Blissful Life

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Book: Warhammer 40k - The Horus Heresy Series Part 4

Another 2 book from Horus Heresy Series. Yeah, I'm gonna write about 2 books at a time. You know, just kill time and improve my literature, grammar or something.

Descent of Angels is the sixth book in the Horus Heresy Series. At first, I thought the book cover the stories of the Blood Angels Legion. You know, because their primarch, Sanguinus, is also called 'the Angel' But, it appear that is not the case. This book covers the story of the Dark Angels Legion. I must say that this book provides the most in-depth story regarding on the Space Marine Legion origin. But, restricted on the Dark Angels Legion part only, of course.. It started, from the point where the Dark Angels's primarch was first found on a planet called Caliban.

This story is from the point of view of another character belong to the native of planet Caliban who later become member of the Dark Angels Legion. His name is Zahariel, and he was among the first who fought side by side with Lion El'Jonson, primarch of the Dark Angels Legion. Before the Imperium come in contact with Caliban, Lion initiates what was called the Great Hunt, to cleanse the planet Caliban from the infesting Great Beast that terrorize the planet. He creates a conclave called simple the Order and gather every knightly order on the planet under his banner. Zahariel was among them.

Lion El'Jonson, or simply called the Lion, was heavily characterize as quiet man with a terrifying intelligence. He was also a man with a high martial prowess as he once slain a Great Beast with his bare hand.. where other knights would have to do it in groups armed with pistols, swords and armored suits. He however is not alone, as the man who founded Lion, named Luther, raise him when he was first founded.

Nathaniel, being an aspirant and later elevated into full-fledged knight, continue to witness as the gap between the Lion and Luther becomes wider. Apparently, Lion doesn't like secrets, an irony where he himself is a secretive person. Lion holds the ideals of his father, the Emperor, where he though that some knowledge are not for lesser minds to know. Something that other people cannot appreciate.

And thats it. Whatt..?? What about the end? I dunno, I don't wanna spoil the story, although I think I just did a bit. Haha

Next one, Legion. This is the seventh book in the Horus Heresy Series. There is not much to tell about this book apart from the story is revolve around the youngest Legion of the Space Marines, the Alpha Legion. The Primarch is called Alpharius Omegon also known as the Last Primarch or the Last.

The book covers about the Alpha Legion and the time setting is about 2 years before the Horus Heresy. Yeah, this time the storis are going backwards. Differently from the Descent of Angels book, there are not much told about the early life of Alpharius. What the stories did tell, is the workings of the Alpha Legion. Because Alpha Legion was somehow newly created, their numbers are not as large as the other Legions. Thus they rely heavily on subterfuge and covert operation. Alpha Legion also use extensively non-Astarte personnel such as spies and human psykers.

Another event in the stories is Alpharius's encounter with a xenos conclave known as the Cabal. They tried to warn Alpharius about Horus about-to-be betrayal, and choices that Alpharius must made. But that is not important as the revealing of Alpha Legion inner structure. It seems that Alpharius Omegon was indeed a 2 person. One is Alpharius and the other is called Omegon. Alpharius was far more secretive than Lion El'jonson. In his Legion, every one is made to look alike as much as possible. Every captain and commander can simply assume the identity of Alpharius, and Alpharius can be anywhere inside the Legion.

Of course not everyone can imitate the Primarchs for they are much larger than normal Astarte. Omegon was the only person that stands almost the same as Alpharius, some even thought that they actually twins. Alpha Legion have extensive covert operations and intelligence network as being portrayed so in the book. Their secretiveness however, are not very much appreciated by Imperial commanders..

And, that it. 2 books from the Horus Heresy Series. I don't want to spoil too much on the book's content, but to anyone who enjoy the Warhammer 40k series, these books is a good read. I can vouch for that. Haha

Book: Warhammer 40k - The Horus Heresy Series Part 3

Its been a while since I wrote about the Horus Heresy, given my enthusiasm of collecting them. But I did manage to get the collection up to date. The latest book that I manage to get my hand on, is the book of A Thousand Sons. Yea-yea, I know that the latest publication of Horus Heresy in 2011 is the book of Prospero Burns. But what can I say, I got A Thousand Sons first after Prospero Burns... Anyway, before I get to those 2 latest books.. Here is some of the series that I have read.

Finally, I got myself on the first series of the Horus Heresy. Took me for a while.. From now on I'm gonna write about this series based on their release order.
Horus Rising is the first book of the Horus Heresy Series. As the tittle suggested it, this book is about the early part of the Horus Heresy, waaayyy before it began. The story takes place on the point of view from one of Horus's captain, called Garviel Loken. He was part of the Mournival, Horus's advisory council. Therefore.. He have the closest look on the changes happened on the Warmaster Horus and in the Luna Wolves Legion.

I'm not gonna spoil the detail on the book's story, but enough said that it explained a lot about the Luna Wolves Legion, provided that after the heresy, they become a Traitor Legion and then not much is known afterward. The book also revealed the Legion's experience when they encountered the False Emperor on planet Sixty-Three Nineteen and their first interaction with the Interex. Both of this encounters are important, well at least in my opinion, because they both were kinda technologically advanced compared to the Imperium.. given the fact that they both, are human faction, and they are about to get wiped out.

Also, this is the part where Horus started to lost his hold when the Emperor choose to retire from the Great Crusade and went back to Terra. Apparently he admired how the Emperor managed to.. you know unified the entire Earth and forge a solid alliance with Mars Mechanicum and Jupiter shipyards, without totally killing everyone. Horus wanted to do the same with the Interex but..

The Flight of the Eisenstein the fourth book in the Series. As you all could guess, they book here tells about something that can fly.. like.. I dunno, a starship?! Yeah, the Eisenstein is a Light Frigate that was attached to the 63rd Expeditionary Fleet by the Warmaster Horus. This time here, the book takes a point of view from another character named Nathaniel Garro, Battle-Captain of the 7th Company from the Death Guard Legion.

The story here is that Captain Garro was about to witness the Warmaster Horus betrayal. But little that he knows that he was included in that betrayal. The Warmaster knew that Garro is loyal to the Emperor, but sending him down to the planet would instill suspicion because supposedly he was kinda injured and unfit for battle. So he was assigned to that little frigate and get assassinated one way or another, because that frigate was to be rigged to explode. But Garro managed to foil the plan, and escaped with it. However, he did not escaped without damage. He was stranded in the warp until he was saved by the Imperial Fists Legion.

When that is not enough, Captain Garro tried to warn the Imperium of the Warmaster Horus betrayal, but only to get trashed by the Imperial Fists's primarch, Rogal Dorn. Rogal couldn't believe that his brother, Horus, would betray the Emperor, but later he had too.. The evidences piled up against the Warmaster were simply staggering. Enough to say that this book covers the story of Captain Garro onboard the Eisenstein. He in fact, face the first Plague Marines, and experienced first hand the prowess of a Marine turned Traitor. Plague Marines are so resilience they wouldn't even die in non-atmospheric area.

Well, that is all for now. These 2 books are not the only one I had finished reading. I would love to share more other stories.. But to tell the truth, there are just too much to tell. Seriously, the Warhammer 40k universe are huge.. and I, just couldn't get enough of them. I mean, stories involving a bolter and a chainsword? Its like reading Star Wars book but only gorier. Stormtroopers in Star Wars just scream like pussies when they got burned with a lasers, this one, people got sliced in halves.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Why Osama was buried at sea?

.::Things happened man, seriously::.

Click Here to Read More....

When you know about yourselves [Part 1]

#1 When you know you are die hard smoker:

When you watched the Shutter Island and the character mentioned how sweet the taste of the cigaratte, u kept thinking about it all the way to end of the story. "Where can i get that cigarettes??"

#2 When you know you are die hard smoker:

When you watched the Longest Yard and one of the player is smoking on the field, you kept asking yourselves whether that is allowed in the game all the way to the end of the movie. "This is probably the coolest sport Evarr!!"

#3 When you know you are die hard smoker:

When you wakes up you need to smokes first before brushing your teeth, and when you about to go to bed you would smokes first before brushing your teeth. "This way I can smoke and keep my teeth clean at the same time!"

#4 When you know you a die hard smoker:

Every time you have a running nose, you'll smoke to stop it, and it works! But when you started to stop smoking, you'll have a running nose. Making you instinctively take the ol'medicine. "This will stop my annoying-stuffed-running nose!"

#5 When you know you not going to stop smoking:

When you have all 4 symptoms above!

.:: Smoking is Bad, people! ::.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Why did Lynas come to Malaysia?

Here is the headline, Lynas is going to build a chemical processing plant in Gebeng, Kuantan, Pahang in Malaysia. The sound of the news doesn't look significant in any way does it? Well, think again.

Someone with balls, finally steps up and make a confession video regarding on this matter. Before I get to that, let me enlighten you ignorant bastards out there what Lynas is.

Lynas is a huge mining corporation, that digs out rare earth. What is rare earth you asked? Seriously? Go google it! The corporation has made a plan to build up a processing plant in Kuantan, Pahang. No, they not gonna dig some rare earth ores over there, but what they would do is that, they going to process whatever ores they have in that plant. That doesn't sound harmful at all right? I mean, just imagine what they would provide to the local. Employments, and some revenue through government tax!

Well, again, THINK! This time, listen to this guy's opinion.

Here is the kicker. Why did Lynas, all of sudden, probably out of compassion and a bit of benevolence I guess, would provide all of that to Malaysia? Why not in Australia? Did I forget to mention Lynas is from Australia.. yes they are. So why? Because Australians have no unemployment problems and they don't need the jobs?

I don't think so! Apparently, the chief executive officer of Lynas, Nick Curtis, said that they wanted to build the plant in Malaysia because Malaysia have more chemicals, more electricity, more fresh water, and more skilled workers. What? What happened in Australia?

Did it turned into a ground zero??

I think the statement was a total BULLCRAP! You saying that there are not enough fresh water and skilled workers in Australia? I think we all know that the real reason why the plant is not gonna be built in Australia. The reason is simple:

They don't want that kind of plant!

Chemical processing plant is a dirty plant. They pump toxic wastes into the water and puff poisonous smokes.

And that is not the only reason! Another reason for Lynas to set up the dirty plant in Malaysia is because they got 12 years of tax exemption. 12 years, that's a whole lot of time there! In other word, Lynas is not gonna pay a single cent to government and people gonna trade wages with their own health!

I'm not going to turn this issue into another 'campaign of hatred' against the government. Because this is not what it is about. This is about corporate moral responsibility and ethic code of conduct!

They just, can't DO that!

We all remember what happened in Ukraine where the U.S dumps their nuclear wastes there..
We all remember what happened in Bukit Merah where thorium wastes were dumped there by Mitsubishi's plant..
And we definitely DON'T want to remember what happened in Gebeng 12 years later!!

I agree with Ryan Albrey, when he said that, THIS is the true issue that all Malaysians should address, instead of bickering among each other about someone else sex scandal or who is the next Malaysian top model. Seriously people!

If the people of Australia have the balls to deny the construction of this good-for-nothing dirty plant, then we Malaysians should do too! Screw their money, it can't buy happiness and health.

Its Priceless!

Thursday, May 19, 2011

[Games] Dawn of War - Retribution

Perghhh... It have been how many days? Weeks maybe? I haven't wrote anything in here in a long.. long time. Been busy. That is all I could say. Regardless of my 'busyness', I still played games like usual.. I mean, there are games everywhere. in my PC, my hand phone, even in my wristwatch. I just couldn't get enough. Its where I got my inspirations, to do what.. ever it is I'm doing.

Ok, enough being melodramatic. Lets go to fun part.

For the past few weeks I've been.. letting off some steams by playing a Warhammer 40k game called the Dawn of War. Dawn of War is game made by Relic Entertainment and published by THQ. Yup, these game companies produces some of the best game of all year like the Company of Heroes and many of it sequels. Dawn of War have 2 expansion game, Chaos Rising and Retribution.

The game story is great. Well, which of the Warhammer 40k stories are bad anyway? The game story again revolves around the war on the sub-sector Aurelia. On the first game, a Space Marine chapter called Blood Raven have the sub-sector as their recruiting ground. The sector however was under attack by Orks and Eldars. Fighting off these xenos, suddenly another xenos jump into the fray and started to make fertilizers out of everybody, literally. The new xenos threat called the Tyranids, causes the Space Marine to scramble around to save whatever worth savings. The story goes on, added a few bits of the other factions point of view...

And finally reaches the part of the Retribution. The part after the Heroes of Aurelia were excommunicated and branded as renegades. Then, the Imperium of Mankind got fed-up with all this hassles and decided to blow everything to kingdom come. In other word, Exterminatus! This is the part where all 6 factions consist of the Imperial Guards, Space Marines, Orks Pirate, Eldar, Chaos Marines and Tyranid needs to do what must be done, before everything is lost!

Anyway.. I'm sorry for rambling too much and delve too much into the game story. I mean, anyone who didn't follow the Warhammer 40k universe wouldn't understand what with this Exterminatus or the Imperium of Mankind. Lets get back to the game.

Right, the game have included some new units and this time, player would be able to use superheavy vehicles. Nope, don't get your hopes too high. Its not a Titan, but superheavy tanks. For Space Marines there would be the Land Raider Redeemer, Imperial Guards have Baneblade tanks, and so on. Look and the screenshot and prepare to be awed.. Thats Baneblade for you. I know that most if not all, other RTS games have their own superheavy weapons... But this is Baneblade! Bristle with turrets, cannons and whatnot.. It just awesome.. In the earlier Warhammer 40k series like Dark Crusade and Soulstorm have this kind of vehicles, but can they bulldozed buildings? Well, this one can!

For gameplay, there isn't much to say. The fact that its practically the same as the early Dawn of War game. A few changes was made, of course. Units no longer level up till 30 and the skill points have been simplified. Instead of pouring skill points according to personal preference, this time the skill build is, a bit obvious. There are not much to choose from anyway. You'll understand when you play the game..

Then again, I must congratulate the Relic Entertainment for a new level of game repetition. I mean, wow.. 6 factions and all of them have almost identical stories. In fact, it was so identical, the only difference was the ending! This is like Soulstorm and Dark Crusade all over again!
The only thing that attracts me to try all of the factions, was because the cinematic was too awesome to be left unlocked. Kinda short, but satisfying..

I know I've mentioned this before.. but the game cinematic is way, and I mean really, way better the animated movie of the Ultramarines. I hope in the future they'll use the engines from the game to produce the animated movies..

All in all, the game is great. The gameplay is great way from the beginning. I mean, how is it not when its like playing the Company of Heroes, except its in the future and not all the participants are human.. But still, great graphic, great gameplay and awesome cinematic. What else do you want?

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