Yesterday, when my phone rang...

"Pheng Pheng, Kim Pei and I will go back later tonight. You wanna go back also?"
"I can't. I still have works to do."
"OK, then. Bye"
"See ya!"

Thus, I'm now staying alone in my room. 2 room mates went back to their hometown, 2 housemates went to classes, while the other 2 joined a camp. Finally, I'm ALL alone!!! Yeah!!! I prefer to stay alone, to tell you the truth. Sometimes, I just feel that me myself just need to be left alone, to be with, myself, in my own world. I don't want my world to mix up with others. I just need to be in my world. Sometimes when my room mates were there, I just feel like asking them to get out of the room. For me, alone is better. I don't need a companion. I just need myself. Sometimes I wish I own the whole room. But I'm not affordable to do so. Hence, I just wish my room mates will go back to their hometown as frequent as they can, so I can 'own' the room for some time! Now, I'll just enjoy myself in my world!

Building...

Dictionary!!!!!

OMG! Am I qualified to build a dictionary? I'm only an undergraduate student. Why am I needed to be burden by that?! Anyway, just build one as I need to pass up...as an assignment. What topic to choose leh?? The criteria is: a BM dic, and only 3 words as the entries and give the meanings of the entries. Simple as that. But hey, crack my head also don't know what topic to choose!! The procedure is like this: choose a topic, find texts that related to your topic, build a WordList, build a Concordance, choose the words, look at Concordance what does those words means, and then do ya entries. Seems easy right?? Wait til you do it. The hardest part will be finding texts. Its stated that It wil be good enough if you all ya texts have at least 50,000 words. Walau!!! ... But depends on ya topic. Fuh! Luckily there's the last sentence. Otherwise, I might run away to Switzerland/Italy and visit Kimi Raikkonen! :) Think hard, think hard hard, think hard hard hard, think hard hard hard hard... ... ...nak buat topik ape??? :(

At last, I made up my mind. I'll go for... ... ...Tennis. Try to find as many texts as I can. Oi, in Bahasa leh. Not easy to find. But there's only 1 source to go for: Utusan online (as far as I know lah). Find out every articles about tennis... and that's just 2 weeks back. By the time when there were 1 week left, I already know what words should I use and I did the entries first, as I think my texts was still not enough. I'll add on later. While others were still headache and had to skip classes to finish it during the last 2 days (those who are in the same tutorial class with me lah), I was, ermm...attending classes, doing other stuffs and blogging. Aiyoo...see what happen to all my coursemates?? All kisiao already!! Haiz, now we know how hard for the builders to build a dictionary, but they do it because they have passion, 热情, keghairahan! But BATI students, no matter you got passion, 热情, keghairahan or not, you still need to build it "Untuk keperluan HBT207". But I can say 90% of us here don't have passion, 热情, keghairahan!

One thing that I have to admit is, I do learn more things about tennis. Though I like sports so much, I'm not an encyclopedia. I DON'T know everything about some sports, like tennis. I choosed this sport because I wanna know a little more about it. And now I can loudly said that, I really achieved my targets, not only build a dictionary, but more importantly, I do know more about tennis! :)

Valmont

Valmont is a 1989 drama film directed by Miloš Forman, based on the French novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses (1782) by Choderlos de Laclos. It was adapted for the screen with a screenplay by Jean-Claude Carrière.

Plot

Merteuil is a beautiful, wealthy widow in society that was recently dismissed by her secret lover Gercourt after he announces that he is newly betrothed. Merteuil learns from her cousin Madame de Volange that Gercourt’s new fiancé is no other than Volange’s 15 year old daughter Cecile. Volange confides in Merteuil that Gercourt specifically chose Cecile as she was raised in a convent in order to keep Cecile chaste before marriage. Volange also admits there were worries over the betrothal as people were discussing Gercourt’s former mistress’ questionable sanity.
Angered over the loss of her spurned lover and his slight of her character, Merteuil plots to deface Cecile’s virtuousness by having her friend Valmont seduce the young, naïve Cecile. Valmont declines Merteuil’s request relating that he is currently trying to allure Madame de Tourvel, a married guest of his aunt that is staying in the country while her husband is abroad, into bed with him. Merteuil chides Valmont in his conquest and the two place wagers on his success or failure. If Valmont succeeds in bedding the innocent Tourvel, he will be able to bed Merteuil, a feat that she constantly rebuffs. However, if he fails, Merteuil demands that he must join a monastery for losing.

Although Merteuil does not have the charming libertine Valmont for assistance, she is able to separate Cecile from her music teacher, Danceny when she informs Cecile’s mother of their mutual affection and infatuation with each other she learns in confidence from Cecile. At the same time, Valmont is unsuccessful at his numerous attempts of wooing Tourvel. He learns that Cecile’s mother, Volange, has warned Tourvel of his sexual scheming and debauchery and she flees back to the city to get away from Valmont’s constant attempts at seducing her. After learning of this, Valmont decides to assist Merteuil in corrupting the young Cecile.
Merteuil convinces her cousin to allow Cecile to join her in the countryside to help Cecile get over the loss of her music teacher, when, in fact, she helps Cecile write secret love letters to Danceny. The two of them join Valmont at his aunt’s residence where he playfully flirts with Cecile. Valmont offers to help Cecile write a letter on Merteuil’s advisement and Valmont takes full advantage of his opportunity to exact revenge on Volange. When Cecile confides to Merteuil what she has done, Merteuil encourages her young cousin to use Valmont as training for when Cecile finally gets her chance with Danceny.

Valmont and Merteuil spar after she learns that his affection for Tourvel is more than just sexual infatuation, which he vehemently denies. After Merteuil and Cecile return back to the city, Valmont goes to Tourvel and finally admits that he has fallen in love with her and she returns his affections. In the morning, she leaves to the market to prepare a meal for him, but Valmont decides not to stay and goes to collect his prize from Merteuil.

He discovers Merteuil in bed with Danceny and chases him out of the bedroom. Merteuil laughs at her latest conquest and reproves Valmont for his abandonment and denial of his true feelings for Tourvel. Merteuil refuses to honor her wager and Valmont leaves in a fury. When he tries to go back to Tourvel to apologize, she refuses to see him. He decides to drink himself to a stupor. Danceny later learns of Valmont’s treachery and challenges him to a duel – at which Valmont is slain by Danceny. Danceny flees town after Valmont’s death. Cecile later learns of Merteuil’s deceit, lies and scheming, but it already too late as she discovers she is pregnant with Valmont’s child. His aunt is overjoyed when Cecile shares her news and promises to be there for her and Valmont’s child. The film ends with Cecile’s wedding to Gercourt with Merteuil watching on alone.

This movie is full of deceit, lies and scheming. Aiyoyo..don't know how to describe it. Just feel that human are real scary. And it's hard to recognize a person. How can a cousin do such thing to another cousin?? How can they paly with other's feeling? Wooing someone and then dump them so that they can win on a bet. It's ruining other people's life! Arghhh!!! Scary, scary and scary!!

Slumdog Millionaire

Slumdog Millionaire is a 2008 British drama film directed by Danny Boyle, co-directed by Loveleen Tandan, and written by Simon Beaufoy. It is an adaptation of the Boeke Prize-winning and Commonwealth Writers' Prize-nominated novel Q and A (2005) by Indian author and diplomat Vikas Swarup. Set and filmed in India, Slumdog Millionaire tells the story of a young man from the slums of Mumbai who appears on the Indian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? and exceeds people's expectations, arousing the suspicions of the game show host and of law enforcement officials. Slumdog Millionaire won five Critics' Choice Awards, four Golden Globes and seven BAFTA Awards, including Best Film, and has been nominated for ten Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

This movie is full of flashbacks. The opening scene show the main character Jamal Malik, a contestant in Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? being questioned by a police, and then a question appear: Jamal Malik is 1 question away from winning 20 million rupees. How did he do it? (A). He cheated (B). He's lucky (C). He's a genius (D). It is written. Next, he's back on the chair of the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? show. He was then being tortured to answer the questions (to the police again). Later, its a flashback of Jamal's childhood in the slums, then go back to the reality show's scene, and back to his teenage life, then present....flashback and present, flashback and present, until the police got the answer and release him back to the show, to answer the final question. Its full of flashback and present, because the police think that it is a fraud..no one else had reach so far in answering the questions, so how can a boy from a slums managed to do it? Thus, Jamal was questioned. So how did he do it? Here's the answer. It is written. It's actually the life that Jamal had live so far, that help him answers all the questions precisely. It's not that he cheated or he's lucky or he's a genius, it's because it's written, the destiny that had been written. Thus, his life so far is so 'colourful' and eventually he'll live a better life. It is written.

Valentine's Day

A traditional day in the West when lovers express their love to each other by sending Valentine's cards or presenting gifts. It's actually a Western culture, but thanks to a concentrated marketing effort and techonologies, Asian countries with Singaporeans, Chinese and South Koreans also spending much money on Valentine's gifts. Personally, I don't think we need a special day to express our love to the other half. If a couple is in love, everyday will be their Valentine's day. A little massage can also be a Valentine's gift. Why do we need to spend so much money on something that will priced higher on that particular day to show our love? Does it mean money can buy love? Sure, if you have much more money, it surely will make your love life more colourful and wonderful. But does that mean those couple who is not celebrating Valentine's day on 14 February does not love each other? No, it's not. It's just that they have another way to express their love, during other days. Everybody have their ways to show their love. Some like to express it 'together' with other couples (meaning celebrate it during the Valentine's day), while other express it in their daily life. A good lover is not judged by whether he express his love on Valentine's day or not. Its how he care and respect his partner. Express your love whenever you are with your partner, not only during the Valentine's day.

Few wonderful days

Day 1-Birthday celebrations

11 February was Xin Mi's birthday. SzeSze, MingWei, Lawrence, ChiaMin, ZheRong, SheiHan n I went out to Queensbay Mall to celebrate with her. It's a joint birthday celebration, as SheiHan's birthday is on the 16th Feb. Both XinMi and SheiHan herself doesn't know that we are planning this joint birthday celebrations. We booked a taxi and a private car to fetch us there after our tutorial class. But Lawrence went earlier as he don't have the tutorial class. He went to buy the birthday cake and keep it in the restaurant, Breeks. We had our dinner there and the cake was our dessert. Both SheiHan and XinMi only found out that it was a joint birthday celebrations when we the cake came out, as the were 2 big candles and 3 small candles (1 or XinMi, 2 for SheiHan). Joint birthday celebrations is good, 'cos we'll save our time! Hehe..

The cake

My maincourse

The only guys in our 'gang'.

All gurls in our 'gang'.

Day 2-Movie Red Cliff 2

I've been waiting for the chance to watch this movie, as it was released on 25th January 2009. The chance came when someone treat my friends and I to cinema. It's a continuos from the first part. It's an action movie. More precisely, it's an epic war film. This movie is based on the Battle of Red Cliff and events during the end of the Han Dysnasty and immediately prior to the period of the Three Kingdoms in ancient China. Basicaly it is about a war that was started by CaoCao, the Prime Minister of Eastern Han Dynasty. He requested for the Emperor of Xian's permission to launch a campaign against the warlords LiuBei and SunQuan in southern China, whom he considers rebels against the Han Dynasty. Two troops that are involved in the battle are troops CaoCao and combination troops of LiuBei and SunQuan, lead by ZouYu, the viceroy and chief commander for SunQuan, and with the help of LiuBei's chief advisor, ZhuGeLiang. The film showed ZhouYu and ZhuGeLiang's intelligence, CaoCao's cruelity and GuanYu, ZhangFei and ZhaoYun's fighting spirit. The movie was divided into 2 parts, as the director, John Woo, was too interested in the film making until he didnt realise that the movie is four hous length. The main actors in the movie are Tony Leung as ZhouYu, Takeshi Kaneshiro as ZhuGeLiang, ZhangFengYi as CaoCao, ZhangZhen as SunQuan, HuJun as ZhaoYun, ZhaoWei as SunShangXiang(SunQuan's sister) and LinChiLing as XiaoQiao(ZhouYu's wife). The casts did a good job on protraying the characters the way the director wanted. And the action scenes was very action. Soldiers run, stab, boom here and there, generals ride the horses here and there, swords swinging here and there..all those stuff that should occured in war is included. It's a great movie in every aspects. It's worth to watch many times!

Day 3-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Finally, this movie is released. And I rush to the nearest cinema to watch it. The crowd is less, as it's the earliest time slot. I read before the movie's plot, it's an emotional film. But for God's sake, I don't know it's sooo touching that I cried so much throughout the whole movie! Read the storyline alone I've already felt touching. Now sitting in front of the wide screen and watch the casts play their role, it gives more feeling! I don't know that it will make me cry so much! I thought I cried so much while watching 'Changeling', but now I cried even more while watching this film. I don't have to say much more about this movie. My tears already tell you guys the story. Those people who have 'feeling', will have the same feeling like me (though I know you won't cry so much, as I'm the one who's easy to cry), while those who don't have 'feeling', you can challenge yourself and see whether it's 'high standard' enough to make you feel something. To all who are going to watch it in the cinema, please prepare yourself and the one beside you some tissues!

Last day of CNY aka Lantern Festival

The Lantern Festival, 元宵节 (pinyin: Yuánxiāojié) is a Chinese festival celebrated on the fifteenth day of the first month in the lunar year in the Chinese calendar. It is not to be confused with the Mid-Autumn Festival, which is also known as the "Lantern Festival" in locations such as Singapore, Malaysia. During the Lantern Festival, children go out at night to temples carrying paper lanterns and solve riddles on the lanterns. It officially ends the Chinese New year. In ancient times, the lanterns were fairly simple, for only the emperor and noblemen had large ornate ones; in modern times, lanterns have been embellished with many complex designs.

*Courtesy of Wikipedia.

Salah-lah!

I should have go home last Friday! Today is a public holiday, as a replacement of yesterday's Thaipusam celebration. I actually had 4 days off including today. I can make it 5 days, as to skip Tuesday's class. Hey, I haven't skip any of the Tuesday's classes yet! :0 But I'm so fool enough not to realized it. By the time I found out, there is only 1 day left. Should have gone back to celebrate the last part of Chinese New Year with family. Ape lah saya ni!!

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Can't wait for the release of this movie. Hope it won't disapoint me. Cos this movie have 13 nominations alone in the Academy awards, and some other awards. Here's some info about the movie:

"I was born under unusual circumstances." And so begins "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," adapted from the story by F. Scott Fitzgerald about a man who is born in his eighties and ages backwards: A man, like any of us, who is unable to stop time. We follow his story set in New Orleans from the end of World War I, into the 21st century, following his journey that is as unusual as any man's life can be. Director by David Fincher and starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett with Taraji P. Henson, Tilda Swinton, Jason Flemyng, Elias Koteas and Julia Ormond, "Benjamin Button," is a grand tale of a not so ordinary man and the people and places he discovers along the way, the loves he finds, the keys of life and the sadness of death, and what lasts beyond time.

*Grabed from GSC.com.my

3rd Part of Chinese New Year

2nd February til 6th February

Though not many people celebrate these few days, as many started to work, study, to do all those IMPORTANT stuff, but it's still in Chinese New Year celebration. I spent these few days with my homework. Tutorial work due on Thursday and assignment due on Friday. I'm not in the Chinese New Year mood anymore, as I don't have to time to 'feel' it. My mind was full with 'world knowledge', my assignment's topic. Just don't know what should I include in the report. While I still scratching my head, squeeze my mind so that something will pop out, time already flies by. Real hate it to do things at the very last minute. But hey, who actually wants to do homework during the CNY celebration? Even Mr. Koay, my senior coursemate also agreed with us! That's why up until last minute, that is before the due time, I'm still rushing to finish it. Studies? Feel bored, as the topic recently were quite bored. Like it's not a new thing to me. But all in all, these days passed so fast til I felt that I've been in Penang for some time now (though it's only 1 week).

Saturday & Sunday

Lepak-ing at home, spent my precious own time. Cook breakfast cum lunch, as woke up late. There was some vege and meehun left, from my housemate-JC's dinner with her Math School's coursemates. I planned to cook meehun sup with vege, but there was no anchovies (to make the sup). So I end up added the meehun with mee goreng, and fried the vege with some garlic. It's my first time to cook, but it's still eatable, ok? Watch 'Changeling', and cried so much. Didn't went out with my housemates who went to Kek Lok Si at night, as I wished to stay alone here. Like to be left alone so much. But felt regret now with that decision. It's not that there was something special happened, but somehow just felt regret lah. Besides that, also gave my blog a new look. Spent so much time figuring how to add gadgets. Lucikly Tze Sieng was 'there' helping me. She 'teached' me through MSN! This is what we call online learning!! :) Went to Tesco to buy some stuff and had my dinner there. God, each time went shopping, must spent at least RM20++. Tell u what, Penangities DON'T EAT anchovies! I search for the anchovies here and there, but couldn't find it. End up bought Maggi's anchovies' cube. I know it's not healthy to eat so much cube, but what can I do? Can't find anchovies here!

Buzzing News

Chaos in Perak Government

After the 2008's general election, Perak was govern by Pakatan Rakyat aka PR, which were the opposition. But four assemblymen caused a political mayhem, and now Perak is govern by Barisan Nasional. It's not a healthy scenario, but hey, it's POLITICs. ANYTHING can happen in politics. While the other part of the world is suffering from the economic crisis (though it's still not as serious as the one in 1997), Malaysians are watching 'drama'. It's like we are not facing other major problems. I just hope that the drama will have a good 'ending', and to whom it may concern, please REMEMBER this: don't be so selfish, and be more MATURE!

Chaos in Michael Phelps' Life

America's 2008 Olympic's hero, who won 8 gold medalist in the games, had been suspended for 3 months after a photo showed that he apparently was inhaling from a marijuana pipe. In a flick of time, he became a zero from a national hero. We can't blame everything on Phelps. He's only a young guy who just happended to know some 'wrong' people, whom he taught will be his friend. In the end, he messed up with it, and now got punished. He had learn a lesson. His story should just stop here. Quite much, but not less.

Birthday suprises

How to do it?!

It's fun to see people being surprised, but it's real hard to make the surprise. I did successfully organised a birthday surprises to both of my housemates Yee Siew aka Wendy and Kai Sheng aka Kalao 3 weeks ago, as both their birthdays were during the Chinese New Year break. Wendy is an old friend of mine and she's my room mate too. Another roommate of mine, Kim Pei aka KP already hinted at me that Wendy was asking birthday present from us. KP and I really think hard what to prepare as a present for her. But it's hard to find out what she wants as she's got everything she needed. Finally, this idea popped up. Why not we give her her boyfriend(initial:STK) ? (Wendy's boyfriend is studying in UM, KL) Thus the planning begun.

My housemates had been planning to have our reunion dinner (for Chinese New Year celebration) on 16th January 2009, Saturday. So, KP and I plan to do the birthday surprises on that particular day. Wendy and Kalao shouldn't know this planning. At first, we were still not sure whether the reunion dinner should be held at a nearby restaurant, with those friends living below us (4th floor's friend), or just having it at our house . So, plan A, which is the dinner at the restaurant, will go like this: STK would bring in the birthday cake when we are half way having our dinner. How should STK reach the restaurant as he's not sure where is the place? Solution: 1 of my housemate,JC will suddenly 'received' an very important phone call, asking to meet her which is actually to bring in STK. As Kalao is the only one who drives among my housemates, JC should ask the other friend who also drive, from 4th floor, to fetch her 'to meet someone'. Then, STK will go to the restaurant with them. While plan B, which is having the dinner at our house, will be more simple and easy. STK will just popped out with the cake at the frontdoor halfway through the dinner when JC go downstairs 'to pick up something'.

Planning was sure easy, but the important things is whether STK can make it on that particular time. As I'm the only one who have STK's number (Wendy gave him mine number in case he can't find Wendy, and he happened to call me to find Wendy once, so I got his number), I did the asking. Thank God he can make it on that particular day. My plan go easier as the final decision to have the dinner will be at our house. Thus, we'll go on with Plan B! STK is not only the present for Wendy, as we also prepared a real present for her. We bought her a Tweety Bird's bedsheet, as she don't have her own bedsheet. All these while she used her sister-in-law's. Tweety Bird's design as some said she looks like Tweety Bird (the eyes). We also bought bus ticket for STK (coz we asked him to come here at the first place), so that it will be easy for him to take bus back to KL the next day. As for Kalao, we were not sure what to give him, as he's single and didnt lack of anything. But his present was a T-shirt. We also booked birthday cakes for them, 1 for Wendy and 1 for Kalao. We curi-curi done the shopping and cakes, as we do not want either of them know. Thus, everything was ready. We just have to wait for that day to arrive.

During these 12 days, we had to keep it secret from them whenever we want to discuss these things. When that particular day arrived, the 2 important people were busy with their stuffs, so they were not at home. This make our plan more easier. We went to take the cakes and kept it at our friend's place (at 4th floor). STK should arrive at my house around 6pm after he done his shopping (present for Wendy) and he should wait at McDonald's until we call him. He reached here earlier than expected, but luckily only KP and me were at home. Kalao and other housemates went to do last minute shopping. So, STK came, took a bath and still have time to do some revision before other housemates called to say that 'Kalao and us are coming back now', which means STK need to go and hide now.

While we were preparing the food, Wendy was still playing volleyball, as she took part in the Sukad (Sukan antara Desasiswa). When everybody is at home and the food is ready, I asked STK to meet JC and SJ at the 4th floor to get the cake. When we were waiting JC to reach, all of us already waiting at the table. JC came in a while, then when she saw SJ came in, she switched off the light. And then we sang the birthday song. Wendy was suprised to see that her man bring in the cake! Kalao was a bit slow to get it, as he thought both the cakes were for Wendy! I can see that Wendy's face was full of surprises and happinees. She was very happy. So was Kalao. All things were 'exposed' when we had our dinner. Both of them felt real dumb as they really didnt notice all the things we've planned!

It was a success, but most importantly, I had to say a lot of thanks to STK. Without him, it won't be soo success! :)

Great Movie

Changeling

Changeling is a movie directed by Clint Eastwood. Angelina Jolie is the lead cast of this thriller. The film is based on the true story of a woman who recognizes that the boy returned after her son's disappearance is an impostor. Personally, I think it's a touching story, with the reflection of the real life events.

Plot summary:

In 1928 Los Angeles, single mother Christine Collins returns home one day to discover her nine-year-old son, Walter, is missing. Reverend Gustav Briegleb publicizes Christine's plight and rails against the Los Angeles Police Department for its incompetence, corruption and the extrajudicial punishment meted out by its "Gun Squad", led by Police Chief James E. Davis. Several months later, Christine is told her son has been found alive. A public reunion is organized by police, who believe the positive publicity will negate recent criticism of the department. Although "Walter" claims to be Christine's son, she says he is not. Captain J. J. Jones, the head of the LAPD's Juvenile Division, insists the boy is Walter and pressures Christine into taking him home "on a trial basis".

After Christine confronts Jones with physical discrepancies between "Walter" and her son, Jones has a doctor visit her. He tells Christine that "Walter" is shorter because trauma has shrunk his spine and that the man who took Walter had him circumcised. A newspaper story appears that implies Christine is an unfit mother. Christine meets with Briegleb, who tells her the story was planted by police to discredit her. He also tells her of the corruption rife in the department, and of the Gun Squad's despotic rule over the city's streets. Walter's teacher and dentist give Christine signed letters confirming "Walter" is an impostor. Christine arranges a press conference during which she tells her story. At Jones' order, Christine is taken to Los Angeles County Hospital's "psychopathic ward". Christine is befriended by inmate Carol Dexter, who tells Christine she is one of several women who were imprisoned for challenging police authority. Dr. Steele deems Christine delusional and forces her to take mood-regulating pills. Steele says he will release Christine if she admits she was mistaken about "Walter". She refuses.

Detective Ybarra is called to a ranch at Wineville, Riverside County to arrange the deportation of 15-year-old Sanford Clark to Canada. The boy's uncle, Gordon Northcott, has fled after being unwittingly alerted by Ybarra to his visit. Clark tells Ybarra that Northcott forced him to assist in kidnapping and murdering approximately twenty children and identifies Walter as one of them. Jones tells Briegleb that Christine is in protective custody following a mental breakdown. Jones orders Clark deported, but Ybarra makes Clark reveal the murder site. Briegleb secures Christine's release by showing Steele a newspaper that details the Wineville killings and names Walter as a possible victim. "Walter" reveals his motive was to secure transportation to Los Angeles to see his favorite actor, Tom Mix, and says the police told him to lie about being Christine's son. Northcott is captured in Vancouver, Canada. Christine has an attorney secure a court order to release the women unfairly imprisoned by police.

On the day of the city council's hearing into the case, Christine and Briegleb arrive at Los Angeles City Hall, where they encounter thousands of protestors who are demanding answers from the city. The hearing is intercut with scenes from Northcott's trial. The council concludes that Jones and Davis should be removed from duty, and extrajudicial internments by police must be reviewed. Northcott is found guilty of murder and sentenced to death by hanging. Two years later, Christine has not given up her search for Walter. She is told Northcott is willing to admit killing Walter on condition that Christine meets him before his execution. Northcott refuses to tell her whether or not he killed her son, and he is executed the next day. In 1935, David Clay—one of the boys assumed to have been killed—is found alive. He reveals that one of the boys with whom he was imprisoned was Walter. David, Walter and another boy escaped, but were separated. David does not know whether Walter was recaptured, giving Christine hope he is alive.

Historical context:

Disappearance of Walter Collins
Changeling is based on the true story of the kidnapping and supposed return of Christine Collins' nine-year-old son, Walter. The aftermath of his disappearance exposed corruption in the Los Angeles Police Department and the city's political hierarchy, leading to the dismissal of senior civic leaders. Walter went missing on March 10, 1928, after having been given money by his mother to go to the cinema. His disappearance received nationwide attention, and the Los Angeles Police Department followed up on hundreds of leads without success. The department faced increasing public pressure to solve the case, until five months after Walter's disappearance, when a boy claiming to be Walter was found in DeKalb, Illinois. Collins paid for the boy to be brought to Los Angeles, where a public reunion was organized by police. Collins' claims that the boy was not Walter were met by police Captain J.J Jones' urging her to "try [the boy] out for a couple of weeks".

When Collins returned to see Captain Jones three weeks later to repeat her claim, he had her committed to the psychopathic ward at Los Angeles County Hospital. During Collins' incarceration, Jones questioned the boy, who admitted to being 12-year-old Arthur Hutchens. A diner at a roadside café in Illinois had told Hutchens of his resemblance to the missing Walter, so Hutchens came up with the plan to impersonate him. His motive was to get to Hollywood so he could meet his favorite actor, Tom Mix. Collins was released and filed a lawsuit against the Los Angeles Police Department. Collins went on to win the second of two lawsuits and was awarded $10,800, which Jones never paid. The city council welfare hearing recommended that Jones and Chief Davis leave their posts, but both were eventually reinstated. In the aftermath of the case, the California State Legislature passed a bill that made it illegal for the police to commit someone to a psychiatric facility without a warrant.

Wineville murders
Main article: Wineville Chicken Coop Murders
In 1926, 14-year-old Sanford Clark was taken from his home in Saskatchewan, Canada by his uncle, Gordon Stewart Northcott. Clark was taken to Northcott's ranch in Wineville, Riverside County, where he was beaten and sexually abused by Northcott. A family member informed police of the situation, and in September 1928, police found Clark at the ranch and took him into custody. Clark claimed that Northcott had kidnapped, molested and killed several young boys with the help of Northcott's mother—Sarah Louise Northcott—and the forced participation of Clark himself. The police found no complete bodies at the site—Clark said the bodies were dumped in the desert—but discovered body parts, the personal effects of several missing children, and blood-stained axes.

Northcott and his mother had fled to Canada, but they were arrested and extradited to the United States. Northcott's mother initially confessed to the murders, including that of Walter Collins. She later retracted her statement, as did Gordon Northcott, who had confessed to killing five boys. Gordon Northcott was subsequently convicted of the murders of Lewis and Nelson Winslow (12 and 10 respectively), and an unidentified Mexican boy, though the authorities believed Northcott may have killed as many as 20. He was executed by hanging in 1930. Sarah Louise Northcott was convicted of Walter Collins' murder and served almost twelve years in prison before being paroled. After Gordon Northcott's execution, one of the boys thought to have been killed was found alive. In 1930, the residents of Wineville changed the town's name to Mira Loma, partly to escape the notoriety brought by the case.

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*Courtesy of Wikipedia and www.rottentomatoes.com.

Bill

Wah!

I found this while I was at home during Chinese New Year.

My phone bill!!! I spent too much during the holiday...

Coz I roam the phone while I'm in Hong Kong...charge of the Incoming calls...phew..so expensive!

and calls in Singapore.....

plus sms(es)...sucks blood man!