My friend from Malaysia, Edwin shared with me some rather funny videos about Astro's TV Commercials. I can't help laughing at how creative & amusing the short videos were. Yes, pirated dvd-mongers, you can be so funny too.

Malaysians know him as the fast-talking pirated DVD seller in the latest Astro advertisement. In person, Brandon Yuen Soon Seng is far from being the Ah Beng he portrays on screen.   

WHEN you bump into Brandon Yuen Soon Seng, the words tai chor lor! (Cantonese for 'watched already!') will immediately flash in your mind.  Yuen plays the magnificent Shiny Disc Hero, the persistent but adorable character in Astro抯 latest advertisement.  

In real life, however, be prepared to hear the 22-year-old interior design consultant speak in fluent English.  I wouldn't be surprised if people thought I was the average Ah Beng picked from the street with broken English, he said in an interview on Thursday.  

But I am pretty much the persistent and funny personality that I portray in the advertisement. It was just so much fun for me to shoot the ad because it was my first time doing it and I had never even expected to get the part to begin with, said Yuen from Setapak.  

In the clip, he plays a pirated DVD seller trying to get people to buy the latest TVB series.  Despite pulling his trademark wishing Chinese fan action to reveal an array of pirated DVDs for sale in the advertisement, his attempts are met with a resonating tai chor lor! from customers and subsequently, from the whole crowd in the vicinity as he cringes from their insults.   

The customers hurl brickbats at him, telling him that Astro's new package Astro on Demand  was now showing the latest TVB series the same time they are aired in Hong Kong, thus making his DVDs of the same dramas obsolete.  The so-called hero then walks away dejected.  

Yuen stood out during the audition among the more than 30 other hopefuls in his group for his natural look, according to what he learnt from the talent company that hired him.

Fake Louis Vuitton Sucks!

When I arrived in the office this morning, my colleague proudly showed me a Louis Vuitton bag and told me that he got it from Chinatown for a 100 bucks. And when I looked closer obviously it's not the real deal. If Louis Vuitton starts selling bags for the price of a 100 bucks, I'll probably be the first to order a thousand of them. This post is written just for you Gilbert.

Fake fashion is a $450 billion dollar business. The bigger the brand name, the bigger the payoff for counterfeiters such as fake Louis Vuitton bags. Its signature series of canvas monogram bags is a prime target for knock-off artists and manufacturers. Many of these counterfeit Louis Vuitton bags are so convincing, they easily fool the average consumer. If you are in the market for the real deal, here's how to make sure you're not getting gypped.

Step 1: The Price Is Wrong
Louis Vuitton monogram canvas bags run from $375 and up, with the majority of the bags selling for over $1000. If you're buying a brand new Louis Vuitton bag for less than $300, you're not getting a deal, you're getting a fake.

Step 2: What's In A Name?
If there is an "LV" anywhere on the bag that is crooked or on a stitch or seam, it is not the real thing. The "LV" on a real Louis Vuitton purse will be carefully placed on the bag so that it's not cut off by a seam or snap. Besides the famous initials being monogrammed onto the bag itself, the zipper pull and purse snaps will all be branded as well. The zipper pull should also be brass hardware and heavy to the touch. Many imitators pay attention to the details so make sure you're paying even closer attention. If the seams are uneven or the monogram is the slightest bit off, it's a fake. Louis Vuitton bags are all hand crafted and each one is perfectly assembled. Spend some time on the manufacturer's website to study the details that make the bag authentic.

Step 3: Material Matters
The Louis Vuitton monogram bags are made of canvas but the handles and piping are natural cowhide leather. The color of the leather should be a light tan, with the edge dyed red and the stitching in yellow. After a few weeks of handling your bag, the leather handles will oxidize and fade to a darker brown. If your leather handles don't change color, it's a fake.

Step 4: Location
Louis Vuitton doesn't have any authorized street resellers so resist these so called "deals" they are trying to sell you. Also be careful when buying bags online, although you can find authentic Louis Vuitton bags, there are also a plethora of fakes. Pay attention to the seller feedback and ask about buyer protection and the return policy. One website that is authorized to sell Louis Vuitton bags is www.eluxury.com.

Step 5: Trust Your Gut
When it comes down to it, go with your gut. If you feel funny about where or how much you're paying, walk away. For more information about how to tell the authenticity of a Louis Vuitton bag, visit a Louis Vuitton retailer or call the headquarters at 212-758-8877 in the USA.

COPYCATS!!!!!!!

After I've been ripped off countless of times, I've finally decided to be a online writer although it doesn't seem to jive with what I'm working as - an accountant.


I believe I'm not the only one who have been sucked or rather ripped off because of fake goods, the self proclaimed original ones. My parents used to tell me that being an Asian living in the States, we need to be smart and intellectual to survive in the market.


Anyway, heck, that's besides the point and I don't really want to go too deep into my personal life.


We know they are out there. Pirates, yea...not those sort of pirates in the movies who do not shower for ages. Pirates from the modern society who I must admit are pretty good business minded opportunists; but in a horribly unethical way.


And yet, most of us are still supporting them.


You don't?


You've never bought a DVD from the market at the price of 3 bucks before huh?