Recommended books

I've realised in the past 2 years or so. I've not really sitten and read a decent book. All I read nowadays are guitar magazines, Computer Music and all those online geek sites. Now I'm wondering about the length of my attention span. Is it that short?

Damn.

In any case, if you think there are any good books out there, preferrably borrowable from the National Library, drop the titles in the comments page. Thanks.

15

Just watched the local film, "15" by Royston Tan with my mates, Jeff, Melvin and Khai yesterday. It was about a group of teenage wayward youths shot in a documentary style, based on their experiences and all.

Khai said it was very realistic while I have friends who said that "City of Gofd" was far superior. Now I din watch that so I have no grounds for comparison. However, what I'd say is that certain scenes in the movie were extremely graphic and stomach churning to me. I can't handle scenes of mutilation and all that.

At first, I thought the film was bogged down by all the excessive arty imagery and fantasy sequences. Then I took a double take as I realised that Royston Tan was working without much of a plot, just highlighting the situation and bringing us into the world of these troubled youths.

However, throughout the entire film, you get this sensation that you were not supposed to be there, watching and observing them. The audience becomes the voyeur, the observer. Fortunately, Tan's style does not judge these characters, showing them for who they are and lay out their fears of a dead-end future for all to see.

It's upsetting and disturbing to see anyone having to go through such confusion. But isn't puberty and teenhood the toughest for the most of us? Perhaps, for these kids, the wrong turn at such a young age would allow any room for them to turn back and walk the path of the straight and narrow?

I dunno. Anyway, it's pretty decent and watchable, though I won't say that it's extremely good.

Hey hey hey...

"hey hey hey...cuz' Ah'm back.. Back in black."

- AD/DC, "Back In Black"

Hi kids, miss me? Din think so.

Anyway, I'm waiting with very much abated breath for some news from
Weiyuan. Hopefully, it'd be good and comes through. Then, I can share with you guys. Wish me luck on this!!!

By the way, 3 more days til the poll for November's H.A.I.R. ends. Ask your grannies to vote as well!!

Sabbathical...

Yup, everyone needs one...

Think I'd stop blogging for a while. Haha, but you never know I might post something again like in 2 days time. Though I said I'd post the BRC series of photos up by tommorrow, it looks like I can't as I have not secured access to a scanner yet. Might have to go bug Billy again.

So what am I gonna do during this sabbathical?

Well, I guess I would spend some time ogling at girls at Orchard I should start on my sequencers and loops again. Perhaps, I'd even spend the whole weekend drinking beer at some pub (Siam Reap?) or clubbing til 7am at Centro fiddling with my Cakewalk? In addition, I think I'd be surfing loads of sites with loads of pics of scantily clad women I'd better learn some more HTML to overhaul the site, instead of some stupid new tricks like cancelling words and shit. I'm getting slightly bored with the extremely messy layout.

So the question bears: would you miss me while I'm gone?

Your answer: Yes, please don't leave.../ No, sod off...

Yeah, I thought so too.

Freestyle breaking

My friend, Jason Ong sent me this link about freestyle breaking. The last contestant is particularly gd man.

I like.

Quote of the day: "My genital area is like a starfish. You can cut it off but it will regenerate" - Kevin Ang

Monday Sessions at Bar None: The Observatory, Zircon Govt Pawn Stars and Stoned Revivals

After exhausting my list of people who I can call to watch last night's gig, I managed to get Chee Ken out to attend the gig together. To be honest, I think I've never seen a gig this good for ages man. Then again, I'm rather suaku as well.

The Observatory came up at 920pm and proceeded with a cover or something like that as frontman, Leslie Low was mumbling. Their music seemed to be an amalgram of slow electronic beats, fused with acoustic strumming and weird electric guitar sounds and smoothened out by synthesizers. It was rather mopey and dirgey most of the time. Well, I did like the electronic beats quite a bit. However, keyboardist Vivian Wang (A H.A.I.R. in her own right) was trudging through the whole set, ripping away too many appreggios and overcluttering the music in general. Then again, I could be biased against keyboardists or there were way too many guitars in the band (count 'em: 3). I wasn't that disappointed but I wasn't overtly impressed. Their mix of folk, electronica and bossa rhythms were intriguing, warranting a closer inspection.

After a 20 minutes break, Chris Ho aka X'Ho's reformed band, Zircon Govt. Pawn Stars made their debut live performance. I was floored man. It was really amazing, I would say. Partially, you would think folks in their mid 30's and 40's to be more sedated and acting their age. But no, X'Ho and his cohorts, Yeow (guitar and sequencing) and Suzanne Walker aka Sue Sue Law who had her low cut bra straddling outta her carefully mis-worn camisole top were rockin' the stage like 17 year old punks. Basically, X'Ho and Sue Sue Law were trying to out-diva each other with sexually suggestive moves and jumping around like it's a Linkin Park concert.

Apparently, like what X'Ho had said before, he is very inspired by Chicks On Speed. I think it shows in the set with raging electroklash anthems that would rawk any floors in clubs and sounding like Depeche Mode to boot. They added a portion of Iggy Pop and the Stooges' "I Wanna Be Your Dog" to one of their songs which X'Ho was warbling something in Thai. Highly effective. They ended their brief set with a Peaches cover which featured Iggy Pop (again!), "Kick It". That was when I was rather disappointed with X'Ho who sang Pop's parts when he self-censored the lyrics to the cover. He has championed like free speech and the absurdity of censorship and said how Singaporeans practise way too much self-censorship. Could it be a subtle in-joke of sorts or when you fight monsters, you might become one yourself eventually. I dunno man.

Coming onstage at around 12am was the Stoned Revivals who were rather inactive in the recent years. Being a huge fan of their work, I was eagerly anticipating their set. I'd always loved their Stevie Wonder-Barry White-funk-disco-psychedelic vibes. They din disappoint and started the set with 2 new tunes, played on an authentic Fender Rhodes by the band multi-instrumentalist, Syed. During the second song, singer Esam beckoned their ex-guitarist, Muneer who was in the crowd to come up on stage for a jam. It was really great to see him play with the band again. In any case, they seemed to have taken a step backward to their indie roots, washing their last few songs with the occasional bursts of metallic sheets of feedback.

It was a great and thoroughly enjoyable night. It might have been better if I were up there playing as well... Ha!

Booze Buddies...

For the pasr few months, I've been drinking with these doodes pretty often. Come to think of it, I've drank with them pretty often. Nowadays, we have shifted next door from Baden Baden to Siam Reap. Thanks to Jason Siau for lending me his digital camera. It rawks man... When can I borrow it again?

Hurhur.... It has nightvision in it fer fuck's sake!!!


From left: Jason, Jessica and Billy


Aaron mugging for the camera as usual


Gavin Chelvan. You can tell the mama from the picture.


Pseudo artistic shot taken by Jason... but quite nice lah, boss

Combat Survival Training

My ex-teammate during NS for our lil recce team, Bee Thiam who is under some form of scholarship studying and working in the U.S. (Lucky bastard!!!) sent me this link from the Straits Times. It's in regard with the NSman who drowned during the Combat Surivival Training/ Prisoner Of War course.

I went through the course with those fuckers (God bless them) below in the series of pictures (BRC, Brigade Reconnaissance Company series 1). Agreeing with what George had said, this incident would cause the HPTB (Higher Powers To Be) to be more careful in their training and turn the whole army into a great bunch of sissies than what it is already now.

Well, in my memory, the CST/POW course wasn't that all out harsh, as opposed to what I read in the article. But I did hear that officers and sergeants were treated more harshly than the rest. Perhaps in this incident, it's just like a bloody recap of the Stanford Prison Experiment. The power to control some other people pushes some people right over the edge, causing all theose primal aggression and sadism that is inherently buried in all of us to emerge.

As for my case, we were all blindfolded and bound for 16 hours, kneeling on gravel which sucked. Anyway, I thought the toughest was that I had to hold my pee for that period of time as well. I think it damaged my bladder since then. Hmmm. However, what I din know was that there was so many fuckers who just peed in their pants all round me... Crap. Shouldn't had held back...

I must admit that that was the most boring part of the whole course. Did I come out a better person? Nah, I dun thk so. It just made me realise S&M was not my cup of tea, d'you know I mean?

However, in the earlier part of the week we were on Pulau Tekong on training, it was pretty fun. We killed a few chickens and frogs the Friday before and the commando staff sergeants (this HUGE Indian guy) killed like a python and a monitor lizard, demostrating to us how to kill these animals in the wild. If you ask me, the only thing he demostrated to us was that when you need to go outfield, just bring shitloads of instant noodles and luncheon meat to save the hassle of killing something you can buy in your wet market.

I said this before a thousand times and I'd say it again, smoked python meat fucken rawksss!!! It was like a huge overnight BBQ party for my Band Of Brothers. Hahaha, I heard the other groups boiled the stash of python meat that they were given. *makes a L sign on my forehead...* You know who you guys are and it doesn't extend to the BRC side exclusively. Ha! Of course, I did nothing else but cook the stuff. The culinary Force is strong within me. You should try my Chu Qian Yi Ding (instant noodles) one of these days.

Actually, for the benefit of those who didn't take the course, let's say it was like Survivor on Pulau Tekong, except there wasnt any interviews like"Melvin to the camera: Willy has done nothing but eat, cook and sleep in the camp area. I'm going to vote him out in the next Tribal Council" and of course, Tribal Councils as well. Ever wondered I rather join the Amazing Race than Survivor? Been there, done that and wore the fucken uniform.

But hey, at least, now people would really think that we went through shitloads in our CRT/POW training. Haha!!!

The next series of the BRC set of photos would be out by next Thursday. Chekkit.

New ladies added...

2 new ladies are added in the poll, H.A.I.R. of the month. Take a look.

Power naps

Wanna take a power nap in the toilet today. However, the toilet in the bloody JTC buildings have automatic flushes ...Everytime, I lean back, the thing start flushing. I can't sleep to the sound of gushing water.

The CFO in my previous company told me about the benefits of meditation. He claimed that he felt that a few minutes of meditation can suffice in place of 2 hours of sleep. I dunno about that since I never tried meditating before. The last time I saw my sis doing yoga, the ice-cream I was eating nearly went through my nose.

Perhaps, I'd try the meditating thing now. M..e..d..i..t..a...t..i..n..zzzzzz...

Fuckin' USA...

Yup, that's actually the name of a song, a North Korean one to be exact. Click on this to watch the clip. Apparently, it was broadcasted in South Korea and Japan. A reaction to Bush's foreign policy towards the North. Amazing, the word 'fuck' can be broadcasted openly in these countries with strong Asian values. Wonder what's really missing here in S'pore? More Asian values?

Cheers!!!

A friend sent me the Drink-o-meter to check how much damage we have done to ourselves by drinking.

Apparently, I'm a Homer Simpson.

Doh!!!

Sucky suck suck...

Flu, not feeling well
Stuck in office
fucken feelin' like hell.

Does that fit into the requirements of a haiku? I dunno man!!Dun ask me...

Too groggy now try to prevent the mucus from dripping all over the keyboard... This sucks...

Bloody 'ell, it's a Molotov Cocktail...

I was looking for a new moniker to do my so-called side project, dabbling more in sampling and electronic stuff rather than the full on pop-rock-slut-rock-funk-whatever of the 78 Love Experiment and the country-metal of Spooning With Satan (Actually, all we do in SWS are guzzle beer at Bencoolen Street Kopitiam and leer at fat-bottomed girls than anything else.)

The whole Lounge Lizard shtick hadta go. So, the genius writing this thought of something like "Molotov" as in molotov cocktail. Something short, bright and explosive. Fucken cool, innit?

Unfortunately, someone in Mexico is already using the name. Bollocks man... This sucks..

Anyway, I shouldn't even be typing this since I have nothing posted up for the record... Sigh...

Baby's Got Back...

Alright...

The new poll is up and running for the next 2 weeks plus. Go tell your grandma...

My Boyz' Rockumentary...

Part of my drinking posse, Billy, Jason Siau and Gavin did their FInal Year Project together which was a rockumentary about the local music scene, "Radio Forgot To Play My Favourite Song". I've seen it. It's pretty decent. Nicely shot. However, there wasn't much content and substance to it, I felt. Then again, it might not be their fault as there could be not much to begin with in the scene in the 1st place.

Doing the Asian Squat

Found this on Sujin's blog. Pretty funny...

A "documentary" on how to "do the Asian squat"

Chekkit...

Hang the DJ, hang the DJ...

Lookit what I've found on the Net, Mommy!!!

A freeware mp3 mixer that allows you to mix your tunes like a club DJ. Now you can whip up your personal storm of drum n bass rave-ups or simply throw your fave Beng techno tracks.

Download the software from Mixvibes

Help to select some H.A.I.R. candidates

Currently, I have 3 on my list and perhaps you guys out there can help me think of a few more names...?

I'm too arse to think about it anyway.

Am going to finally catch "28 Days Later" soon with Lolo who was of course disappointed with the lack of excessive and over the top gore in "Underworld". Really, Kate Beckinsale looks damn petite, barely looking as if she barely stood at 1.6 metres. How exactly petite she is; you gotta ask her husband, Len Wiseman (lucky bastard) who happens to be the director of this marginally acceptable flick. Pretty cool concept but bad execution lets it down finally.

Hmmm, I don't think I should relate the story which Bernard shared last night. Something regarding floating turds drifting along the floor of MRT station toilets. Oopsss....

Lolo was telling me last night I needed a new hobby besides drinking. Any suggestions?

Run, Lola. Run.

Happy Birthday to my mate, Jason Ong. To his credit, he got me into Centro's new offshoot club, Lola last night. There were shitloads of drinks as usual when he goes partying. Anyway, I didn't really think that Lola was that all great. Well, at least I can say that "been there, done that, bought the T-shirt".

Am I really getting old, tired of clubbing??

Going out to watch "Underworld" now. Heard bad reviews about it. Gotta prepare Bernard and Lolo for it.

The BRC series part 1

I have always hated those fucken clerks and storemen who downgraded during their National Service tenture and yet boasted about what they do in the army. Like as if filing some reports and counting some store equipment made them the most feared person in the army. You know who they are; you definitely talked to a few in your lives.

Of course, there are those who went to the Officer Cadet Course by purely academic merit without the amptitude and physical constitution to back it up. As usual, they have their own macho stories to tell about how they survived the treacherous terrains of Brunei, etc and how they suffered under the strict training while they were cadets.

However, they all are wrong... Like what my bunkmate, Cheong Ji Chung would say, "I am the most garang motherfucker in the whole SAF." And he was right. While others were living their pipe dreams of authority, we were sleeping in our bunks or lying in our hammocks outfield, cooking a pot of instant noodles under no supervision and no stress. It was like a 2 year camping trip, I'd say. Normally, that would shut the abovementioned camps up. Losers...

Anyway, these are a few photos I took when I met up with some of my army mates...


Honestly, Backstreet Boys need not fear the influx of this boyband.
From left: Melvin, Roy, Alan (He was one of our specialists/ sergeants) aka DJ Slob, "Eugene Desmond Alex" Koh Lip Peow and Jeremy


From left: Jeremy again, Khai aka King Cock Wong, Me, Kevin "Probably the world's 1st metrosexual" Ang and Melvin yet again






From left: Preston (He was a signal specialist staying opp our bunks but hung out with us very often), Ecphine (Kevin's bitch), Alan and Khai


Before going to the U.K., Lip Peow would most prolly say in Hokkien, "Si mi lan lai eh, eh sai jia eh boh?"
But of course, after getting a higher education in U.K., he'd be more inclined to ask, "Perchance, is that thing edible? Y' alright, mate?"




Extras from "28 Days Later"


Melvin does his best impression of the new Californian Governor...


From left: Kevin and Cheong)
Kevin expresses his surprise at Cheong's ability to fondle himself in public which came as no surprise to the rest of us...

Higher Ground...

I think that in the past few posts over these 2 weeks have been way too graphic intensive. So, I guess I'd switch back to doing some text-based stuff for a while

Recently, I have been following my colleague around, running all over Singapore. Been to places that I had been before, especially all those weird industrial estates tucked in different corners of the island.

But of course, when it rains, he begins to slack as well. So, we ended up driving around aimlessly but hey, it was fun. Actually, it allowed me to see and appreciate certain things that I din even know existed in Singapore itself. Fucken frog in a well aye?

Since it was raining yesterday, my colleague went to visit his friend at the SAF Yacht Club. As usual, I tagged along. After I had a smoke, I couldn't find the bugger and started looking around for him. Standing opposite JB, it was pretty nice and rustic. Looking at waves and all that shit.

In any case, I found the bugger linefishing behind some yachts with his friend. Fucker... Then he passed a hook to me to try. It looked pretty fun and I was a fishing virgin, never touched a hook, line or sinker in my life. Was inspired by my colleague. The bugger dumped the line and within 5 seconds, caught something!!! Fuck!!! I knew I hadta try.

It was pretty simple but fun. Eh, I am an urban animal, not a kampung boy. So all this shit is new to me. I caught around like, 4 fish which I dun even know what species or breed they are. But to me, it's official... Fish are up there with chicken as the world's stupidest animals. Chickens have like a 5 seconds memory span. Sorry, Sujin. Heheheh...

I had to squat down to fish at times and my jeans was worn pretty loose. Thus, half my arse was peeking outta my jeans. Hey, it looked like as if I was moonin' Malaysia... and perhaps, my parting gift to the outgoing Prime Minister. Thought I'd just share that...

Genetic Habit

My friend, Clifton's band, Genetic Habit just got their album, "From Outside" released by BigO as part of its 18th anniversary. Congratulations man!!!

I've heard the demo EP last year. To be honest, I had mixed feelings about it. I'm not too sure if it was the production that bugged me. But I like the 5th track, "School's Out" quite a fair bit as it showcases a level of maturity in arrangement and programming on Clifton's part. I heard that he was doing some music production over the last year. So, I guess this is the fruit of his labour...

Click on the picture to read the interview he had with Bigo online.

The Not-so-Amazing Race

No, that's not a trashbin beside Lolo

The story behind this photo:
Me and my good friend, Wen Chye but everyone calls him Lolo were returning from our 12 days backpacking trip in Thailand last June. We were at the airport since 4 am waiting for our flight but we were conned by the agency which we booked our tickets. We din know we were on the waiting list, instead of getting confirmed tickets on the Air India (yes, we flew that since it was the cheapest) flight. So we hung around the airport, sleeping on our backpacks in front of the check-in counter. I know, very Amazing Race-like...

In any case, we got our seats thankfully... cuz we ran outta cash to last another day.

Lolo had too much stuff to carry in his backpack while I couldn't possibly squeeze "The Drum of Doom" (yes, it has a name...) into my backpack. So we had to hand carry our stuff onto the plane and we thought it was absolutely hilarious. However, the custom officers weren't too fazed to see two guys carrying a drum and a trashbag (that's Lolo's extra luggage). They were probably expecting nuclear arsenals or something.

I think I need to update this...

Yup, looks like I haven't updated the blog in a few days... and my head feels too giddy now to do anything. I think I should lay me down to sleep like now...

Been out the whole day. Was at Andy's place jamming. No ventilation can really fuck you up damn bad. So word of advice: dun cope youeself in a room with 5 person and smoke up the whole place til you can breathe properly... It's bad...

Oooh my head...

The 78 Love Experiment (live in NUS, Law Faculty Moot Court) photos - part 3

The last in the Moot Court Series. I'd probably start with something else soon. Perhaps, those photos I took when I backpacked to Koh Phanghan with Lolo last year.

Live in NUS Moot Court









I still love the way he bloody stands in this photo!!!

Once again, thanks to those who came to support us on that night. It was great fun and we hope to do it again, hopefully soon if we can get someone to allow us to play somewhere...

H.A.I.R. of the month: Krista Allen

Yup, Miss Allen won this month's so-called award by a strong margin of 40%. The lovely Shannon Elizabeth got zlich votes (sigh, poor thing... ) while Namie Amuro had a paltry 4%. Though my favourite Taiwan Ah Lian, Elva Hsiao had only 22% of the votes, it wasn't enough to challenge this month's winner. That leaves Stifler's Mum aka Jennifer Coollidge to be the strongest contender at 31% and makes me wonder what kinda people I really know.

The Animal Resort

I was roaming the countryside (or whatever is left of it in Singapore) with my colleague in the company van this afternoon. We ended up in Seletar, near Jalan Kayu. We found this haven for orphaned animals and it was like a mini-zoo, the Animal Resort. Very nice and quaint.

They were selling puppies. Saw a coupla Jack Russell pups that were bouncing up and down like Gummi Bears. Damn cute... but they were damn noisy as well. Hehehe. There is a fenced up pen where a horse and 2 billy goats are residing. A small donation gets you a pack of animal feed. It's sooths to see peacocks, chickens (some looked damn weird), turkeys and geese running all over the place. (And me and my colleague were talking about where to eat roasted pigeongs in JB. Ha!!!) I believe there is an emu too. Nice. The flamingos have their own fenced area as well. The hamsters, guinea pigs and rabbits are tucked away in their petting corner.

Sweet place. Wish I had the bloody transport to go back again...

The 78 Love Experiment (live in NUS, Law Faculty Moot Court) photos - part 2

Everybody needs some love now and then...


Weiyuan: Yes, go ahead, tell the world my BMI is over 25...


(I can't think of anything funny to say here)


This is probably our favourite as this is the funniest. Check out the stance of that leg maaaan...

Tommorrow, we shall have the last in the series for The 78 Love Experiment: Live in the Moot Court Series and of course, our Children Day's special: H.A.I.R. of November.

Stay tuned and be good little boys and little girls...