The Malaysian Insider :: Features
The Malaysian Insider :: Features |
| Lego launching limited-run ‘Star Wars’ X-Wing Fighter Posted: 23 Feb 2013 09:48 PM PST  The Red-Five X-Wing Starfighter is pictured with accompanying action figures. The Force not included. — Picture courtesy of Lego The limited-edition Red-Five X-Wing Starfighter will retail for US$200 (RM620) when it officially launches and while it is by no means the company's first Star Wars-themed toy or even its first attempt at creating an X-Wing Fighter from Lego bricks, it is the most detailed and intricate version produced to date and includes new pieces developed specifically to capture even more details that fans of the original film will be familiar with. Chief among these is a reworked cockpit that now includes the targeting computer, made famous in "Episode IV" of the franchise, as well as reworked exhaust ports and a new mechanism to "lock S-foils in attack position." As the chief designer on the project explains in a video: "I based the model on the classic Episode IV, more specifically on the Death Star attack and trench run. I've been watching those scenes over and over again just to look at the details." The set includes 1,558 pieces and the finished model will measure 26cm x 52cm x 46cm when built, and though owners will be tempted to run around their lounge (or their bedroom if they have guests) re-enacting one of the most famous scenes in modern movie history, the X-Wing also comes with a solid stand so that it can be displayed safely on a shelf or in a cabinet when completed. — AFP/Relaxnews |
| Tua Pek Kong: Good year for the economy Posted: 23 Feb 2013 05:43 PM PST  Devotees praying during the "Chneah Hoay" ceremony at Hai Choo Soo temple in George Town. — Picture by KE Ooi The deity, Tua Pek Kong, predicted the economy would see improvement in the first quarter to be followed by robust growth in the second and third quarter. More than 600 of devotees crowded around the temple to pray and seek blessings in the early hours of Sunday as they awaited the announcement of the predictions. Devotees are not allowed to enter the temple to watch the "Chneah Hoay" ceremony as only the temple committee members are allowed to conduct the ceremony and watch the predictions. The Chneah Hoay ceremony is traditionally held on the eve of Chap Goh Meh at the temple. During the ceremony, the deity is believed to be able to predict the country's economy for the new year through the flames of about 100 burning joss sticks. All lights, candles and oil lamps were also put out at the temple so that the Poh Hock Seah temple committee members can observe the flames to "read" the predictions. The temple committee members will fan the embers of the burning joss sticks and the prediction is gathered from the height and intensity of the flames and the speed with which the embers flare up in the urn.  Embers flare up after they are fanned during the "Chneah Hoay" ceremony at Hai Choo Soo temple in George Town. — Picture by KE Ooi The ceremony started at about 11.50pm and ended slightly after midnight. According to temple committee president Datuk Lim Chooi Beng, in the first fanning, the embers from the burning joss sticks flared up after one minute which signified a "fast" growing economy for the first quarter. "In the second fanning, the embers flared up after two minutes and it flared up to two-feet high and this showed a very good economic growth in the second quarter," he said. The third fanning took about five minutes to flare up, but due to the intensity and height of the flames, it also signified a good and stable economy. "Overall, the deity predicted a growing economy for this year which is be better than the predictions of the last five years," he said. He added that the flames had flared up in the shape of a snake slithering up which means that the country's economy is on its way up. The temple has practised this Chneah Hoay ceremony for close to two centuries and it is believed to be the only temple in the country to do so every year. |
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