My final Best Albums of 2007 list.Following from the Top 10 i did couple weeks (months?) back,I've had much more time to listen and do a thorough re-evaluation.This is all based on my personal taste,so I suggest you look to sites like Stereogum or Metacritic where lists compiled from different sources,ie professional music critics,are posted,for a more informed,well-rounded opinion.
I can't be bothered to number them this time,mainly because they're all really great & I really enjoyed all of t.But,those which are plain terrific and/or just sheer perfect come in freaky lollipop shades.
Bjork-Volta
Arctic Monkeys-Favorite Worst Nightmare
Explosions in the Sky-All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone
Kylie Minogue-X
Spoon-Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
New Young Pony Club-Fantastic Playroom
The New Pornographers-Challengers
Interpol-Our Love to Admire
White Stripes-Icky Thump
M.I.A-Kala
Radiohead-In Rainbows
The National-Boxer
Modest Mouse-We were dead before the Ship Even sank
LCD Soundsystem-Sound of Silver
Feist-The Reminder
Yep,I think the two big ones this year were The National & Feist.Followed closely by LCD Soundsystem.Went to Live'n'Loud ACOUSTIC yesterday-highlight was James Morrison,who was just okay.Had to bear with this horrendous Aussie singer Rick Price who sang song after song after song-he makes the kind of music you'd hear playing on Light & Easy at 3am,just complete BULLSHIT.I don't think anyone was enjoying it,just so indescribably average.Gah,there,now it's out of my system.
Just finished watching My Super Ex-Girlfriend on Star.Can't believe I missed this one when it was playing in the cinemas.It's so delightfully cheesy & cartoonish,with a cast that boasts the better Wilson brother,Uma Thurman + Anna Faris & Rainn Wilson.SO MUCH FUN.
+Got a DEVIANTART page to my pics online.Check it out!
30.11.07
27.11.07
Saucy
Finally got to buying the DSLR yesterday,a Canon EOS 400D.Can't be more pleased.Honestly,a wide-angle lens would be great but that would be a financial nightmare.Been busy toying around with the functions,learning my way around-though I know technicalities are essential,I don't want to be bound by rules,terms,theories & I believe real creativity is something you find in the heart.Well,that's just me.Enough talk-below are few of the pics from Experimenting:Round One.
Click on em' for a a larger,clearer version.Unnecessary commentaries provided further down for those of you,like me,who crave the presence of words for some inexplicable reason.
1. What better way to begin this than a pic of a cat.Well,here's my sister Ireen's lovely cat Fishy-who,upon seeing me sneak up from the corner with the camera,simply pondered straight into the lens for a good minute or so,allowing me plenty of time to get the settings right.Only bad thing was that-for being such an complying pet,I stroked his head & back compassionately & my hands smelled of puke right after.Bah,all born rockstars smell horrible-this one's a natural Cat Stevens.I totally suck at puns.
2. I don't remember what these are called,but they grew like mass Nazi colonies in our gardens back when I was small,terrorizing children-appearing on fences,on the sides of bricks & every tiny corner you'd bother to inspect.Then I'd find a small twig to carve it off the surface,when a bee or whatever things live in those would come flying out.But by then,I'd have run into the house & be safely watching cartoons,panting quietly under my breath.Don't know why I wasn't much of a screamer as a child.Was more of the kind to throw a massive rock at your head for being a jerk than telling mum or crying quietly in class during recess,which was what this one girl used to do back in primary school.I should've offered her rock-throwing classes.
3. Appetizer for lunch today.I love how tantalizingly surreal the beans look,and how the bright colours in the picture emanate a kind of refreshing,youthful ambiance,all nicely subdued by the darker surface of the table & bowl.
4. Lights at Chili's-I like how furniture is often arranged to create symmetry,and how this holds up evenly with the chaos & unpredictability of the more volatile surroundings,most notably us humans,the weather.There's something disturbingly fragile about the whole idea.
5. Lens caps,looks like the focus for this one's a bit undecided & the framing slightly loose.Nonetheless,there's a subtle play between light & dark here,the light shadows on the right accentuating the side's ominousness.
6. There's no hiding the fact,how severely dark/underexposed this one is.Everything's gone haywire,I hate how the background's made dark but details back there still unavoidably visible.But I've read in some books that say you shouldn't delete pics off from your camera,as they might turn out differently once transferred onto your com-& you could salvage them through editing or whatever method,sometimes achieving odd,remarkable results.Obviously,this is doesn't quite sway that way but I'm surprised how the cookies turned out acceptably focused in the end (click to enlarge to see what I mean).
7. And,ta-da,a pic of donuts for those of you who've read up to this point.Yeap,J-Co donuts are as good as they're said to be,possibly even better.I've always thought Krispy Kreme's were merely MEH except the succulent Devil's Glazed,but those from J-Co were significantly more tasty.My fave was that purple one in the corner,don't really know what flavor it is or what's inside but it tastes great.I don't remember the details,but I remember being really happy as I bit into it.That's what she said.I should stop it with the pathetic one-liners.
I appreciate any helpful comments I can get,but if not,enjoy the rest of your week people.For those of you who've been down or unlucky,I offer you.....my beautiful hairy leg.
Believe.
24.11.07
Into The Wild
Based on the true story penned by Jon Krakauer,Sean Penn's new directional feature,INTO THE WILD, is about Christopher McCandless who,after graduating,decides to donate all his savings to OXFAM and hitchike to Alaska to live in the wild.Dealing with such heavy dilemma's concerning one's life direction and purpose,the film could choose to adopt either a simple approach,thus abandoning the need to develop overly deep or complex ideas (which would be the emphasis of the alternative "intellectual" approach,which can often produce pretentious and unlikeable characters) and simply place the focus elsewhere.
In this case,the film has clearly chosen the former-preferring shallow,bite-sized arguments to tedious debate and conversation-characters merely announce their life goals and lessons often while remaining very vague about them.For example,the main character,Chris McCandless,renounces modern materialism/culture and preaches a life of unattached minimalism (going so far as to burn money) but isn't expressly depicted as the prudish smartass type-he's more of an Average Joe.The main character holds a delicate balance that strikes well with the audience-he's terrifically bright,but essentially a callous teenager-acting on impulses,practicalities come as second thoughts-a delicate,wonderful creation with a big brain,but even bigger heart.And Emile Hirsch is just the guy to play take on the role-he embodies every part of the character and makes it his own,doesn't overdo it and is magnetic enough to hold our attention all throughout.
The good thing about not placing too much emphasis on the arguments,is that the director has the advantage of using other elements-mainly the characters,heartbroken and conflicted,as well as visual images.Such as the use of vast landscapes (and there are many here),the sheer grandiosity of mountains and skies conveying messages about isolation & loneliness more effectively than any other medium can.Unfortunately,the film is constantly losing hold of this delicate balance-sometimes saying too little,other times too much-but when it does reach that right point it's absolutely stunning.
The first 2 chapters are full of BIG TALK,I was rolling my eyes practically every five minutes.I understand that McCandless strongly opposes materialism-but when his parents offer to buy him new car as a graduation present,he replies by asking them "Why do I need a new car?" with this harsh,hateful tone that reflects a naive,childish arrogance.He takes his ideas a bit too seriously,guards them too defensively and shuns everyone who disagrees by choosing to portray them as soulless capitalists with unhappy,pointless lives.And thisreason turns out to be the whole point he escapes the city and decides to spend the rest of his life living alone in some miserable,dilapidated van in Alaska.Anyway,this is all very annoying,but with the third chapter onwards once his motivations are set out we get to his journey and there's much less big talk (it's still quite persistent but reduced to small doses,thus less disruptive to the story).
What starts as a flaccid story brought down by the unbearably preachy narrative and the disorientating structure (the movements from present to flashbacks are utterly haphazard,some of the latter don't add much to the story),eventually matures into a heartful,captivating story.One that unravels like a melodic poem-patient,quiet,complete,utterly powerful.
Sea Change
Floyd:Wow,hot dog huh?
Liz: I only eat them on special occasions.Floyd: What's the special occasion?
Liz: I decided to eat one.From 30 Rock.
I know right,like you give a fuck.But I just needed to get it off my chest-when it comes to things I either don't like or can't give two shits for,I can't be bothered about anything.But if I'm dealing about something I truly like and enjoy,I look at it fairly and say what I want to even if it's not something good.Freedom of speech,opinions and so on,all those fancy things ya' know.Plus,like I give a fuck if you give a fuck.
A couple of exceptional albums I recently downloaded.Highly recommended.
Broken Social Scene-You Forgot it In People
Beck-Sea Change
Spoon-Kill the Moonlight
M.I.A-Arular
John Mayer-Any Given Thursday
With that last one (a live album),"Why Georgia" goes on for about a good 8 minutes or so-there's this part somewhere after midpoint where he stops to let the audience launch into the "So what,so I've got a smile on" part,I can't help but join the frenzy and feel all high as well.
+EW comes up with a list of their Top Entertainers of the Year.Includes perpetual has-beens who simply refuse to disappear:Will Smith,the hugely overrated Johnny Depp & a couple other odd choices-top overactors Katherine Heigl & Vanessa Williams (both ridiculous beyond words),Zac Efron (seriously,where's the appeal?Enlighten me,oh' clever one) and J.K. Rowling (that last book was just underwhelming).For what it's worth,they got it right with Tina Fey (they pic they have with her holding a huge pencil's so adorable),Clooney (who also has the added advantage of having a sexy,sexy,sexy voice.Like the young Marlon Brando.No kidding),the Appatow group & tabloid-queen Amy Winehouse.Public notoriety aside,she's got real talent & her music deserves all the hype it gets.The verdict?Dumb list,catered for the type of Americans who are willing to watch practically anything on TV and are too easily satisfied.
+New trailer for Walk Hard.Jenna Fischer+Paul Rudd+Jason Schwartzman+Jack White.I think my head just exploded.
Liz: Ooh,why are you wearing a suit?
Jack: It's after six,Lemon.What am I,a farmer?
Going home tomorrow.I'm dedicating all my energy and time to nursing a massive ulcer,sure with a couple tubes of Bonjela and a dozen glasses of water per hour it'll be gone soon-my personal SWAT team.Either that or I'll end up with a burst kidney,severe bee-stung lips and require real medication.I don't care.This ulcer must go.
19.11.07
Old
Wow.How crazy has the weather been?Even dressed in a plain tee & shorts,I come back drenched in sweat after having to bat countless flies away and constantly look down to avoid the sun's glare,dying for a shower.But the extreme heat and volatile weather welcomes a summer thirst for adventure,and coupled with the newfound post-exam spirit of freedom & ease,the past two weeks have been good.
...
A: My sister's getting married next July.
S: AGAIN?!
...
(On our way for some ice-cream at Freddo's)
O: (Talking about something to do with global warming and how the ice in Antarctica's being sold off as land,but melting off real quick)
A: Tsk,sad.
O: I hope they still have some.
A: Yea,I'm craving for some Durian too.
O: I'm talking about the ICE.
A: ...CREAM.
O: No, Antartica.
A: Oh.
...
There's this song by Velvet Underground,'Heroin'-it's just so unnerving,that this morning when I put it on while frying eggs for breakfast,a couple tears actually fell into the pan.I've heard the song a hundred times,but everytime I hear it I pick up or sense something completely new.Even when I know all the words to the song and all the kooks and corners and when they appear,it's still one heck of a ride and it never sounds old.And I'm sure you can say the same for some other stuff-relationships,memories,encounters.There's more to discover from the ventured path,always in our haste to get to somewhere else,to grow faster,to take in and experience more of the new and continually stride further,we miss the fine details-the smell,the texture,the taste,the feel-the parts of an experience that truly defines it's individuality.
Ramblings of a bored,possibly deranged teen.Oh,Letterman's going to be on soon.Have a great week,everyone.
...
...
A: My sister's getting married next July.
S: AGAIN?!
...
(On our way for some ice-cream at Freddo's)
O: (Talking about something to do with global warming and how the ice in Antarctica's being sold off as land,but melting off real quick)
A: Tsk,sad.
O: I hope they still have some.
A: Yea,I'm craving for some Durian too.
O: I'm talking about the ICE.
A: ...CREAM.
O: No, Antartica.
A: Oh.
...
There's this song by Velvet Underground,'Heroin'-it's just so unnerving,that this morning when I put it on while frying eggs for breakfast,a couple tears actually fell into the pan.I've heard the song a hundred times,but everytime I hear it I pick up or sense something completely new.Even when I know all the words to the song and all the kooks and corners and when they appear,it's still one heck of a ride and it never sounds old.And I'm sure you can say the same for some other stuff-relationships,memories,encounters.There's more to discover from the ventured path,always in our haste to get to somewhere else,to grow faster,to take in and experience more of the new and continually stride further,we miss the fine details-the smell,the texture,the taste,the feel-the parts of an experience that truly defines it's individuality.
Ramblings of a bored,possibly deranged teen.Oh,Letterman's going to be on soon.Have a great week,everyone.
...
16.11.07
Glare
Haih,when the exams officially ended with my last paper yesterday I felt..superhuman. You could've shot me twice in the head and I'd still be laughing maniacally,running around town screaming "FREEE!".
Yesterday I entered Roger David,attracted by the song playing over their audio system-I first pretended to browse the clothes,looking genuinely interested at one V-necked shirt that looked so morbidly metrosexual I think only someone like David Beckham could pull off-then proceeded to the counter,and inquired the girl casually standing behind it about the song.This Indian teen,typically equipped with a disastrously forced accent that sounded predominantly British,wearing a sleeveless top that boasted the large tattoo of a Tiger on her pale left arm-in response,she threw me this filthy glare-one so lethal and severe it should be a criminal offense,something you'd save for someone who you obsessively hate who has done something irredeemably unforgivable.Like kill your cat,or rape your babies.It was filthy.It lasted for only a second,during which I was too stunned to do anything-her co-worker noticed me,even heard my question,turned from the rack of clothes he was busily tidying and yelled out "Ministry of Sound-Chillout Sessions ten-I think!" and I thanked him,looked at Shark Eyes,smiled and walked out thinking what a xenophobic skank this poor excuse for a human being is,and how I pity her for he sheer stupidity.How some people can be so determined to hate people they know completely nothing about,is beyond me-such a blatant waste of time and energy.
But that didn't have any effect on my good mood,though.Told'ya I was bulletproof.At least I was,until I got this killer gastric attack that had me moaning in pain in the children's section of Borders.What was I doing there?Was busy perusing mags but I had to sit down somewhere quiet and I thought maybe they'd have colorful beanie bags over at the children's sect-where there was a lone crying boy who just stood still weeping,glaring me down like the devil while I clutched my tummy in pain and held on to the nearby bookcase.So I walked out of the crowded mall,moaned my way all the way down Swanston until the pain removed itself.Incidentally,it was when I reached the point where a bearded,scrawny man was playing the acoustic guitar that my predicament vanished.
Yesterday I entered Roger David,attracted by the song playing over their audio system-I first pretended to browse the clothes,looking genuinely interested at one V-necked shirt that looked so morbidly metrosexual I think only someone like David Beckham could pull off-then proceeded to the counter,and inquired the girl casually standing behind it about the song.This Indian teen,typically equipped with a disastrously forced accent that sounded predominantly British,wearing a sleeveless top that boasted the large tattoo of a Tiger on her pale left arm-in response,she threw me this filthy glare-one so lethal and severe it should be a criminal offense,something you'd save for someone who you obsessively hate who has done something irredeemably unforgivable.Like kill your cat,or rape your babies.It was filthy.It lasted for only a second,during which I was too stunned to do anything-her co-worker noticed me,even heard my question,turned from the rack of clothes he was busily tidying and yelled out "Ministry of Sound-Chillout Sessions ten-I think!" and I thanked him,looked at Shark Eyes,smiled and walked out thinking what a xenophobic skank this poor excuse for a human being is,and how I pity her for he sheer stupidity.How some people can be so determined to hate people they know completely nothing about,is beyond me-such a blatant waste of time and energy.
But that didn't have any effect on my good mood,though.Told'ya I was bulletproof.At least I was,until I got this killer gastric attack that had me moaning in pain in the children's section of Borders.What was I doing there?Was busy perusing mags but I had to sit down somewhere quiet and I thought maybe they'd have colorful beanie bags over at the children's sect-where there was a lone crying boy who just stood still weeping,glaring me down like the devil while I clutched my tummy in pain and held on to the nearby bookcase.So I walked out of the crowded mall,moaned my way all the way down Swanston until the pain removed itself.Incidentally,it was when I reached the point where a bearded,scrawny man was playing the acoustic guitar that my predicament vanished.
14.11.07
Fight
Woah,one more paper left tomorrow and I'm almost running out of steam.Had to drag myself to the law library,where everyone's preoccupied with 'serious' stuff while I'm busy pretending to read my notes and surfing through the web.We'll talk more once my exams are officially over,we'll even have pillow fights and I'll let you massage my feet.
Till then,I'll leave you with this neat feature-Top 50 Fight Movie Scenes over at TheShiznit.Even if you can't be stuffed to watch all 50,be sure to catch the vid they've placed at the very top.No words can describe how mind-bendingly awesome that one with Zhang Ziyi & Michelle Yeoh is.
Till then,I'll leave you with this neat feature-Top 50 Fight Movie Scenes over at TheShiznit.Even if you can't be stuffed to watch all 50,be sure to catch the vid they've placed at the very top.No words can describe how mind-bendingly awesome that one with Zhang Ziyi & Michelle Yeoh is.
12.11.07
Yose'
I've been running errands all day,beginning with a haircut and ending with a trip to Safeway to buy an overpriced honeydew.I guess errands is making it sound more important than it really is.Well,it wasn't overpriced,but just mispriced-the queue was long,so I could only afford a short argument with the well-intentioned cashier,who patiently advised me to take it to the service desk-before long I dirty glances were thrown my way,cue to pay and leave.On the way home,I thought of the nice cashier guy who had a bright orange beard which glowed like Summer in Iran.
And,in the morning at the saloon (I honestly don't know what they call them nowadays-Barbershop?Hair Parlor?Beauty Center?) this girl named Yose' (one of those difficult Korean Names,the first few times she said it I heard "Used Hair",and thought that all the staff here had weird names centered around silly puns) was just downright clumsy-they had three workers present at the time I was there,two casually appeared & disappeared and seemed to be doing nothing,so Yose' was left to answer calls at the desk,single-handedly manage the entire place while serving me.When washing my hair,she got the whole top part of my shirt wet-like I just climbed out a water slide.She was cutting my hair somewhat mindlessly,so instead of browsing through mags I had my own personal life to guard from this mad-snapping shark lady.Despite the experience,I was satisfied with the end result and Yose' was warm and chatty,although most of the time I couldn't catch what she was saying-that undecipherable accent-so I chose between slow nodding,the usual "a-ha?/Omigawd!" or two-note giggle depending on her tone.
Anyhu,some random snippets I personally find interesting,if not profound.I'm just amazed,how these songwriters can write such beautiful songs and say it so gracefully without coming off overly complex,or loony-plus,great vocals and smooth sound arrangement doesn't hurt either.
I could be wrong, I could be ready
Oh,but if I take my heart’s advice
I should assume it’s still unsteady
John Mayer-In Repair
you looked around you, nobody had taken
any notice of what you saw: against the evening sky a formation
a million black birds looking like one
Kings of Convenience-Live Long
He sets off,the beauty in her
He's Venus as a boy
Bjork-Venus as a Boy
Silently reflection turns my world to stone
Patiently correction leaves us all alone
The Killers-Tranquilize
Take your time when you tell her
how she lives in your blood
The National-Val Jester
With all of the time in the world to spend it
wild and unwise
I wanna be mesmerizing too
Liz Phair-Mesmerizing
Time for a shower and late night meditative tea brewing.No,I did not just invent that.Young kids these days.
And,in the morning at the saloon (I honestly don't know what they call them nowadays-Barbershop?Hair Parlor?Beauty Center?) this girl named Yose' (one of those difficult Korean Names,the first few times she said it I heard "Used Hair",and thought that all the staff here had weird names centered around silly puns) was just downright clumsy-they had three workers present at the time I was there,two casually appeared & disappeared and seemed to be doing nothing,so Yose' was left to answer calls at the desk,single-handedly manage the entire place while serving me.When washing my hair,she got the whole top part of my shirt wet-like I just climbed out a water slide.She was cutting my hair somewhat mindlessly,so instead of browsing through mags I had my own personal life to guard from this mad-snapping shark lady.Despite the experience,I was satisfied with the end result and Yose' was warm and chatty,although most of the time I couldn't catch what she was saying-that undecipherable accent-so I chose between slow nodding,the usual "a-ha?/Omigawd!" or two-note giggle depending on her tone.
Anyhu,some random snippets I personally find interesting,if not profound.I'm just amazed,how these songwriters can write such beautiful songs and say it so gracefully without coming off overly complex,or loony-plus,great vocals and smooth sound arrangement doesn't hurt either.
I could be wrong, I could be ready
Oh,but if I take my heart’s advice
I should assume it’s still unsteady
John Mayer-In Repair
you looked around you, nobody had taken
any notice of what you saw: against the evening sky a formation
a million black birds looking like one
Kings of Convenience-Live Long
He sets off,the beauty in her
He's Venus as a boy
Bjork-Venus as a Boy
Silently reflection turns my world to stone
Patiently correction leaves us all alone
The Killers-Tranquilize
Take your time when you tell her
how she lives in your blood
The National-Val Jester
With all of the time in the world to spend it
wild and unwise
I wanna be mesmerizing too
Liz Phair-Mesmerizing
Time for a shower and late night meditative tea brewing.No,I did not just invent that.Young kids these days.
10.11.07
Move
Staring at the carpeted floor,seated on the warm hotel bed.Bent slightly forward,both palms clutching loosely on the gun-fingering the bold,straight lines that lead to the dark opening to which there is no visible start or end.
He contemplates,in the cold heat of a rainy morning-only the dying flicker of a red glow from outside illuminates the harsh,tragic features of his face.He breathes heavily,chest heaving,but on the outside he is calm.His existence is frail and quiet,it flows into the walls and travels into the outside wind-dividing painlessly into tiny particles,surrounding and touching this and that-strangers,bicycles,rats-but quiet and unfelt nonetheless.
He craves an adventure,but remains in one he can't escape or easily solve.The roads stretch with every step taken,the horizon fills with the complexity of skies that change their shape and colors.His mind is sharp and ready,but the enemies they are all lurking somewhere he can't see,they toy and feed but they are not confronters.They might not even really be there,it could simply all be him.The past,the future,everything and nothing,it could all be a silly trick.
But he refuses to wait,he leans back to stretch-crunching noises,he opens his mouth wide to take in a huge breath that fills his lungs with a momentary sense of lightness.Then he stands,and leaves the room with the gun in his right hand,his heart eternally tireless and fiery.
He contemplates,in the cold heat of a rainy morning-only the dying flicker of a red glow from outside illuminates the harsh,tragic features of his face.He breathes heavily,chest heaving,but on the outside he is calm.His existence is frail and quiet,it flows into the walls and travels into the outside wind-dividing painlessly into tiny particles,surrounding and touching this and that-strangers,bicycles,rats-but quiet and unfelt nonetheless.
He craves an adventure,but remains in one he can't escape or easily solve.The roads stretch with every step taken,the horizon fills with the complexity of skies that change their shape and colors.His mind is sharp and ready,but the enemies they are all lurking somewhere he can't see,they toy and feed but they are not confronters.They might not even really be there,it could simply all be him.The past,the future,everything and nothing,it could all be a silly trick.
But he refuses to wait,he leans back to stretch-crunching noises,he opens his mouth wide to take in a huge breath that fills his lungs with a momentary sense of lightness.Then he stands,and leaves the room with the gun in his right hand,his heart eternally tireless and fiery.
8.11.07
Unison
The next exam paper is in less than two hours,I haven't showered and my feet feel icy.My body goes through a peculiar routine right before an exam.My fingers feel rubbery numb,for a while I have to consciously remind myself how to hold a pen.My hearing heightens in sensitivity-I pick up noises I usually don't,like how every now and then the furniture twitches.
Songs to calm down.
LCD Soundsystem-Someone Great
Portishead-Glory Box
Postal Service-The district sleeps alone Tonight
Wilco-Impossible Germany
Bjork-Unison
Ryan Adams & The Cardinals-If I am a Stranger
Neutral Milk Hotel-Communist Daughter
-vid of Feist' SNL performance last week + 'I feel It All' from an older date
-the vid for 'My Moon,My Man'
It's all about Feist.Oh yes it is.
Songs to calm down.
LCD Soundsystem-Someone Great
Portishead-Glory Box
Postal Service-The district sleeps alone Tonight
Wilco-Impossible Germany
Bjork-Unison
Ryan Adams & The Cardinals-If I am a Stranger
Neutral Milk Hotel-Communist Daughter
-vid of Feist' SNL performance last week + 'I feel It All' from an older date
-the vid for 'My Moon,My Man'
It's all about Feist.Oh yes it is.
6.11.07
Egg
I'm walking up Swanston,we're headed for Norsiah's for an early dinner.The strong winds force my hair into a mess,not bothered to correct it I let patches of hair block my sight every now and then as they blow into,onto,out of my face and playfully test my thinning patience.
This small-scale turbulence distracts me from what she's trying to say-I catch a couple of words and try to collectively makes sense of them but fail.Until finally,she turns to me with this deadpan expression that falls between lukewarm anger and maddening cuteness-"Al,are you even listening to me?".I grab the fistful flop of hair dangled across my forehead determinedly,"Of course..you were talking about that guy...",I glance forward and spot Norsiah's merely a few steps away,"We're heeeeeeere!",throwing both arms up for good measure.
Behind the counter,a couple figures wait in quiet for their turn.One's on her mobile,saying something in Chinese in slow,mellow verses but suddenly giggles excitedly and momentarily puts her phone away when it comes for her turn to order.I already know what I want,it's always the same thing when I come here-rice with tofu,fried chicken and sambal telur.There's usually an abundance of all three whenever I come,so I don't worry if they've run out.Until..the girl moves slightly to the left,and the miserable sight of a single egg lying in that gloomy puddle of oily red comes to my attention.I must have this egg,I tell myself.Every other dish looks plainly unappetizing-a bunch of shrunken eggplants look like they've been fetched from a petroleum plant,and tiny pieces of beef in the rendang glare at me uninterestedly from behind the smoky glass.
The line clears up and only one person's left ahead-I carefully inspect this stranger,and hesitantly conclude that he's not a fan of the egg.He's this tall,presumably Australian guy with suave blond hair that,despite it's length,is kept acceptably tidy.Clad in a skimpy black singlet and stained green khakis with large pockets on each side,I notice that his arms are not only defined with the kind of muscle only personal training can achieve,but also completely hairless.His hands are dangling idly by his side,as he peers down to observe the food.His crisp skin is tanned to a light orange,his nails unusually neat.After taking all this in,I can only think of one word to describe this man:Stripper.There's no other way to say it-he just looks like a stripper.And I'm pretty sure strippers don't eat eggs.They dine on the self-pity of beaten middle-aged patrons,and maybe the occasional protein juice or bowl of tasteless salad that is quickly burned off my a grueling half-day workout.
I walk to his side,fold my arms and insecurely set my eyes on the golden egg,and casually announce to my companion's direction,"I think I'll get the egg",making sure I enunciate all the words.And just to be sure,I look to his direction.He's smiling.How odd.I offer a passing grin,and pretend to focus on the egg again.Nothing's changed,I still want it.He opens his mouth to say something and I immediately notice one tooth's missing on the lower left side,resulting in this small gaping space,that looks deliberate somehow-"What do you think I should get?",he asks.I nod mock-intelligently,surveying the food and clasp my palms at the back,in the manner of an aged professor.
"The eggplant looks heavenly".He looks at the it quizzically,then points to it.Risk-taker,I see.It's then fetched to a plate of rice,later joined by a piece of chicken and some green alien plant things.And when my turn arrives,I instantly point to the wondrous egg.Sitting down,I continue to marvel at it.My egg,if only you knew how much I went through.Then I place it on a spoon and take a huge,greedy bite,and munch satisfyingly.And spit it all back onto the plate.Ugh,that unbearable taste.I forgot eggs had those yellow icky things in them.Those things taste like something I'd feed my neighbor's dog.To kill it.Thus,my quest for the egg has proved to be completely meaningless,now what's left of it is bits of white,yellow,all gross and slimy.I push my plate away,pick up a fork and start stabbing at it.Then I get tired of this,my tummy's churning in hunger-I walk back to the counter and buy a currypuff,and it tastes just o-k.
This small-scale turbulence distracts me from what she's trying to say-I catch a couple of words and try to collectively makes sense of them but fail.Until finally,she turns to me with this deadpan expression that falls between lukewarm anger and maddening cuteness-"Al,are you even listening to me?".I grab the fistful flop of hair dangled across my forehead determinedly,"Of course..you were talking about that guy...",I glance forward and spot Norsiah's merely a few steps away,"We're heeeeeeere!",throwing both arms up for good measure.
Behind the counter,a couple figures wait in quiet for their turn.One's on her mobile,saying something in Chinese in slow,mellow verses but suddenly giggles excitedly and momentarily puts her phone away when it comes for her turn to order.I already know what I want,it's always the same thing when I come here-rice with tofu,fried chicken and sambal telur.There's usually an abundance of all three whenever I come,so I don't worry if they've run out.Until..the girl moves slightly to the left,and the miserable sight of a single egg lying in that gloomy puddle of oily red comes to my attention.I must have this egg,I tell myself.Every other dish looks plainly unappetizing-a bunch of shrunken eggplants look like they've been fetched from a petroleum plant,and tiny pieces of beef in the rendang glare at me uninterestedly from behind the smoky glass.
The line clears up and only one person's left ahead-I carefully inspect this stranger,and hesitantly conclude that he's not a fan of the egg.He's this tall,presumably Australian guy with suave blond hair that,despite it's length,is kept acceptably tidy.Clad in a skimpy black singlet and stained green khakis with large pockets on each side,I notice that his arms are not only defined with the kind of muscle only personal training can achieve,but also completely hairless.His hands are dangling idly by his side,as he peers down to observe the food.His crisp skin is tanned to a light orange,his nails unusually neat.After taking all this in,I can only think of one word to describe this man:Stripper.There's no other way to say it-he just looks like a stripper.And I'm pretty sure strippers don't eat eggs.They dine on the self-pity of beaten middle-aged patrons,and maybe the occasional protein juice or bowl of tasteless salad that is quickly burned off my a grueling half-day workout.
I walk to his side,fold my arms and insecurely set my eyes on the golden egg,and casually announce to my companion's direction,"I think I'll get the egg",making sure I enunciate all the words.And just to be sure,I look to his direction.He's smiling.How odd.I offer a passing grin,and pretend to focus on the egg again.Nothing's changed,I still want it.He opens his mouth to say something and I immediately notice one tooth's missing on the lower left side,resulting in this small gaping space,that looks deliberate somehow-"What do you think I should get?",he asks.I nod mock-intelligently,surveying the food and clasp my palms at the back,in the manner of an aged professor.
"The eggplant looks heavenly".He looks at the it quizzically,then points to it.Risk-taker,I see.It's then fetched to a plate of rice,later joined by a piece of chicken and some green alien plant things.And when my turn arrives,I instantly point to the wondrous egg.Sitting down,I continue to marvel at it.My egg,if only you knew how much I went through.Then I place it on a spoon and take a huge,greedy bite,and munch satisfyingly.And spit it all back onto the plate.Ugh,that unbearable taste.I forgot eggs had those yellow icky things in them.Those things taste like something I'd feed my neighbor's dog.To kill it.Thus,my quest for the egg has proved to be completely meaningless,now what's left of it is bits of white,yellow,all gross and slimy.I push my plate away,pick up a fork and start stabbing at it.Then I get tired of this,my tummy's churning in hunger-I walk back to the counter and buy a currypuff,and it tastes just o-k.
5.11.07
Don
Had my first exam paper this afternoon-it went fairly well,everyone seemed to be all smiles and laughter on the way out of the exam hall.Although how my grade for that subject turns out has close to nothing to do with any of this-it could sink or float,but I'm guessing a pass ain't to impossible to ask for.
Had dinner at DonDon on Swanston-a place I've passed by too many times,but never considered going.From the outside,it looked like someone had torn part of an old subway train an made it an eatery-it was a tiny place,ambitiously accommodating far too many people for it's size-as a result it always seemed uncomfortably crowded and reminded me of places like that,how people go there during short lunch breaks to quickly gobble up whatever they're served without really minding however bad the food quality was.And the fact that it was a Japanese eatery-you know the things society tends to associate with the Japanese culture,how everyone's so damn stressed all the time and rushing to somewhere all the time-just supported this assumption.
Well,I was wrong.The food there's modestly priced (slightly lower than the average $8-10 you pay for a single meal) and,more importantly,tasty-it's not as noisy as it looks from the outside,and they play classic western tunes.You're shoulder to shoulder with everyone else,it's impossible to ignore all the slurping and munching sounds but people are minding their own business,and there are no dubious smells stinking up the venue.
I'm probably romanticizing the whole experience-with that last part,chandeliers or chauffeured men in suits wouldn't be too unsuitable.And I'm at the point where I'll do anything to keep my mind off the stack of finance notes lying closely at the edge of the table-they look like they weigh a thousand tons,and every time my hand attempts to reach for it my brain always instructs it elsewhere.That fancy highlighter,that piece of used tissue,that unopened envelope-they all suddenly call out to me,with a heightened sense of urgency I execute this task of utmost importance I've been sent out to do.But all at once the magic vanishes,the appeal of the highlighter tarnished upon completion of the task-now I have to find something more exciting,a purple highlighter perhaps,to satisfy my inner infant,whom I have to nurture and feed with wild fantasies involving highlighters actually being port keys to an entirely different universe.
Okay,that was 10 minutes wasted.I have to shower my worries away,put on my pj's and do a bit of obligatory studying before heading to slumber.I'll leave you with this link to the new GAP ad with real-life couple Amy Poehler & Will Arnett looking all adorable.This doesn't change the fact that their clothes are way too overpriced for something that looks typically American & borderline pedestrian,though.
Had dinner at DonDon on Swanston-a place I've passed by too many times,but never considered going.From the outside,it looked like someone had torn part of an old subway train an made it an eatery-it was a tiny place,ambitiously accommodating far too many people for it's size-as a result it always seemed uncomfortably crowded and reminded me of places like that,how people go there during short lunch breaks to quickly gobble up whatever they're served without really minding however bad the food quality was.And the fact that it was a Japanese eatery-you know the things society tends to associate with the Japanese culture,how everyone's so damn stressed all the time and rushing to somewhere all the time-just supported this assumption.
Well,I was wrong.The food there's modestly priced (slightly lower than the average $8-10 you pay for a single meal) and,more importantly,tasty-it's not as noisy as it looks from the outside,and they play classic western tunes.You're shoulder to shoulder with everyone else,it's impossible to ignore all the slurping and munching sounds but people are minding their own business,and there are no dubious smells stinking up the venue.
I'm probably romanticizing the whole experience-with that last part,chandeliers or chauffeured men in suits wouldn't be too unsuitable.And I'm at the point where I'll do anything to keep my mind off the stack of finance notes lying closely at the edge of the table-they look like they weigh a thousand tons,and every time my hand attempts to reach for it my brain always instructs it elsewhere.That fancy highlighter,that piece of used tissue,that unopened envelope-they all suddenly call out to me,with a heightened sense of urgency I execute this task of utmost importance I've been sent out to do.But all at once the magic vanishes,the appeal of the highlighter tarnished upon completion of the task-now I have to find something more exciting,a purple highlighter perhaps,to satisfy my inner infant,whom I have to nurture and feed with wild fantasies involving highlighters actually being port keys to an entirely different universe.
Okay,that was 10 minutes wasted.I have to shower my worries away,put on my pj's and do a bit of obligatory studying before heading to slumber.I'll leave you with this link to the new GAP ad with real-life couple Amy Poehler & Will Arnett looking all adorable.This doesn't change the fact that their clothes are way too overpriced for something that looks typically American & borderline pedestrian,though.
4.11.07
Haiku
Ah,what am I doing here?
Hold on,I need to pee.
Exams start tomorrow,and I've decided to take half the day off to think about what type of haircut I should get.But after more than two hours of contemplating,I think I'll postpone that until my hair grows a bit longer and becomes truly unmanageable.It is now,like when I wake up in the mornings and after a shower,it'll be all wet and once it dries it feels itchy as a baboon's butt and I feel like grabbing a pair of scissors and chopping it all off.Hair can be such a nuisance sometimes-like this wild animal living on your head,acting in it's own accord.One day when I escape to some distant foreign country where noone knows me,I will shave off every strand of hair I have on me-okay maybe I'll save the ones I have on my legs,arms and intimate spots,because I'll feel completely exposed without a bush or something-okay,way too much information-anyways,that's my big life plan fyi.Run away,my official attempt at a new life will first be marked by the symbolic head-shaving,and after that I'll get a smelly stray cat,a three-legged dog with one eye half-closed and a mute hamster and shave them all naked.And together,we will have our happily ever after.
I'm a bit excited to go home,but not that excited.I'm excited for all the food,seeing em' old friends and of course,my delightful family-even for all their tendencies of being completely unstable,they're interesting people and family is one of those things in life you can't ever separate from.They are my heart.I don't even know what that means,but yeah.Plus the cats,man how I miss having animals around-even those filthy cats carrying feline AIDS with them who annoyingly brush against your feet under tables at mamak's,or all the tiny pretty insects always present-the crickets and frogs who come to play at night,the worms and cockroaches who turn up in your food and float around in the sink,and sometimes the elusive ladybird with a shell so bright and gleaming you just want to smash it and watch it ooze out white stuff.That's what we used to do with butterflies back in primary school-they were our muse while we waited for the school bus to fill,along with grotesque slimy lines of newly-born tadpoles we used to throw at each other or discreetly put on the head of the Indian girl with the long,foul-smelling braid who,despite being fortunate enough to be born into a modern world,still used cow dung for deodorant and thought noone saw when she snuck under the table to dig her nose during English class.Of course,everyone saw,even Miss Hellen who would yell out "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?GO WASH!GO WASH!".Jeez,chill la Miss Hellen,it's not like we raped you with a popsicle or something.
Okay,so we've established that I'm not cutting my hair but I'm not growing it into a braid either.Boys with long hair only look nice in primitive surroundings,like jungles-i.e Conan or Tarzan,like not many girls can pull off short hair without coming off totally butch.All is fair when it comes to hair.
Sushi for dinner tonight,and maybe some old-fashion barefoot dancing while yelling out spontaneous haiku's right after.Sounds good eh.You in?
+This is endless.
A slightly paraphrased,funny recap from last night.
Ir: Did you have an imaginary friend when you were young?
A: Nah,but I know a lot of children without siblings tend to have those.
Am: When I was young,I didn't know they existed.
....psyyyychhhoooooooo...Hahaha:p
Came across this cool blog,Dooce-check out the pics she puts up.They're unutterably gorgeous.She uses a Nikon D70-damn,just when I'm determined to go for a Canon,this makes me all indecisive again.I think I'll just resort to the ancient,time-tested method of coin-flipping in the end.
Hold on,I need to pee.
Exams start tomorrow,and I've decided to take half the day off to think about what type of haircut I should get.But after more than two hours of contemplating,I think I'll postpone that until my hair grows a bit longer and becomes truly unmanageable.It is now,like when I wake up in the mornings and after a shower,it'll be all wet and once it dries it feels itchy as a baboon's butt and I feel like grabbing a pair of scissors and chopping it all off.Hair can be such a nuisance sometimes-like this wild animal living on your head,acting in it's own accord.One day when I escape to some distant foreign country where noone knows me,I will shave off every strand of hair I have on me-okay maybe I'll save the ones I have on my legs,arms and intimate spots,because I'll feel completely exposed without a bush or something-okay,way too much information-anyways,that's my big life plan fyi.Run away,my official attempt at a new life will first be marked by the symbolic head-shaving,and after that I'll get a smelly stray cat,a three-legged dog with one eye half-closed and a mute hamster and shave them all naked.And together,we will have our happily ever after.
I'm a bit excited to go home,but not that excited.I'm excited for all the food,seeing em' old friends and of course,my delightful family-even for all their tendencies of being completely unstable,they're interesting people and family is one of those things in life you can't ever separate from.They are my heart.I don't even know what that means,but yeah.Plus the cats,man how I miss having animals around-even those filthy cats carrying feline AIDS with them who annoyingly brush against your feet under tables at mamak's,or all the tiny pretty insects always present-the crickets and frogs who come to play at night,the worms and cockroaches who turn up in your food and float around in the sink,and sometimes the elusive ladybird with a shell so bright and gleaming you just want to smash it and watch it ooze out white stuff.That's what we used to do with butterflies back in primary school-they were our muse while we waited for the school bus to fill,along with grotesque slimy lines of newly-born tadpoles we used to throw at each other or discreetly put on the head of the Indian girl with the long,foul-smelling braid who,despite being fortunate enough to be born into a modern world,still used cow dung for deodorant and thought noone saw when she snuck under the table to dig her nose during English class.Of course,everyone saw,even Miss Hellen who would yell out "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?GO WASH!GO WASH!".Jeez,chill la Miss Hellen,it's not like we raped you with a popsicle or something.
Okay,so we've established that I'm not cutting my hair but I'm not growing it into a braid either.Boys with long hair only look nice in primitive surroundings,like jungles-i.e Conan or Tarzan,like not many girls can pull off short hair without coming off totally butch.All is fair when it comes to hair.
Sushi for dinner tonight,and maybe some old-fashion barefoot dancing while yelling out spontaneous haiku's right after.Sounds good eh.You in?
+This is endless.
A slightly paraphrased,funny recap from last night.
Ir: Did you have an imaginary friend when you were young?
A: Nah,but I know a lot of children without siblings tend to have those.
Am: When I was young,I didn't know they existed.
....psyyyychhhoooooooo...Hahaha:p
Came across this cool blog,Dooce-check out the pics she puts up.They're unutterably gorgeous.She uses a Nikon D70-damn,just when I'm determined to go for a Canon,this makes me all indecisive again.I think I'll just resort to the ancient,time-tested method of coin-flipping in the end.
3.11.07
Young Folks
if i told you things i did before
told you how i used to be
would you go along with someone like me
if you knew my story word for word
had all of my history
would you go along with someone like me
i did before and had my share
it didn't lead nowhere
i would go along with someone like you
it doesn't matter what you did
who you were hanging with
we could stick around and see this night through
and we don't care about the young folks
talkin' bout the young style
and we don't care about the old folks
talkin' 'bout the old style too
and we don't care about their own faults
talkin' 'bout our own style
all we care 'bout is talking
talking only me and you
usually when things has gone this far people tend to disappear
no-one will surprise me unless you do
i can tell there's something goin' on
hours seems to disappear
everyone is leaving
i'm still with you
it doesn't matter what we do
where we are going to
we can stick around and see this night through
Peter Bjorn & John-Young Folks.
I don't know who these guys are,but ater downloading their Writer's Block album about a week back I've been hooked ever since.The song I posted up's one of the many excellent tunes from there-it's about finding someone you're in sync with,and nah it doesn't necessarily have to be a romantic-but after that slight addition to your life,things seems a bit lighter and there's so much more to laugh and smile about.Of course,the song says so much more.
told you how i used to be
would you go along with someone like me
if you knew my story word for word
had all of my history
would you go along with someone like me
i did before and had my share
it didn't lead nowhere
i would go along with someone like you
it doesn't matter what you did
who you were hanging with
we could stick around and see this night through
and we don't care about the young folks
talkin' bout the young style
and we don't care about the old folks
talkin' 'bout the old style too
and we don't care about their own faults
talkin' 'bout our own style
all we care 'bout is talking
talking only me and you
usually when things has gone this far people tend to disappear
no-one will surprise me unless you do
i can tell there's something goin' on
hours seems to disappear
everyone is leaving
i'm still with you
it doesn't matter what we do
where we are going to
we can stick around and see this night through
Peter Bjorn & John-Young Folks.
I don't know who these guys are,but ater downloading their Writer's Block album about a week back I've been hooked ever since.The song I posted up's one of the many excellent tunes from there-it's about finding someone you're in sync with,and nah it doesn't necessarily have to be a romantic-but after that slight addition to your life,things seems a bit lighter and there's so much more to laugh and smile about.Of course,the song says so much more.
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