes of turning it into a luxury hotel. Little did they know that the house is inhabited by ghosts. The ghosts weren't keen on the couple's arrival and future plans and after their failed 'haunting' attempts one of the ghosts pushed Alison out of the window. After waking up from an induced coma, Alison discovers that she can now see ghosts after her near-death experience.

Despite the name, there is nothing scary about this show. It's a delight to watch and most of the characters (the ghosts) are funny and interesting - almost makes me want to see a ghost sighting (kidding, kidding). I read somewhere that there is going to be a U.S. remake. There isn't any updates regarding the American version of the show but I'll be keeping my eyes peeled. As for Ghosts, I'm happy that they got a third season in the works.

Truth Seekers (2020) Amazon Original Series / Prime Video

Truth Seekers - Nick Frost as a ghost hunter / paranormal investigator?

I was obsessed with Spaced big time and have liked everything that Nick Frost and Simon Pegg has done together and Truth Seekers didn't disappoint.

Gus Roberts works for the largest mobile network operator and ISP in Britain (Smyle) but he considers paranormal investigation as his main thing. He also runs an unsuccessful Youtube channel documenting his findings. His experience in the paranormal has gone off the charts after the arrival of his new work partner, Elton John (Samson Kayo).

I really like how the show can be really spooky and unsettling but still remain humorous. I don't want to spoil it too much because there is a twist (although I didn't manage to guess what it was exactly, you'll notice something odd in some scenes and conversations). The only issue I have with Truth Seekers is the second season hasn't been confirmed yet. The last episode will keep you hanging so if you don't want to get invested in a show while the ending is unclear, you may want to skip this one for now.

Inside No. 9 (2014) BBC

Inside Number Nine

I haven't actually gone through all the episodes yet but it doesn't matter. Inside No. 9 is a dark comedy anthology series. From what I've seen with the first season each episode has a varying degree of suspense, macabre and comedy. Apparently, there's always something connected to the number '9' in each episode although I've never really caught it until I read about it. I guess I'm not very observant and didn't even wonder what the title is about lol.

Shows Round Up Ep 005 (Malory Towers, The Worst Witch, A Little Princess)

2020-05-18T19:01:00.001+08:00

Malory Towers (2020)

Based on the book series of the same name by Enid Blyton, this show follows the life of Darrell Rivers (Ella Bright), and her room mates at Malory Towers. Apart from me wanting throw hands with Gwen (Danya Griver), it's a nice and light show that I'd highly recommend to kids (and grown ups too). I hope there will be another season.

The Worst Witch (2017)

The story is mainly about Mildred Hubble and the people at Miss Cackle's Academy for Witches. It is based on the books written by Jill Murphy. I'm a bit sad that Bella Ramsey (who played Mildred Hubble in the first 3 seasons) left the show but it's for her health so she knows what's best. I haven't watched the season 4 yet with Lydia Page as the new Mildred Hubble, but the story and the cast has been really solid so far, so I have high hopes.

A Little Princess (1986)

I'm pretty sure most people has either seen the 1995 film version or the 1985 anime adaptation (or both!) so the story needs no intro. For once, I have read the book and I must say among the other more popular adaptations of 'A Little Princess' this is the closest one to the story in the book. I have no idea why this hasn't been remade into another film or series yet (hello? CBBC?) especially since A Secret Garde n is getting a movie this year (which I'm looking forward to as I've loved the 1993 film a lot and have watched it several times over the years).

Shows Round Up Ep 004 (Dickinson, What We Do In The Shadows, A Series of Unfortunate Events)

2020-04-27T01:01:00.002+08:00

Dickinson (2019)

Being widely considered as one of the greatest poets in history, Emily Dickinson's life is a source of curiosity to many. At first, all the modern way of speaking and modern music in this show put me off but it grew on me and started to enjoy watching it. At least it gave some justice to the whole Emily-Susan situation. Looking forward to season 2.

What We Do In The Shadows (2019)

This show is so funny! It's a mockumentary style show about four vampirers: Nandor (Kayvan Novak), Nadja (Natasia Demetriou), Laszlo (Matt Berry) and Colin Robinson (Mark Proksch) along with Nandor's familiar, Guillermo (Harvey Guillén). There's an original film version from 2014 but I haven't seen it. I can't quite place it, but Nandor's humor seems so familiar (maybe King Julien? idk). I usually don't like watching shows until all the episodes in the season are finished, but I've started watching season 2 a few days ago.

A Series Of Unfortunate Events (2017)

If 2020 was a book/movie/tv show title, this would be it. I've seen the film and read some of the books, so I have an idea where this is all going.. but I still went ahead and watched. Let me tell you, this reboot from Netflix didn't disappoint. The casting was perfect. It's also a visual treat.

Shows Round Up Ep 003 (Are You Afraid Of The Dark, Creeped Out, The Haunting Hour, Creepshow)

2020-03-05T19:06:00.002+08:00

Are You Afraid Of The Dark (2019)

I didn't even know there was a 3 episode reboot last year! This isn't an anthology like the original TV series (the most memorable episode for me was The Tale of the Dollmaker). Instead, the story focuses on the Midnight Society members, more specifically the new member of the group (also the new girl in school) called Rachel. As for the story.. eh it was ok. I heard there's going to be a new season, I hope it's going to be a lot better.

Creeped Out (2017-2018, 2019)

I've watched the first season last 2018 and totally forgot about it until I saw somewhere that the second season was out last year. My favorite episodes this season were 'Splinta Claus' (I thought to myself it would really scare kids) and 'Itchy' (a zombie apocalypse but with lice instead of zombies - unexpectedly hilarious!). 'Tilly Bone' was confusing at first, but it has the most unusual story telling out of all the Creeped Out episodes (quite brilliant, actually).

The Haunting Hour (2010-2014)

Based on R.L. Stine's anthology books (The Haunting Hour and Nightmare Hour) as well as the 2007 movie R.L. Stine's The Haunting Hour: Don't Think About It - all of which I haven't read or seen. But, as a kid I loved reading Goosebumps, Ghosts of Fear Street (and some of Fear Street, but I haven't read a lot of those) as well as watching the original Goosebumps tv series so there's no way I would miss this. There are 76 episodes so you can binge watch and it's okay for kids. Some episodes will leave you thinking!

Creepshow (2019)

I don't really know what to expect going in (I haven't seen the original 1982 movie), but now that I've finished watching, I can say this definitely isn't for kids (but fine for teens)! But in keeping with the theme, I decided to include it in this post. There are two short stories per episode and the comic book elements are cute (probably not the right word for it but you get what I mean). The first episode was kind of weak but the episodes get better after that. I really like episode 3 and 5 (All Hallow's Eve/The Man in the Suitcase & Night of the Paw/Times is Tough in Musky Holler) Happy to hear there will be a second season!