And now for something completely similar

Good try Ronald. Look ahead to 2008. Go Jiawei! Go Jiawei!

I look at my exam time table and what do I see? My exams of course. For only 2 subjects, Thursday and Friday. That means I have 3 more days to study. And what am I doing? Blogging! But still, I know I can at least pass these subjects. Just not next week lah. The October exams are the really important ones. Next week's also important lah, but you know what I mean.

The beta version of Counter-Strike: Source is out. I tried it a bit and I loved the new look, baby. Absolutely fabolous! Of course, I still sucked when it comes to playing. But I'll get better.

Gabe Newell, get your kiester off your chair and make your men finish Half-Life 2!

Dive! Dive! Dive!

Well, diving may not be the most glamourous sport in the Summer Games, but I like to watch it anyway. I still wonder how the best divers can enter the pool from 10 meters out without making a splash. Anyway, I just watched a diving final, the Men's Sychronised 3M Springboard final. China of course were the favourites. So of course, when one of their divers made an awful mistake by slipping and making an uncompleted dive, therefore getting a big fat score of 0.00. So who stepped up and took advantage? The home country Greece. It was Euro 2004 all over again as the Greek fans celebrated an unexpected gold medal. I can't blame them. Poor China. Well, anyone who makes a dumb mistake like that doesn't deserve a medal anyway.

And apparently, Ian Thorpe won the 200m freestyle, beating Michael Phelps. Usually I'd say Phelps is over-rated, but not in this case. I truly believe he can be one of the greatest of all time. Just wait till Beijing 2008. Thorpe will be in his prime, and Phelps will be peaking. That will be a showdown I will not miss.

2 months until Half-Life 2. Can't bloody wait.

It's been 1 week, and I'm having fun :rollseyes:

What do you know? I'm still alive! My one week 'holidays' have begun, but might as well have no holiday, since my exams are just next week. But hey, I'm ready. Bring it on, I'm gonna kick a$$!

Ah, the Olympics. I have fond memories of Sydney. Here's hoping the new soccer champions of Europe, Greece (that never sounds old!), can do a good job.

My allowance is cut 50%. No problem, there's always Cash Converters.

Here's a pet peeve of mine. How come when everyone's stress, they lose weight, but when I'm stress, I gain weight? Damn my ravenous appetite!

Well, looks like I won't be selected for Floorball IVP team. But what else did I expect? But next year.....LOOK OUT SINGAPORE!!!

Shank, I'll never forgive you for inderictly sticking that Banana Phone song in my head.

Well, that's the afternoon report for ya. Later!

Fahrenhei 9/11

.....also known as "Bush Balik Kampong!"

Figures. I said that this would be posted on Monday, and so it is. Two Mondays later. Ah well, on with the review.

Yup, as I expected, this movie is not so much a 'documentary' as it is a propaganda piece to spread the message: get Dubya out of the White House now. The movie starts on November 2000. Election time. News channels everywhere were calling Al Gore the winner. Except Fox News, which calls George W Bush as President of the United States of America. Could it have something to do with the fact that Bush's nephew was in charge of election news in Fox News? These attacks on Bush keep on coming: Bush allied with the Saudis to attack Iraq so they build a pipeline below to get oil. The Coalition of the Willing, which only allied with the US in the Iraq war because, hey, they have no choice. And of course, the famous 7 minutes Bush spent reading The Pet Goat after hearing of the attacks.

No doubt, Michael Moore used some editing tricks to distort facts so that it would suit his views. But frankly, this is still one entertaining documentary, my favourite. There were more students in the theater that I thought it would be, and they enjoyed the movie tremendously. (The girls in fact, kept saying about Bush, "So cuuuuuute!". When the movie ended, for the first time ever, the audience I was sitting with applauded. That didn't happen even during Star Wars Episode 1.

Bottom line, Michael Moore set out to make his case against Bush and he suceeded. But whether or not Bush is elected, I don't care. What I care about is whether I was entertained. And heck, I was.

Where are my peeps?!

So, after thinking about it, I decided to heck care and visit my school again. I thought I'd meet some old friends. I thought WRONG! Sure I met Faiz and Fajrina, among others, but that's it? Please, show some support for our old school, guys! Ah, what am I saying, most of 'em don't know about this blog in the first place. Ho-hum. Maybe next time. Teacher's Day maybe. (Someone invite me, please!)

I'm gonna piss some people off, but hey, I'll say it anyway. I like Michael Moore. If not personally, then let's just say I like his work, the ones I've seen so far. Bowling For Columbine is a great pro-gun control movie which shows an America in need of strict gun usage. But it can't compare with Fahrenheit 9/11 which I'll touch upon later. And I've read the guide to his TV show, TV Land, which definitely sounds like the best non-fiction TV show I've heard of. Better than some of those 'reality' shows. What about his politics? They're mostly American politics, so what do I care? Let the Republicans worry about that. Yes, he manipulates facts, but he does 'em so well, you gotta give it up for that. I mean, I do it myself sometimes.

My nenek has rotated to my uncle's house now, so I'll have the house to myself again. At last, loud techno music with no one to tell me shut that radio off!

Could it be the Saudis? Damn, it was them!

Ahhh, nothin' like a bowl of Mee Soto in the middle of the night, eh? Well, it's been one heck of a week last week. What with my skin condition acting up again, my work piling up, my efforts to get a date futile and my laptop getting stolen. All in all, not a good week. But hey, least I still have my sanity, right? Feh.

I think it's time I start reviewing the movies I see in the cinemas, starting next Monday. The first movie I'll review is Fahrenheit 9/11, that Michael Moore documentary. Interesting movie that. Of course, it's now infamous throughout the world as the one where the fat, goateed guy dissed his president. But hey, at least it gave publicity to the children story, The Pet Goat, "a story so gripping, you can't put it down, even when your country is under attacked!"

Can't wait to see Collateral. Sure, it stars that egoist Tom Cruise, but he's a villain in this one. He always looked villainous to me.

Finally, a joke to round off yet another boring blog entry. This joke is dedicated to my sister.

Q: How many wome with PMS does it take to screw a lightbulb?
A: One. ONE!!! And do you know WHY it takes ONE?! Because no one else in this house knows HOW to change a lightbulb. They don't even know the bulb is BURNED OUT. They would sit in this house in the dark for THREE DAYS before they figured it OUT. And once they figured it out they wouldn't be able to find the lightbulbs despite the fact that they've been in the SAME CUPBOARD for the past SEVENTEEN YEARS. But if they did, by some miracle, find and change the lightbulbs, TWO DAYS LATER the chair that they dragged from two rooms over to stand on to change the STUPID lightbulb would STILL BE IN THE SAME SPOT!!!!!!! AND UNDERNEATH IT WOULD BE THE CRUMPLED WRAPPER THAT THE STUPID $#@!*^&% LIGHTBULBS CAME IN. WHY??? BECAUSE NO ONE IN THIS HOUSE EVER CARRIES OUT THE GARBAGE!!!! IT'S A WONDER WE HAVEN'T ALL SUFFOCATED FROM THE PILES OF GARBAGE THAT ARE 12 FEET DEEP THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE HOUSE. THE HOUSE!! THE HOUSE!!! IT WOULD TAKE AN ARMY TO CLEAN THIS..............I'm sorry, what was the question again?

A minute's silence

I'm assuming this is no joke, so Faryn's blog has shut down for good, so I'd like to bow down my head and pray for the passing of one of the most colourful sites of the web. OK, prayer's over, what's for breakfast?

Seriously though, if the closure is because of the problems I heard you were havin', I'm truly sorry.

If all this really is a joke, well, that's what the delete button is for, isn't it?

Boom Boom

Man, I'm beginning to hate Tuesdays. My worst days seem to be coming from that day. OK guys, short entry here, since I feel like posting something but I don't know what to say. Just that I'm finally beginning to see Friendster's appeal. As usual, I'm a little late in seeing it, but at least I'm seeing it, right? Later.

Not just another dance song...

Lola's Theme by the Shapeshifters

Don't dismiss this as another cheesy dance song. Ok, maybe it is, but it's the best of its kind. Iit has a beat that you can't resist. When you hear this song, you will lose control of your feet as they try to boogie down. If this doesn't happen to you, you must really hate dance songs. Guaranteed to at least put a smile on your face, perfect theme for this summer.

Parker!!!

Time to let the cat out of the bag.

I'm Spider-Man.

Hey, what's so funny?

Alright, laugh if you will, but when someone is disturbing, don't crying to me for help.

In all seriousness, after months of the Simpsons, I decided on a change of skin. And oh my it fits perfectly, even if it is a little bloody. I also got a new skin for my blog. Nice, isn't it? Of course it's nice. I chose it.

Now then, yesterday, I was sitting in the Atrium as usual at night minding my own business. This group of Malays (hip-hoppers) were practising for something, I don't know. They finished practice, and decided to play a little Truth or Dare. I found this out when one of the girls in the group came up to me and said that she was dared to "grind" me. To those who know what I mean, wipe that smirk off your face and don't tell anyone. For those who don't, well, keep on not knowing. Anyway, being the sport I am, I agreed to let her "grind" me to the tune of Hey Mama by the Black Eyed Peas. She was embarressed, I was embarressed, the others were slapping me on my back, telling me I was cool. Y'know, incidents like these makes me feel glad that I am a teenager.

Spidey-sense tingling. Trouble's brewing. A bowl of Mee Soto is out there, crying to be eaten, and I'm the only one who can do it. Catch ya later!

(Hey, don't blame me for the cheesiness in that last paragraph, blame Stan Lee!)

Subject: YISS Partners' Day 2004

Dear Yusoffian Alumni and Ex-Yusoffians,

Yusof Ishak Secondary School cordially invites you to attend our
Partners'
Day 2004:

Date: 7th August 2004
Time: 10.00 a.m.
Venue: Yusof Ishak Secondary School
11 Bukit Batok Street 25
Singapore 658712

Programme:
10.00 a.m. - Arrival of guests and Food Fair
10.30 a.m. - Arrival of Guest of Honour
Mdm. Halimah Yacob
MP for Jurong GRC and Adviser
to Bukit Batok East GROs
10.40 a.m. - Concert
11.40 a.m. - Food Fair continues


Mrs. Doris Lim
Principal
Yusof Ishak Secondary School

Now what the heck is a Partner's day anyway? Still, nice to know my old school still has my e-mail address and using it AND inviting me (along with others). Should I go? Ask me in a month.

Redundant title

I think I prefer studying at the Atrium of Ngee Ann Polytechnic instead of the Library. A more noisy atmosphere, which I don't mind. A wider space.. More air, natural air, unlike te canned air in the Library. A deli and vending machines nearby. Donuts. More accesible toilets. And sometimes, the Ngee Ann Radio Station comes by to air from the Atrium, like right now. Gotta hand it to the DJs, professional sounding for students, and with great choices of songs too. I've just finished my first homework of the semester, well, the first homework that I've done in time. Now I feel calm and ready to rumble. In fact, unlike the last 2 semesters, I actually like almost ALL my subjects. (Jury's still out on my IS class).

RIP, Marlon Brando. I've only seen you in Superman: The Movie, but that's enough for me to appreciate your genius.

What shall I write about today?

Maybe I'll write about the problems suffocating me now. Maybe I'll write about my home computer being just fine except for the internet which doesn't work...at...ALL! Maybe I'll write about the same thing happening to my laptop. Well, not really the same. With my laptop I could still connect. Easily fixed by getting the very secure Mozilla browser. No more Internet Explorer for me. How about if write about the nail on my right big toe, which has been black and blue since the day I wore tight shoes during a floorball practice, and is now, because of an accident, painfully seperated from my toe. Now I have to wear a bandage for 3 days. Ah, maybe I'll get more attention this way. Which leads me to another thing I might want to write about, which the lack of attention I'm getting. Oh, my parents give too much of it, but my friends (to be fair, probably because I insist on going the loner route) keep ignoring. Not all of them, some of them. I'l just to work harder. And of course, I'll definitely write about my schoolwork, but we all know how that goes. So, what shall I write about today?

Que the song by Queen...

Let the record show that Greece, winner of absolutely nothing before today, are now the champions of Europe. Actually I was hoping for Latvia, but hey, that's football for you. I watched the match in my school along with 50 other people, with a special DVD showing of Bend It Like Beckham preceding it. Loved the movie, loved the game. That'll show the girls who came only to see Cristiano Ronaldo take off his shirt. Actually, it's this event that finally made me realise that meeting new people really is a good thing. Really enjoyed talking to those people sitting next to me, cheering Greece on. Those Greeks must be thinking, "Today, Euro 2004. Tommorow, the Olympics. The day after, the WORLD!" Not bad for a country of plate smashers, eh? Even got a cool temporary tatoo, one that doesn't look crappy.

Spider-Man 2 rocks. Enough said. So why are you still reading this? It is your duty to go to the nearest cinema as fast as your legs take you and watch this movie.

Does whatever a, well, you know....

Today of course is the release date of Bill Clinton's My Life in bookstores everywhere. Very interested to see what he has to say about Whitewater, Hillary, Chelsea, Osama, Republican scum, his pet cat and dog, and Monica. I am especially interested in what Clinton really made Monica do with that cigar. 900+ pages. Thicker than Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. That is something. I love the guy. He's partly the reason why I'm even the least interested in politics.

And also in 7 days, Peter Parker will swing in town. Today newspaper made a replica of the Daily Bugle, and this fanboy nearly peed with excitement. Can't wait, can't wait, can't wait!

And so it happens. My 2 favourite DJs are getting hitched next year. I'm hopin' for an invitation to the event next year. Hey, I know a few people at Jamie-Yeo.com, and if they're going, I better well follow. Here's hoping Glenn will have better luck this time round.

Keh, keh, keh

I have now officially ceased caring about what happens in Iraq. All the beheadings and killings and what-nots, sad to say, I've become rather bored by it. Don't say "Nanti, perang di sini, baru awak tau". When that happens, OK, I'll pee in my pants and run to Batam. But for now, argh, enough with the war!

In other news, you've heard of Gmail? Google Mail? Apparently right no, you can only join by invitation. Since I've already joined myself, I can invite 2 people to join. I want to invite my adik, so there's just one spot. Who wants it? Read this before you decide: http://news.google.com/url?ntc=0M4B0&q=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/04172/334805.stm

Trust me, you won't regret it.

Procrastination, it's just my nature...

Apparently when I said "Tommorow", I meant 9 days later. Well, here's Part 2.

Sunday: This time I took bus service 106 to Suntec. Straight to its very doorstep. Apparently it goes round the fountain of wealth itself. Someday I'm gonna have to ride it all the way. Anyway, today, the crowd wasn't so crowded. Whereas yesterday it seemed like the whole teen population of Singapore was there, today only a handful of us came. The ground was much drier too, meaning the queing period was a lot better than yesterday. Made a bunch of new friends this time. Liked them better than yesterday's bunch in fact. Maybe it's because they were a LOT more enthusiastic. One of them, a Chinese, forgot his name, was an astonishingly good singer. He'll go far, I know. Yesterday's process repeated itself: Go up to the 7th floor hall, register, get number tag, queue up. No Gurmit today. Shame. I was among the front people this time. I would like to talk to him, seeing how yesterday he mainly conversed with the front people. We were split into groups of five: 2 girls, 3 guys in mine, including the good singer. There was also an Indian guy among us. Very happy guy he is. Bit like my friend Shankar. But with a moustache. While waiting for our turn, we got to talk to each other. Well, for about a minute, seeing as we spent our waiting time in the toilet. No cameras there this time.

The producers then marched us to yet another waiting area, this time with chairs. You know the room where William Hung was saying he was "studying at the University of Berkeley"? This was similar. It was here that the camera crew decided to make us sing a chorus of "Stand By Me". I think that would make it to TV. They also made this hot babe in a red dress model in front of us. I think that's guaranteed to be on TV. She walked past me twice, so that means I might be on TV for certain. Here's hoping I don't look too stiff. Soon, it was my group's turn. This was when the butterflies in my stomach set loose. In my moment of panic, I switched songs from "Lemon Tree" to "All I Have To Give". I'm sure you'll agree, that was a bad mistake. Anyhoo, we were taken to a seperate corridor. There were 5 different rooms with their own judges. So that confirms it. We'll sing for the producers before the Big 4 themselves. Imagine a class corridor during Oral exams. This was pretty much a posh version of it. I mean, red carpeting floor, velvet chairs, chandeliers. We would of course take turns to sing, me being the last. Everyone took pity on me, because I would be going in right after the good singer. A lot to live up to. None of us (except the good singer of course) came out looking happy. Finally, the good singer came out, and it was my turn. I took out my water bottle, took a swig, gargled, considered doing a Triple H spit, decided against it, and went in. Then I went out again because water bottles weren't allowed in. I'll never forget that moment, with the Singapore Idol logo behind me, and the microphone in front of me,(out of the camera's view of course), the gorgeous female producer judging me, so gorgeous I was compelled to sing my heart out instead of going the caution route I had planned to do. The room itself I found to be quite full of echoes. I can hear my own voice as I sing, and I knew that I was dead before I even started. The lady, thankfully, was a flatliner, meaning she didn't show any emotion.

Looking bad, I may have blown it singing-wise, but considering the fact I might be on TV as I was singing, wih thousands of eyes looking at me later, I was glad I didn't breakdown like I did during that OCOM presentation. Speaking of which, if I could do it now, I think I would have blown my friends' socks off. Anyway, I got out with a non-commital look on my face. Somehow the Indian guy knew that I did badly and tried to chher me up. He didn't have to. I did what I came to do. I went up to that judge, and a possible audience of thousands, and sung. Without blowing up. Whatever happened, I would be proud of myself. We all went to the results room, a smaller version of the waiting room. I read the New Paper I borrowed from someone. Apparently, they were miffed that no contestant didn't want to speak with them. We were told by the MediaCorp people that we were not to speak with any press member that isn't accompanied by a MediaCorp employee. Then lo and behold I saw a picture of my pal Khairomi. Clutching the piece of paper saying he made it to Round 2. He was of course ecstatic. He told me he'll do it 2 years ago. He told me he'll follow the path of Kelly Clarkson. Well, he's on the way. As for me, the very next second, my number was called. It seems I would not make it to the next round. Meh, too bad so sad, let's move on. No one in the room who didn't make it fell on the floor, crying with despair. And we were fairly high up, so I was wondering if somebody who didn't make it might jump. We all comforted each other within our group. We all didn't make it except of course the good singer. Then we all left to go on with our lives.

Now, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed. But that day, I could truly look back and say, "I did my best, and I have no regrets at all."

I went to a foodcourt to eat after that. The TV there was on. Apparently Ronald Reagan died. I gave 10 seconds of silence, then resumed attack on my Mee Goreng.

I don't know what he does to make you cry...

Why, oh why, did I pick a Backstreet Boys song to sing for the auditions? 'Stuck in the Middle with you' suits my voice better! Ah phooey, what's done is done. Here are the details of my time in Suntec.

Saturday: I took the 77 to Suntec vai the hotel. As expected, there were too many people too count. So I took my place in the line. My first test came when it started drizzling. That forced me to share my umbrella with a guy called Justin. I'd prefer sharing it with a gal named Cameron, but hey. Anyway, I made friends with the guy. A good singer this one. I stood out there in the rain, not being able to sit for fear of wetting my pants, for 3 hours. Then it was time to get up to the registration area. Big place that. Anyway, I registered, went to the toilet, waved at the cameraman filming us outside the toilet (Perv!) and took my place at the queue to the audition area. Made some more friends with some guys. Meanwhile, some crazy guy (You'd know him as Gurmit) tried stirring us up. No problems there, they were ready to make as much noise as possible. He went round the area, interviewing any people who were standing out, including this gal right behind me. One thng I learned at that moment was that I was finally getting over my shyness. How'd I know? All the cameras were pointing my direction, focusing on the girl but I was at the background. Also, I didn't get nervous, at all, with the fact that Gurmit was sitting just an inch from me. That's when I knew that, whether I'll make it or not, I will be able to face the judges without freaking out too much. Unlike that OCOM presentation a few months ago. Anyway, we were stuck in that queue for five long hours. Never got bored though. Had a fun time trying to catch Carrie Chong's attention. I'm still wondering what Diana Ser was doing there. At 3.30PM, the line finally started moving. But of course Murphy's Law (look it up at Google) came into effect, and I was told that there were too many people right now and I cou;d come back tommorrow. Okie dokie then. I was OK about it. All the otheres weren't. I just thought of it as more practice.

Tomorrow: Sunday's Events.

Is it cool to go to sleep on the floor?

I keep hearing these funny stories about Orchard Towers. To the older people out there "AHEMkakyantiAHEM" are those stories true? You know what stories I'm talking about.

Ah, 5th June 2004. The day that I thought would be the day those 4 judges recognise my utter musical genius. Well, guess what? They don't. Before you start chanting "I told you so", it's not because they think I suck. It's because they haven't heard me sing yet. Hai, too many people lah. I was just about to follow the people to the audition hall, when this security guard stopped me. Then one of the producers said "Sorry, there's too many people right now, you have to come back tommorow". After standing for 2 hours straight on my not-so-tip-top-shape legs in the rain, this is my reward? Never mind, I'll take this chance to practise more.

You know, I think I'm getting over my shyness. I actually smiled at a running camera (which was filming us contestants going out the toilet. Pervs!). I didn't really feel nervous at all there. Well, I'll see tomorrow.

In case you're wondering why I haven't mentioned the show's name, I'm thinking those two words could get me linked in Google and have my ratings skyrocket. I don't really want that right now.

I think Gurmit might be a better host than Seacrest. He's certainly funnier and more muscular.

Off to practise. sm4113r out!

O Sole Mio, I Want A Trio...

So what do I type here when I have nothing to type? Nothing? Cannot, I must type something. Ah yes, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the best of the series, is opening today. Lovely. Anything else? Hmmmmm, none huh? Well then, I better get back to practising my vocal cords. Ahem. "The hills are aliiiiiiiiiive with the sound of mooonnneeeeeeey!"