Coffee Talks & Doppelbocks

For Your Aural Pleasure - Rachael Yamagata @ Mosaic Music Festival 2007

2007-03-22T02:07:00.003+08:00

My apologies for the dearth of recent blog posts. To say recent is quite a stretch, really. 4 months is the longest i've gone without posting anything. Alas, i must have lost a few worthy blog readers as a result.

Anyway.

Over the weekend, Q and i caught New York-based singer-songwriter Rachael Yamagata (MySpace) in concert at the Esplanade. She was a hoot to watch, wowing the audience with her trademark songs on (heartwrenching) relationships and witty humour. Rachael and her band kicked off the show with a rousing rendition of "Letter Read", then played songs like "Be Be Your Love", "Meet Me By The Water", "Worn Me Down" and "Sunday Afternoon" in a span of 90 minutes.

At one point she went off-key, laughed it off and made a quip about how she sounded like she was "going through puberty." She also gave everyone a taste of her soon-to-be-released sophomore record by doing the track "What If I Leave", and joked about how she had changed its initial title from "What About Steve" because not many would be able to relate to it.

I managed to get a photo (above) with my digital camera before an usher came and tapped me on my shoulder.

During the course of the gig, she moved from grand piano to acoustic guitar, and back and forth again, displaying immense musicianship.

For the encore she closed the set with a heartfelt performance of "Reason Why". Going off-key midway through the song (again), i seriously thought she was cracking up. Either that, or i guess she was teetering on the edge of sobriety.

We headed for the post-concert autograph session soon after, but not before we managed to work our way through the large crowd dispersing from the concert hall. I think it was 9.20 pm when we reached the section of the foyer where the autograph session was being held. We were greeted by this very very loooooooooong (must emphasise this) queue. There, the staff duly informed us that the session would last for an hour only. Now, if you are near the end of the queue and you work your maths, you'd think, "Shit, there won't be enough time for us all!"

In any case the foyer doors closed on us slightly after 10, cordoning off the section where Rachael was in. Many left, crestfallen.

So Q and i made our way to the exterior of the building to have a closer look at the singer behind glass walls. Along with 20 odd fans i think. And guess what? I saw Pam in the midst -- she's a writer-reporter with the Philippine Daily Inquirer and i was reading her blog earlier (while sourcing for news on Ms. R). Omigosh! After approaching her (and possibly giving her the shock of her life) and introducing myself, we had a conversation under the stars. Literally.

Rachael Yamagata continued to sign autographs for the last few people remaining.

It wasn't too long before Rachael spied a group forming outside the building (Edit: now i realise Zombiebite and her friends were the ones who rapped on the glass walls and got Ms. R's attention, wow, i salute you), and she made her way through the already shut side doors, much to the dismay of the Esplanade staff. 20 odd people flocked towards her to get their autographs and snapshots.

I got mine of course, along with a hug, and i promptly told her she'd just made my day. God, i love her for being so obliging and down-to-earth. Everyone was gushing about how sweet she was.

I couldn't resist taking a photo with her foxy drummer Chris Giraldi as well.

We took pictures with Pam (it was great meeting you!) to mark the end of the awesome day. Pammy: That was a great evening, i couldn't have agreed more. Not forgetting Q, whom i dragged along: Thanks girl -- now tell me, exactly how many ice cream sundaes do i owe you?

Why of course, thank you Rachael Yamagata... for making it such a magical evening indeed.

----------

About (via wikipedia)

Rachael Yamagata is an American singer-songwriter who plays piano and has a dark, raspy alto. A child of divorced parents, Yamagata divided her time growing up between her Sansei Japanese American father and her Italian/German mother.

Yamagata became the vocalist for the Chicago funk-fusion band Bumpus, spending six years writing and recording three albums with the band and touring the country. In 2001, after having written a number of songs that didn't fit with the funk style of the band, Yamagata decided to take the songs and launch a solo career. In September 2002, she landed a two-record deal with Arista's Private Music and her self-titled EP was released in October.

Her first full-length album, Happenstance, followed in June 2004. Happenstance mostly consists of layered vocals, rhythmic piano, and production flourishes. Her second album, yet untitled, is slated for release for late-spring of 2007.

Mp3 · Rachael Yamagata - What If I Leave (KCRW session) (removed)
Buy · Happenstance
Read · The Straits Times Life! concert review, clickety-click
Read · Yamagata Wraps 'Darker, Grittier' New Album

Milestone

2006-11-25T13:05:00.000+08:00

I turn 21 in a couple of hours time and i haven't the slightest idea how i'm going to celebrate my coming-of-age. My handphone died on me 2 days ago so i cannot ask anyone out for a drinking session. This is just great.

Since there isn't much time to plan anything, i think i'll have a meal with my family and friends, and go bungee jumping in my dreams later.

Why i need to get a life

2006-10-06T21:19:00.000+08:00

Please accept my apologies for not having updated this space in such a loooong time. I say loooong because 2 calendar months roughly equate to 2 virtual years, and that's loooong enough to banish me to the department of forgotten blogs. Honestly. So much has happened in this space of time (e.g. one of my favourite blogs is shutting down, boo hoo) i don't know where to begin. Simply put, i've been busy (who isn't) and have thus neglected my blog.

But the last thing i need is to fade into virtual oblivion.

So there. I'll try to post whenever i get the time. That, or when i have something fancy i wish to share with the world (e.g. me having a crush on some Korean tv star/getting my front teeth punched out/shit like that).

Elsewhere, the weather is worsening in Singapore. I feel extremely stifled like some cranky old lady because the haze is blocking up my pipes. Ah yes -- that, and the moon as well. Ahem.

Happy National Day

2006-08-09T13:48:00.000+08:00

Happy 41st National Day, Singapore!

And they call this marketing skills

2006-07-27T13:57:00.000+08:00

No trip to one of those drugstores is ever complete without the saleswomen asking me, "Girl ah, woot euw like to try this new pimple cream? See euw got big pimple on yor face there, euw know?"

My face has got an ego of itself too, but these folks simply can't be bothered.

Previously · I've this big problem with my face. Really.

Etiquette

2006-07-25T19:00:00.000+08:00

Everyone knows that eating is our national pastime. You can find people traversing this island each and every day in search of superb food. I just didn't know we had to eat while travelling too. Yesterday i was on the bus with a bunch of young stinkfarts (read: schoolchildren) who were having the picnic of their lives. They were munching ice cream, french fries, and whatnots on board. Anyone with common sense knows that eating ice cream on a hot day will reduce it to a fugly mess.

If i were in my shitty mood i would have marched right up there and told them off. Since i was in my plain lousy mood i cussed silently under my breath, wishing that they would have non-existent waistlines very soon.

Someone oughta teach these kids some manners.

Holiday

2006-06-02T16:39:00.000+08:00

Going to The Land of the Morning Calm. Internet cold turkey for a week.

Carpe Diem

2006-05-26T21:51:00.000+08:00

Sometime ago, a cancer-stricken Joan Chan appeared in the local rags as part of a feature on cancer patients. I was scanning the same publication today when i discovered she had, in fact, passed away 2 days ago. Pity. She had everything going for her until this illness came along and grinded everything to a halt. For the record, the fiesty lady didn't go down without a fight. I do wish Joan is in a better place right now, one devoid of pain and teeming with life.

Consensus

2006-05-03T12:28:00.000+08:00

Singaporeans can be so pragmatic. The consensus among some constituents seems to be "I'll vote for whoever can solve my problems, can answer my questions, and can upgrade my estate" because "the taxes i pay go towards my MP's paycheck and therefore i am entitled to do so". Huh? I fear some Singaporeans may be casting their votes without making truly informed choices. Perhaps a considerable populace will be voting for so-and-so because they've recieved Progress Packages of $1,600 and they're laughing all the way to the bank (and henceforth, the polling station). I don't think it's that hard to keep a clear head, to read political blogs, to leaf through manifestos, to attend rallies, etcetera. It's whether or not you are willing to take the time.

And oh. Stop harping on the Gomez issue already.

Read · The PAP and WP manifestos.
Read · PAP Character Assassination 101 (via Singabloodypore)

For Your Aural Pleasure - Lunarin

2006-04-27T00:26:00.000+08:00

I have a confession to make: i'm not big on the local indie music scene. I can pretty much count the number of gigs i've been to with one hand. I own only these 2 albums. Sounds dismal, doesn't it? I'm thinking, hey, maybe i should dismantle this wall of ignorance to explore the world that thrives behind it.

I chanced upon on modern alt-rock trio Lunarin (MySpace) sometime back when they'd just released their debut album The Chrysalis. I hadn't heard about them back then, but they showed me 2 things:

· Lawyers can rock
· Engineers can rock

That said, The Tower -- the 8th track off the album -- starts off delicately, but as we delve into the tune, vocalist Linda's voice turns husky with emotion and the guitar riffs grow frenzied. Ooh. The dudes provide background vocals on this one, all at once blending neatly into a beautiful killer rock track.

Mp3 · Lunarin - The Tower (removed) (via pure rock)

Intermission

2006-04-02T18:41:00.000+08:00

They should make April Fool's Day an official holiday, since everyone takes the whole hoax thing real seriously.

GodithinkineedLASIK

2006-03-30T02:42:00.000+08:00

An online search for a book leads me to a seller on Yahoo! Auctions. At $2, it looks like a genuine basement bargain. I thought i might have to fork out $10 for a 2^nd hand copy. This is fantastic. I don't have to cough up a hefty sum for shipping fees and all else that comes with purchasing a book from abroad either. I suppose this must be my lucky day.

An email comes in slightly later, triumphantly announcing that i am the (sole) winner of this auction and that i am to transfer my money to the auctioneer, whereupon the book will be emailed to me.

Email?

And then i realise, to my horror, that i am the ignoramus who paid $2 for a crappy electronic book!

Postscript · I checked the page again and saw some itty-bitty fine print -- "title of the book.eBook". On hindsight, i should have scanned everything fastidiously, but i'd still say this is an outrageous marketing ploy. The disclaimer reminded me to Ask whatever question in Q & A before bid, which i did. I asked: So how's the condition of the book?

No wonder the seller never did bother to reply.

Gall

2006-03-24T01:18:00.000+08:00

Sometimes a teeny-weeny dose of impudence is all it takes to make you sit up and listen.

Previously · Wanna read this?

For Your Aural Pleasure - Yeah Yeah Yeahs: Show Your Bones

2006-03-23T00:42:00.000+08:00

I eschew radio nowadays for the most blatant reason: local radio stations often play unintelligible urban music (read: rap) and mindless bubblegum fare to the hilt, it makes me cringe real bad. Sometimes it's like hearing Nickelback (sorry, Nickelback fans) play twice in a row, and you think: Hey, the songs sound the same. A moment later the reality dawns on you: It's the same shit, anyhow.

Originality has gone out of the window.

But i digress. Turn to the internet, you radio-eschewers. There's a plethora of music out there waiting to be unearthed. That's how I discovered NY's art-rock trio The YYYs (MySpace), and like they say, the rest is history. Their soon-to-be-released sophomore effort, Show Your Bones, remains my most-anticipated release of the season, and for the most obvious reason so: they keep reinventing themselves to stay at the top of their game. Don't believe the naysayers who say they loathe this new album 'cos it has none of the pyrotechnics nor panache of the first (Fever To Tell). Damnit, i don't think the posse has lost any of their edge or musical flair, whichever it is. They've taken their music to a different dimension.

Bonus mp3 · Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Deja Vu (removed)
Buy · Show Your Bones
Buy · Fever To Tell
Read · The Straits Times Life! cd review, clickety-click
Previously · Read my other YYY posts. Pt 1 2 3

Slumberland

2006-03-16T23:53:00.000+08:00

Sleep is such a rare commodity these days, even the lions try to catch forty winks whenever they can.

Kinesics

2006-03-09T23:07:00.000+08:00

I didn't know they had a guide for all sorts of offensive gestures, but i'll give that particular someone the finger all the same. You bastard.

For Your Aural Pleasure - Jewel: Goodbye Alice in Wonderland

2006-03-08T17:59:00.000+08:00

It's hard to say whether Jewel Kilcher "sold out" with 0304, that Lester Mendez (Shakira, Enrique Iglesias) produced, dance-pop infused effort. In any case, the lady with the natural, crystalline pipes will return to her folksy-pop roots come 2nd May with Goodbye Alice in Wonderland. It'll be an autobiographical album, or the story of her life, as she so aptly puts it. The title track is a impassioned take on dreams and expectations.

It is the story of my life - from the extreme solitude of Alaska to my first trip to Hollywood... from my rise to fame to the cliché crisis of betrayals by those closest and most dearly trusted.

Mp3 · Jewel - Goodbye Alice in Wonderland (removed)
Stream the video · Jewel - Goodbye Alice in Wonderland
Buy · Goodbye Alice in Wonderland

Natalie Raps!

2006-03-07T09:25:00.000+08:00

Can you imagine a sweet, innocent thing like Natalie Portman living a gangsta lifestyle? Watch this SNL digital short to see what i mean. Hilarious.

Stream the video
Natalie Portman - Gangsta Rap

On the Oscars

2006-03-06T21:22:00.000+08:00

The 78th Academy Awards are, well, officially behind us. The curtains have been drawn and the red carpets have been rolled up. The twee golden men have their pride of place now in many a new display cabinets. There were some upsets and surprises throughout the course of the show (but of course), most notably in the Best Picture category, when Crash triumphed over crowd-favourite Brokeback Mountain to take home the coveted prize.

Perhaps the AMPAS folks don't like overtly gay themes.

The whole coverage was safe but bland, and most of my predictions materialised. There were but few heartfelt speeches. Incidentally, i had no luck with Brokeback Mountain, Transamerica, or A History of Violence either. The local board of film censors passed those 3 Oscar-nominated films with R21 ratings so i'd no chance to catch 'em.

So much for breaking my piggy bank.

Some of my priceless Oscar moments

This year's Oscar nominees get goodie bags filled with -- get this: diamond-encrusted bra & panty sets, 22-carat gold leaf and crystal hammers and $25,000 luxury packages from Halekulani Hotel on Waikiki Beach in Honolulu. The least expensive item, by the way, is a $600 Krups XP4050 Premium Pump espress machine. Now, that's what i call priceless.
Jon Steward, i.e. "I do have some sad news to report. Bjork couldn't be here tonight. She was trying on her Oscar dress and Dick Cheney shot her" or "Martin Scorsese: No Oscars, Three 6 Mafia: One Oscar"
Oh, Three 6 Mafia of course, for winning the Best Song. Someone give the men a Golden Globe already.
Tom Hanks getting smashed by a violin after demonstrating how not to drag an acceptance speech on for too long.
Ben Stiller and his green "invisible screen" suit.
I thought Jessica Alba was an atomy.
Did J.Lo morph into one of those plush, red Kodak Theatre seats they were sitting on?
Watching Lee Ang win the Best Director Oscar. Hurray, asians!
Watching the cast and crew of Crash jump up into the air after their win was announced.
Playing a spot-the-difference game, i.e. spot the differences in oceans of false breasts and botoxed faces. Boy, that was hard.

Sometimes i write nonsensical, spur-of-the-moment posts. This must be one of them.

More · 2006 Academy Award Winners

Heart Thyself

2006-03-02T13:20:00.000+08:00

This makes me sound like an utterly desperate, sexually-deprived midget. Quick, someone attach an amplifier to my cervix!

For Your Aural Pleasure - The Fiery Furnaces & The Yeah Yeah Yeahs

2006-03-02T00:01:00.000+08:00

I have The Fiery Furnaces' Bitter Tea and The Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Show Your Bones playing on my stereo right now. They are leaked versions, not retail ones, so they sound somewhat unpolished, but still throughly fascinating and unpretentious. Do check these mp3 blogs out for a sweet selection of tunes.

The Fiery Furnaces

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Previously · Read my other YYY posts. Pt 1 2

An Open Letter To My Neighbour Upstairs

2006-03-01T17:48:00.000+08:00

I live in what I call high-quality communal housing, as do 85% of this island's population, while the rest are roughly scattered in private apartments and landed properties. I like to think ours is the most successful public housing project in the world, which I must say, is true to a large extent, considering we are one densely-populated nation.

There are downsides to high-quality and high-density living, but of course. One common pet peeve among residents is incessant noise pollution, which was recently highlighted in the papers. I don't know what's worse: noisy neighbours, nosy neighbours, or neighbours without noses. I'm rather happy where I am now, for my neighbours are mostly very sociable beings. The joneses next door, for instance, are a friendly and outgoing family who like to borrow random items like onions and eggs. They sometimes turn the stereo to full blast, engage in riotous Mahjong parties, and they have a helluva noisy kid, but I can live with that. I have a high threshold for noise. Besides, they satiate me with chocolate eclairs. Often.

But the neighbour who refuses to wring the laundry before hanging it out to dry is one neighbour I can live without.

My mum went ballistic last week when she found stains on the laundry that was left out to sun. I don't know which pea-brained idiot threw bits of leftover spaghetti out the window; everything promptly splattered on our clothes and bamboo poles and left distinguishable orangey-yellow marks everywhere. Think of it as a Molotov cocktail of sorts, or bird poops, if you may. In fact, it was the second time it had happened. There was another, one metallic wok lid, measuring at least 45cm in diameter that was flung down a couple months back. I called for the police when I realised one of our bamboo poles went crashing down with it. The police arrived shortly after the incriminating evidence had been removed. Nothing much we can do, they told me, we'll just have to keep track.

I swear to god I will wring my neighbour's clothes (and neck) the next time i catch him/her in the act. That is, if I do. Some people are far too wily.

I decide to write my own tongue-in-cheek letter to whoever lives upstairs. If the town council cannot resolve a problem like this, i'll have to do it my own way. Here goes my letter that was penned in 5 minutes:

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to tell you how happy I am to recieve your showers of blessing.

You know, God can only shower us with love and bless us with good health, but you always go one step further: You shower us with delicious chicken noodles, water, toilet paper, towels, Kotex, and the occasional G-string, I actually think you are far more well-stocked than the minimart downstairs. Yes sir/mam, I think you are one hell of a generous person, I can't say how much I adore you! I mean, look, who the heck are you. I want to meet you sometime.

Remember the last time you sent us a flying wok (cover)? Or was it a frying pan? I forgot to tell you we already have a wok at home. It's a little worn but still quite the trusty wok. That was a really nice gesture though, thanks. The next time I will return your kindness, yet again, by placing a call to 999. The people on the other line were immensely friendly, I tell you. But I guess no one can really match up to your kindness yet.

I suppose it might be wiser to bless us with money next time.

Yours sincerely,
Michelle.

I say, throw nothing out of the window; throw away your kampung mentality if you must. Please have some consideration for the ones living below you.

Sg Blogsites List

2006-02-26T23:58:00.000+08:00

Here's what I got in my inbox on Friday.

Dear Sir/Madam

Hi, my name jon,
We were juz setting up a new Singapore Blogsite list website.
The reason i email is i was wondering if u would like to JOIN in to our
blog toplist.
Iz a standard toplist website wif web statistic review.
http://Singaporeblog.net click join to sign in...
Appreciate it if u do join us...

Whatever, I thought. So I signed up... and happily watched my stats climb.

Postscript · If you have a Singapore-based blog, yeah, might as well go ahead and sign up with 'em. And watch your stats climb. If not, you can make Michelle sibeh happy simply by voting for this blog (1. click 2. enter 3. vote).

Tammy did a Paris Hilton,

2006-02-24T17:58:00.000+08:00

or a Colin Farrell, or a Chu Mei Feng, for that matter. Her case is (as the figures go) the biggest sexcapade to have hit our shores since Annabel Chong and is presently kicking up a storm in our otherwise 'conservative' city-state.

Well. Sex was supposed to be an erstwhile sacred activity, but now the mere mention of the word makes all of us ditzy. See. Everyone around the globe is lapping up everything pertaining to Tammy and her ilk. Seems to me this scandal is going to be bigger and bolder than your oft-watched tv soap opera.

Seriously, what is the phone-snitcher out to prove anyway? The only thing he/she has proven so far is his/her immaturity and insecurity.

I have a confession to make: i've seen the clip in question, and all i'll say is that it's comparable to your homemade porn tapes. Anyway, if you've landed here because you're looking for the said video, well you B.M.F.A. (i'm speaking for myself too), sorry! Now, go look elsewhere.

Excuse me now, I have to stow my handphone away lest someone gets to it and ups my details on some xxx site.

Karma usually bites you back in the ass, you know.

On S. Rajaratnam

2006-02-24T17:32:00.000+08:00

Prior to S. Rajaratnam's passing, the only knowledge I had of him was derived from my history textbooks, as I think was (and still is) the case for many other third and fourth-generation Singaporeans. When he quit the political scene 2 decades ago, many of us were still too young to understand the ways of the world. Only recently did I read more about him, this pioneer of Singapore, and how he worked tirelessly like a craftsman to mould and shape our modern day Singapore.

I didn't even know it was he who wrote our national pledge!

Yes sir, you will be sorely missed.

Read · Mr S. Rajaratnam - His Life and Times

Beep Beep Bloop

2006-02-18T22:29:00.000+08:00

I wanted to write a long post today, but the paracetamol tablets I took earlier are kicking in, so my head is getting really heavy. Just thought i would share pictures of some silly movie bloopers. And oh, please try to laugh while you're at it.

"Hiyah! Watch out for my Rolex ah!"

Caution: Do not pull the trigger.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Fly a plane.

"I no need weapon. I use walkie talkie."

Adidas lah, never see before is it?

More · Movie Mistakes

Murder, They Wrote

2006-02-17T01:28:00.000+08:00

2 cases of crime in a mere 2 days; what are we turning into, a cannibalistic nation?
I cringe at the notion.

Read · Police arrest man involved in Serangoon murder
Read · Woman found dead in flat, husband arrested

For Your Aural Pleasure - Yeah Yeah Yeahs

2006-02-15T16:29:00.000+08:00

While "Gold Lion" took some time to grow on me, I fell in love with "Dudley" almost instantly. It's somewhere along the lines of "Maps", quite a ballad-sy tune. Of course, if this is anything to go by, Show Your Bones will be markedly different from what was Fever To Tell.

Mp3 · Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Dudley (removed)
Read · Yeah Yeah Yeahs to Reinvent Themselves on Next LP

For Your Aural Pleasure - Yeah Yeah Yeahs

2006-02-08T15:58:00.000+08:00

Karen O is to The Yeah Yeah Yeahs kinda like what Jenny Lewis is to Rilo Kiley: they're both charismatic frontwomen for their bands. I always had that impression, even though they are poles apart. Think Jenny "cute-as-an-button" Lewis versus Karen "i-love-sexy-fishnet-stockings" O.

The YYYs play what can be best described as indie-garage-punk music; raw vibes, smashing guitar riffs, plus kookiness all rolled into one. O usually loves to yelp with wild abandon, but on their latest outing "Gold Lion" (the first single off Show Your Bones) she coos like one cool feline to drums & guitars in the background.

Seriously, if you heard DJ Diplo's remix of "Gold Lion", you'd probably groove to that more. "Let Me Know", the other song on the single, is somewhat a big yawn for me.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for now.

Mp3 · Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Gold Lion (removed)
Stream the video · Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Gold Lion (via djmonstermo)
Buy · Gold Lion Single

Walk The Talk

2006-02-06T17:10:00.000+08:00

Some accident happened at the intersection near my house couple days back. I didn't witness the incident, only the aftermath. It was nothing too serious though, the victim (presumably the owner of the lone bike involved in the accident) suffered a few cuts on his arm and chin. Was he trying to avoid some jaywalker? To think that less than 2 months ago we had a serious accident at the same crossing (that one involving a mangled heap of a bicycle and a slightly mashed-up car). Guess the next time I 学周杰伦 (Jay Chou) 走路 (jaywalk, cheesy pun eh, but i couldn't help myself) i've to be real careful.

Desktop

2006-01-18T14:25:00.000+08:00

I bumped into an old friend on sunday. He was working at an electrical fair as a promoter, and our conversation went something like this.

Me: I've been thinking, should I get a desktop (computer) or a notebook to replace my old CPU?

W: Oh, desktop, you mean these? How about getting one?
(points towards some boxes of Microsoft Desktop keyboards on display)

Me: Huh?

W: (smiling) Oh no, seriously...

Me: Oh seriously! I was thinking of getting a table lah, a DESK -- desktop -- you know?

W: ... ...

Me: Aww. You don't like cold jokes ah?

We're such nutcases.

More KOC please!

2006-01-15T13:24:00.000+08:00

Sheesh. The Kings of Convenience are coming to Singapore for the Mosaic Music Festival and i desperately want to watch them play. (Edit: sold out!)

But it doesn't help when most of your friends are a bunch of mean, radio-loving folks who take little fancy to indie and the like (P & Q came along for the Baybeats fest though; we saw Copeland & some local bands, including Electrico, play).

More · About KoC

Seasons Greetings

2005-12-24T13:47:00.000+08:00

Merry Christmas!

On Glorifying The (Wrong) People

2005-12-01T00:24:00.000+08:00

Hai.

I hate to say this, but Singapore soccer has been a total letdown. The Young Lions went down in the history of the 23^rd SEA Games on Monday, losing out to

Indonesia

in our final group rankings. Ugh, a 1-0 win over

Myanmar

wasn’t enough to save the team from being ousted. Who cares about Fifa world rankings or Tiger Cups anyway? Not unless we can hoist the SEA Games soccer trophy high above our heads and prove to our detractors that we’re not mere pushovers, will they then say we're good. All i can say is we played better than a couple of ah peks on crutches -- but hey, seriously, you could have just gone off for a toilet break and yet not miss anything. Wonder if Mr. Avramovic or some V.I.P. is going to come round and say, aiyah, luck wasn’t really on our side/those referees were crap/the ground was crap, etc. Come on lah, let’s admit the whole team was pure crap.

Imagine if we’d replaced the lovely old soccer ball with the very lovely Jessica Alba instead, the results would have been awfully different: every player would be dashing after her on the pitch and trying to score with her.

Shoot.

I digress. I was just thinking about the latest Tiger Beer advert fronted by Ms. Alba. Maybe Asia Pacific Breweries can lure Dawn Yeo/Yang – better known by her alias clapbangkiss – in for their next commercial. Hey, girl’s got the sweet Pan-Asian look (surgically-enhanced or otherwise) going, she’s going to make the men out there swoon. Simply pose with a jug of Tiger, and tah dah, she’ll be helping shift gallons of beer in no time. And as an added bonus, her endorsement fees would be considerably lesser than Alba’s.. what better than having a local girl front a local brand?

Ugh. I forgot Tiger’s going international.

Speaking of which, remember 49 year old pianist Melvyn Tan who made news a fortnight ago? The accomplished pianist will be playing at the Esplanade, and is slated to sit on the jury of the National Arts Council's National Piano & Violin Competition in a matter of days. Tan has a glamorous resume, plus a he lives at a glamorous address to boot (Notting Hill, London). Ah, but he can jolly well add renowned draft-dodger to his resume. Having evaded his National Service call-up almost 3 decades ago, he decided to return to Singapore earlier this year to be with his aged parents. He was reportedly fined a sum not exceeding $5,000 for evading the draft, and now, so many Singaporeans (especially the men) are out there crying foul.

Imagine those disgruntled NS men screaming: “WTF? Lidat might as well I pay $5,000 and don’t serve 2 ½ years NS loh! No need to suffer like sai! Just be a good pianist or ____________ (insert your fashionable career here) can liao! Got some great achievement to show the world damn good loh?!”

Truth be told, I’m really indifferent towards the issue. I guess i don’t have a taste for classical music.

I’m less sympathetic towards convicted Aussie drug trafficker Nguyen Tuong Van. As far as I am concerned, this man is kena sai – dead as a dodo – already.

He’ll be executed on Friday, 2^nd December. Australia has unsuccessfully pleaded for his clemency, whereas Singapore is standing its ground. Some Aussies have insisted on boycotting Singapore companies/goods while some others believe their country is practicing double standards. Etc. You get the flow.

Even though Van carried the drugs to help his twin brother pay off his loans, he already knew the consequences of being a drug courier. This man was arrested in Singapore. He'll just have to abide by our state's rules and accept the punishment meted.

I'm for capital punishment as i do believe it'll serve as a deterrent for many potential evil-doers.

And that said, a petition is not going to help save Nguyen’s ass. Seriously.

Maybe the authorities will be lenient and allow his mother to hug him one last time – before some Darshan Singh sends him on his way.

Gahmen, hu?

2005-10-08T15:31:00.000+08:00

Lest you want your asses sued in court (& stowed behind bars), i bet you're watching your mouth very carefully now.

Sing-a-long, Singlish style.

2005-09-18T19:34:00.000+08:00

Rendition of a Mid-Autumn poem. In Singlish.

Moon, ah moon, you super round tonight,
Up in the sky, very the bright,
Shine down let us got moonlight,
I look, ah look, with all my might,
Want to see got Chang Er on the moon (and maybe got Hou Yi too),
But i stand there more like stupid fool.

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival/中秋节!
Eat many mooncakes hor.

Long Lost Me

2005-08-07T18:36:00.000+08:00

Having recently started work at the spanking-new National Library, i've much less leisure time for myself these days, not to mention finding enough time to update this little blog of mine. Perhaps i'm plain lazy. Either that, or i like lamenting a lot. Library work is pure menial labour. Imagine pushing gigantic drab metallic trolleys filled to the brim with books, stacking and straightening those books, avoiding smelly little kids dashing around the kiddie section and finally speaking to visitors who barely understand the meaning of Resource Library.

I hope i can make this job last.

For Your Aural Pleasure - Death Cab For Cutie

2005-07-29T00:28:00.003+08:00

It always happens with DCFC: either you adore Gibbard & Co. or you don't. I belong to the former; love spinning those indie-pop tunes. Their new album, Plans, won't be due till next month, but i gave "Soul Meets Body" (the supposed first single) a spin and i'm pretty wowed. I guessing the rest of the album will be this good, even though they've jumped ship from Barsuk to Atlantic, and i'm seriously placing my bets on this one.

Tracklist
1 Marching Bands of Manhattan
2 Soul Meets Body (mp3)~~(mp3)~~
3 Summer Skin
4 Different Names For the Same Thing ~~(mp3)~~
5 I Will Follow You Into the Dark
6 Your Heart Is An Empty Room
7 Someday You Will Be Loved
8 Crooked Teeth
9 What Sarah Said
10 Brothers on a Hotel Bed ~~(mp3)~~
11 Stable Song

Buy · Plans

Me, skin bumps?

2005-07-28T12:01:00.000+08:00

I woke up this morning, looked at myself in the mirror, and yelped. Right smack in the middle of my right cheek was this tiny glowing pink growth, no more than half a centimetre in length. It had sprouted overnight, like a seed to a plant, only thing it was much less pretty and not green to match.

Thankfully it wasn't green.

Like Mauna Loa, i sensed it was spewing fumes and threatening to erupt at any moment. I cussed, squinted, shifted from my left to my right profile and back again, and then gingerly poked the spot. Finally, summoning enough courage, i decided to count the many pimples on my pockmarked face, desperately wishing the total sum would be less than a hundred.

One, twoo, thwee... no, wait... patches?

Totaling the number of bumps on my face was an arduous task: it was like a painter's canvas gone awry, with splotches of pinks and reds all over. Letting out a sigh, i comtemplated pasting those little band aids on my face and possibly donning those John Major-esque shades before heading out. But heck, I don't want to risk looking like an Egyptian mummy, thanks.

Hot in the City

The Chinese population, by and large, believe that food has its own characteristics. A typical chinese meal consists of rice and a few dishes -- usually vegetables, meat, fish and soup -- to ensure there is balance between what we label "heaty" and "cooling" foods. Yes, food can be broadly divided into 2 categories, heaty (like fried food, chilli) and cooling (like watermelons), each with differing effects on the body as a whole.

That's at least what my parents/grandparents believe. Dad affirms i got my pimples as a result of indulging in "heaty" food. I choose to differ. I would gladly give my life up for a few more durians. When i dropped by my grandma's the other day, she chuckled, "Girl ah, take care of your face, haha, a lot of pimples on your face ok.. Ah, if you don't take care now, you will suffer in future. Look at the big pimple here (points to my left cheek).."

My grandma has pretty bad eyesight by the way.

Pimple Planet

That brings me back to an old schoolmate of mine. Let's call him Q. We dubbed him "Pimple Planet" -- he suffered from a bad bout of acne -- cos his face looked like the craters of the moon. Q always laughed at the fact that he'd enough oil to spare lest the earth's oil reserves ran out one day.

Poor man.

Skincare

Here's a simple face mask recipe derived from Jacelyn Tay's health programme, A New You.

Manuka Honey & Rolled Oats Mask
1. Grind 2-3 scoops of rolled oats.
2. Mix the blended oats together with a heaped spoonful of manuka honey. You may, of course, choose to use other types of honey, but manuka works best in this case as it has antibacterial properties. Make sure your manuka has a good UMF grade.
3. Apply the mask on your face, taking care to avoid the eye area. This is where your skin is the thinnest and thus, most sensitive. If you think you might have a possible allergy to honey, simply apply a bit of the mixture to the underside of your arm, and let it settle for a while. Observe your skin's reaction.
4. Let mask settle for 15-20 minutes.
5. Massage your face before washing off. The mix of rolled oats and honey helps to exfoliate & moisturise your skin.

An Eyesore

2005-07-21T11:06:00.000+08:00

Singaporeans are encouraged to display the National Flag during the National Day celebration period (the month of August). There are of course, a couple of guidelines to adhere to whilst displaying your flags ourside your HDB flats. I wonder what happened to the occupants of the house (see above), this is the 2nd year in a row that they've displayed their flag on the flipside.

Ah! My eyes are killing me!

First posts are always memorable.

2005-07-20T15:40:00.000+08:00

I was making my way home late last Sunday when a man coming from the opposite direction stopped me in my tracks and asked me for the time. I had no watch on, so i fished in my sling bag for my handphone. I was about to whip it out when this stranger began to murmur in a distant, somewhat dreamy voice, "Today is Sunday, tomorrow is Monday hor."

"10.30," I replied gruffly and walked off hastily before he could respond. I wondered why didn't he stop to ask that couple who was only a mere metre ahead of me.

Fast forward to Tuesday. It was pouring the whole morning and I was stuck at home.

My sis came home in the afternoon. She wasn't her usual self. She started yelping the minute she barged through the door.

Some guy had tried to approach her while she was making her way home, armed with an umbrella and an excuse to shelter her from the rain. He didn't even make an offer really -- all he did was to run up and hold his shield (his umbrella, sorry) high above her head like some dumbass knight in shining armour. My sis did turn down his help ever so politely, but she reeled back in horror when she realised the umbrella was a premise to chat her up.

"Can I be your friend?"

"No," my sis retorted.

"Why?"

"____________!!!"

(insert a politically correct reply here. Or some other nonsensical reply you can come up with, such as:

1. Aiyah, go call those 1900 hotlines ah, many girls for you to jio!

2. Go buy a mirror, better it be a 照妖镜 (zhao yao jing; a magical mirror which reveals the true form of a demon). If you can see your own reflection, come and be my friend!)

The cracker finally relented and walked her all the way to our lift lobby. He waved goodbye while my sister jabbed repeatedly at the elevator button, hoping the lift would quickly haul her back home.

After relating her story, mum suggested we girls deliver a swift blow to any man's nether regions as a form of self protection. The youngest sis recommended a pair of sharp scissors as a vital weapon -- like a protection whistle of sorts, only better.

What honestly petrifies me is that this weirdo in both cases fits this rough description: Tall (around 1.7-1.8m in height), young (approximately 20-25 years of age), of large body build and bespectacled. I'm not trying to set off police alarms here, but if a perverted dude like this actually loiters around our bukit merah/tiong bahru area, please help spread the word. Tell your sisters/girlfriends/female friends to be on the lookout. You know, a little civic mindedness actually goes a long way.

For Your Aural Pleasure?

2005-07-01T00:00:00.000+08:00

Michelle is a self-professed music whore who has a love for most things indie, alternative and pop. She's always on the lookout for new music. When she chances upon a sweet tune or band, she will wax lyrical about it. Her music-related posts are titled For Your Aural Pleasure.

Why not create an mp3 blog?

Blame it on insufficient time and resources (tried, tested and failed, miserably). I do not conform to stereotypes whatsoever. Pages are constantly updated and kept in good order.

Disclaimer

MP3s posted here are for evaluation purposes only. If you'd like something removed in a jiffy, simply drop me a line. Remember, if you love what you hear, buy the music.

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