Marina’s Bloggariffic

A couple of weeks back, I was invited by Waggener Edstrom along a group of other bloggers at Brozeit for the launch of the HP TouchSmart, one of the latest range of Multimedia PC by Hewlett Packard.

Already there were a number of bloggers who have reached there when I arrived. It was a relatively packed night at Brozeit, considering that it was only a Tuesday night.

I saw a number of units around the area being covered with a purple cloth and Claudia cleverly decides to immediately sit next to one of them.

After a quick introduction by the organizers, comes the unveiling of the HP Touchsmart. My first look upfront! At first glance, I thought that the PC looked very sleek with its shiny black look. It looked really nice indeed.

This is the front of the HP TouchSmart with its large 22 inch screen. I see a webcam! Definitely useful for people (like me) who likes to do videochats via msn.

This is the left side. What is nice that there in an inbuilt tv tuner as well as a tv out. I could connect my cable tv and watch cable!

And this is the right side, there is a DVD burner along a card reader. Its great that I would not need so much external devices unlike my current settings with my current pc setup. More on the specs here

It was when Winston, one of the product manager did a quick demonstration which was really made it look quite impressive. Using his fingers, he pressed on the monitor to navigate and flip through different applications. Actually, I thought that it was really cool! It was like seeing an early version of Minority Report!

Pretty soon, it was our turn to play with the unit and boy did we have so much fun! I saw Nadnut scribbling on a notepad using her fingernails, Hisham trying to play 3D chess and I was facinated with Zen master Daniel - who looked very professional using the touch screen.

Smoothly he manouvered the navigation and even played with the applets in the tablet and made poor Peter have clock eyes like these!

Here is a quick video :

Bloggers having fun at the HP Touch from rinaz on Vimeo.

What do you think of the TouchSmart? Pretty cool right?

You have a chance win one!

Post in the comment box with what you think “What will your life be like with HP TouchSmart?” Comments with the most creative, innovative and interesting ideas has a higher chance of winning.

The contest ends at 0000hrs, 12th July so it gives you time to think for a really good comment! Apologies! Contest open for Singaporeans only *hugs*

Links :

• Official HP site on TouchSmart
• HP Touchsmart Specs

Links to other bloggers posts

Nicole | Vantan | Precious | Daintyflair | Daryl Tay | Suyuen | Bleong | Sheylara | Fabrikade | Litford | Claudia | Nadnut | Hisham | Peter

Sidenote : The ping blog awards is out. Do vote for the most deserving! :)

Truth be told I wasn’t really keen on promoting the Omy blogawards.

First of all, the website was really hard to navigate. Moreoever, I’m not Chinese. It seemed kind of a juxtapose to be in a mainly Chinese website. And looking through the list of the people that I’d be competing with, these people are really the big guns! Eastcoastlife? Sheylara? Ohmyblog! They have got like a zillion fans!

*shivers*

But after thinking for a while, I realised that I was picked out of a list of over 100 nominees. Plus, Mintea revealed that it was she was the one who nominated me. It would be disappointing if I didnt even try!

So here I am, fighting for your love! Please vote for me if you think that I am deserving :) Who knows, you might win a chance to Bangkok, Ho Chin Minh or Phuket!

Here is how to vote :

1. Click on this link

2. Fill in your particulars as below

3. And click on my icon and hit on vote

4. Done!

You can vote once everyday till the 31st of July so I do hope that you vote for me … Thank you so much :)

Sidenote : I’ve been so busy lately that I didn’t have the chance to blog as much as I wanted to. Oh gosh! So many backlogged entries to be written!

Here is a sneak peek :-)

Remember my post about the adorable Tan Hong Ming and thoughts about Interracial Relationships some while back?

Recently, I was privileged to meet acclaimed director, Yasmin Ahmad, the director of the Tan Hong Ming as well as various other notable videos. She was here to grace the exclusive screening for MCYS on an advertisement entitled, ‘Family’

Charming view from the rooftop of the screening room

I reached the Screening Room, rather late after a staff day out, being unfamiliar with the area, my sense of direction gone and rather traumatized by the after working hours road conditions!

Rinaz poses by a wall featuring Federico Fellini

When I finally entered the theater, they were already halfway through playing Yasmin’s other works, such as How do you spell Dinosaur and The little Indian Boy.

To call the videos emotional would be an understatement! Mintea, who was sitting beside me and I were already fighting hard not to tear up through the showcase.

Mintilicious, Yasmin Ahmad and Sexeh Rinaz

When the lights came on, I finally saw her - Yasmin Ahmad right across me, sitting like a regal queen. She started sharing her experiences on being a director. How she faced prejudices from many because of her being a Woman as well as being a Malay. I immediately related to that, being a Malay Woman myself.

I started wondering how she was able to stay strong in such adversities when Yasmin quoted a beautiful sentence “The Thicker and Deeper the Mud The More Beautiful The Lotus Grows” Which I thought was elegant and profound at the same time.

Soonafter, the screening of the new commercial started - it features a doting single dad, raising up his daughter.

Yasmin mentioned that a family unit does not always have to be perfect and complete unit and asked the bloggers on our opinion of the video.

The reaction of the bloggers were mostly positive. There was one blogger (I think it was scarlett) who said that being raised up by a single parent and is now a single parent herself, she could relate to the video.

Ian Timothy is a little shy for pictures, so here is Brian and Mintea doing their best toothpaste commercial smile :)

Personally for me, I thought that the choice for the location was a little strange as it seemed a little dated. But that was when Ian Timothy mentioned that the location was a good choice as he emphatised, growing up in the lower class family.

There was a particular blogger who mentioned that because the majority of the population has a complete family unit, they may not be able to relate to the video - to which Yasmin humorously replied, “I watched ‘Finding Nemo’ … I laughed and I cried … But I’m not a fish!”

Here is a quick video montage of the interview :

Bloggers meet with Yasmin Ahmad from rinaz on Vimeo

Doesn’t she sound so queenlike? I think I could listen to her talk all day :-)

And what do you think of the advertisement video? Do you think that its okay for being in a single parent family? Are you able to relate to this video?

Links :

• Yasmin Ahmad’s Blog
• Interesting interview I found on youtube
• Ian Timothy’s Blog Post
• Mintea’s Blog Post

Sidenote : Mum was so excited when she read an article about Yasmin Ahmad in the Malay Newspaper. She rushed to show it to me, but I was groggy and almost going to sleep.

If it isn’t my webhost going down for hours, its the ISP slowing everything down. I haven’t been able to access rinaz.net till this afternoon … This is agony!

Lets go have pizza!

Some weeks back, Nadnut and I were chatting on msn on the events that we were invited to. Though we both loved tech, we lamented at how nice it was if we were invited to beauty and fashion events as well.

I believe that all women, regardless of shape and sizes, love to look and feel good. Thats why it is always exciting for us to try out something new, be it clothes, or shoes.

One of them being Taaz.Com where you can play with virtual make up.

Hence, when Nadnut invited me to tag along with her to the Revlon makeup launch, I was so excited that I could not say no! I love Mekap!!!

I arrived at the Halia Restaurant in the Singapore Botanic Gardens where I saw a number of bloggers that I recognized as well as many other media representatives.

There was an opening speech by the Managing Director, Mr Art Miller and soonafter, we were introduced to Bree Sharpe, a Senior Trainer for Revlon who talked about the new ColorStay Mineral Collection and did a demonstration on one of the models.

The foundation had many nice features - it was long lasting, up to 16 hours, it had SPF of 10, as well as containing minerals such as rose quartz, mother of pearl and topaz. But what I loved about the foundation the most was that it was non irritating and even people with acne prone skin could wear it.

I listened to Bree retell her experience of travelling to different countries and how easy it was for other types of makeup to melt off in our tropical climate. The foundation, she said, lasted long enough for her jetsetting lifestyle and was gentle enough not to give her breakouts and it even healed her skin.

Coincidentally, I was at Watsons the day before and I noticed that it was already on sale, and Watsons is having a 20% sale off their cosmetics. So the foundation will cost about $26 instead of $29.90 :D

Next, it was time for celebrity make up artist, Andy Lee, to do a demonstration on using the 2008 Limited Edition Collection.

Watching him was like seeing a talented artist at work as he skillfully dabbed about the cosmetics on the models face and chatted amiably with the guests and shared with us the different make up techniques.

Doesn’t these look very pretty? I’m enamored by how beautiful the design of the eyeshadow collection are. Its like an artwork by itself! I thought the packaging rivals higher-end brand names but at a more affordable price.

I observed the other bloggers getting make up tips and impromptu eye make up from Andy and I desperately wanted to be made over too! But suddenly, I felt rather shy as all of the other bloggers were young, attractive, slim things … and I’m not :p

But Aaron was so gracious that he broke the ice and introduced Andy to me!

Andy Lee and a very smiley rinaz

I took a liking at him instantly as he was friendly and sweet man, who was generous in imparting his knowledge.

Here is a video (with thanks to Aaron as videographer) of Andy doing makeup for me!

Rinaz being made up by a mekap artist from rinaz on Vimeo

It was the most exciting experience that I had in a while. Me! Being made up by a celebrity make up artist! I was so enthralled! The day could not be any better.

Me, Feliza, Sabrina, Fidelis, Jessica, Art Miller, Esther, Nadia, Peggy and Averal

And thats when we had a goodie bag at the end of the day and uncharacteristically, I squealed out in delight.

Because in the bag, it contained :

• A ColorStay Mineral Foundation
• A ColorStay Mineral Blush
• A Renewist Lipcolor
• A 2008 Limited Edition - Floral Affair Blush
• A 2008 Limited Edition - Make a Sheen eyeshadow

How very generous! With that, I’ll be reviewing these makeup in a later post ahead :-)

Do you like mekap make up? What are your experience with them?

Related Links :

• Revlon ColorStay Mineral Foundation
• Revlon Limited Edition Collection
• Celebrity make up artist - Andy Lee’s Blog

Sidenote : I met Kenny Sia!

Recently, Brian was plurking about what we thought of local music. And the first thing that came to mind was ‘My one and only’ which was my ultimate favourite local song - I loved it for how romantic the song was.

Remixed by the beautiful Lum May Yee

I started typing out the lyrics and before I knew it, Brian invited me to attend the Rock the Sub at Timbre Substation to listen to Kevin Matthews, the original singer of the song.

And I was glad that I went!

Shiny (literally) happy people - The friendly Thomas, guitar player of the groovy people and me

Although the Timbre was dizzyingly full of people, I found myself enjoying the music tremendously, the band was really tight and sounded really good!

Here is a quick video overview of the event :

Kevin Mathews and the groovy people from rinaz on Vimeo

And of course, my favourite song :)

My one and only from rinaz on Vimeo

Do you listen to local music? What do you think of it?

Related links :

• Kevin Matthew’s Myspace
• Timbre - Host to Local Music

You might also be interested in :

• WOMAD - International Music
• Sojourn - Classical Music
• Klenengan - Gamelan Music
• Ministry of Bellz - Handbells Music

Sidenote : Saw a very beautiful sunset over the Clark Quay river yesterday.

How to do a lipdub from rinaz on Vimeo

You will need :

1. A music player.
2. A video recorder

Step 1 :

Choose a song for your lipdub. A happy and upbeat song would be great while a depressive song might not be the best choice.

Step 2 :

Choreograph the type of moves that you want to do for your lipdub. There are a number of moves that you could try such as the dance, the lip sync, the actor.

Feel free to experiment with different styles and remember you could also use props in your lipdubs!

Step 3 :

Now that you have decided on your moves, video yourself with the video recorder at the choice of your location.

Step 4 :

Upload your video and give your self a pat on the back for a job well done.

Done!

Sidenote : We did our first lipdub session yesterday and it went great! I hope that you join in. We need more footage!

Below is a work in progress to get you inspired :-)

Lipdub Project - Draft 1 from rinaz on Vimeo

What do you think?