Arggg. I just can't stand myself . I am such a procrastinator.
Should I get the Olympus E-PL1? There's a promotion now where I can get the camera body, 2 lens kit and a lens adaptor (with other accessories) for S$1188 (usual is S$1368 I think). The promotion will end next Sunday!
How how?
Really like the retro feeling, the ability to change lens, and also, what attracted me most is its ART functions which allow to take photos having different effects, such as pinhole, soft focus, etc.
I think most of my friends know how much I love music and singing, and so being bored on a Sunday night, I decided to youtube and found some clips from the most recent The X Factor auditions. Some of them are really good, like the one with the crazy hair and the teacher. But some, eh, you shall judge them for yourselves. Though it's a singing competition, I think what makes this show different from American Idol or Pop Idol or other talent shows is that it also brings in the emotional factor by telling the stories of the contestants. I think America's Got Talent or Britain's Got Talent also used the same tactics, to make the show more interesting.
Here are the some of the really good ones.
My Favorite!
The Not So Outstanding Ones
And Even You Are Not Good, It's Doesn't Mean You Have Lost Everything
What I liked about these singing competitions is that besides hearing good singing and nice songs, it is also to learn from the good ones how to sing better.
I was at the Singapore Complaints Choir gig at the Arts House last evening, with the company of Suhui, Jiayan and Charm Yik. Basically, the choir is part of the Singapore Fringe Festival by The Necessary Stage, an outreach programme to allow arts to be more accessible to the public. Sadly, due to some complications with the police, and also due to the content of the performance, all public performances are canceled and only 2 performances on Sat and the other 2 on Sun, were on at the Arts House, and it's a 'By Invites Only' event.
Nevertheless, the show went on, and they went on complaining about issues in Singapore, with a humour twist but of course. The tune was composed by our dear Alan Chong, and the lyrics were contributed by the singers of the choir. Other familiar faces caught were Aziah, one of the singers, Shin Ni, and Caleb.
After the event, I think Singapore really needs to open up a bit. The choir is really harmless and it's also a Singaporean thing to complain, just that it's now in the form of art. The public will then find this idea interesting as they can find something to relate to. The main complication comes in as foreigners and PRs are involved in this event, that's why the police denied the choir of its public performances. Seriously, I don't see the point why non-Singaporeans can't complain about Singapore. It's not as if they are doing any harm.
Anyway, after the gig, we (Azi went home early) went to Joshua's 21st birthday. A typical birthday party with lots of people around, therefore we, including Yeow An and Joy, entertained ourselves with food, beer, games and forfeits where the loser had to do jumping jacks in the middle of the room.
Just came back from the boardgame cafe, Hideout Cafe, near my house after dinner at 85 market. Although we spent 3.5 hours there, it didn't feel that long. And what's more, we only paid for the 3 hours package, had 15% discount, and 0.5 hours free, played Taboo, Slamwich, Dividends, some dinosaur bone snatching game, and others (I think in all, we played around 7 to 8 games), free flow of drinks and some snacks and tidbits, had tons of laughter and fun, and all these for only 12 bucks. There are also forfeits that are written for losers, thus we don't have to think forfeits for the losers. The boss is quite good, as he gave us all the offers and discount, probably there aren't many people around initially, and to make the cafe to seem more occupied. Anyway, it's a nice place to hang out!
超級星光大道 Season 2 finally came to an end and black horse 賴銘偉 eventually won and walked away with 1000000NT (about S$50000) and a contract. Hot favorite 梁文音 got second. My second fav 林宜融 got fifth. I thought she should have gotten top 3, but I think it's because of her song choice for the 1st round, where she chose a slow song while others chose fast songs and showed very different sides of them. Because having a lowest accumulated score overall, she walked away with the title of 4th runner up without having a chance to compete for the second round, (which worth 60% of the total marks). I feel that she should have a good chance of being in the top 3 with her second song, which she performed eventually and it's a nice fast song. Probably it's her tactic because the rest chose slow songs in the second round, and if she had gotten to the second round, she would have got high marks, and would be placed in the higher positions. Maybe she didn't anticipate she would be kicked off in the first round.
賴銘偉 and 梁文音 really had a hard fight, and although I though both did as well, the formal still walked away as champion. Well, I still prefer my fav. I thought 葉瑋庭 did rather well with both her fast songs, and she scored an overwhelming score of 24 out of 25 with her first song. 梁文音 did very well with Christina Aguilera's Candyman and also scored 24 out of the possible 25. But it was 賴銘偉 who beat everyone with his second song, where the second round worthed 60% of the whole score.
Though many had commented that this series wasn't as exciting as the first series, and the singers aren't as wonderful as the earlier series, I still think we can learn a lot from this series. People like 林宜融 has wonderful fighting spirit and there's also the melodious voice of 梁文音. Season 3 is coming and I hope it will be as exciting!
Just came back from meeting Siandy and the goat. Maybe I should stop calling them by their nicks just in case I forgot their real names. Anyway, Siandy wanted to meet up, so we just met. After lunch at Mos Burger and meeting up with the goat, who went for a haircut, and walking aimlessly around, we decided to watch Le Grand Chef, a Korean movie on food. Overall I would say it's actually quite good. Click on the link to get the brief story.
I think the message or theme of this movie is how delicious food are linked with the stories. Sometimes how good the food taste is not all just because the ingredients that are used to prepare them, but its the story behind the different food that make them extraordinary. I know this is just a movie and the stories are somehow slightly exaggerated, but it did touch on human issues, like greed, family relations and stuff like that. I wish there aren't so many stories linked because for a while, I was a bit lost here and there though I got everything in the end. There probably can be one lesser story and more development to the existing ones.
The movie was actually from a comic, and I loved how there are certain scenes in the movie that involved comic-effects.
PS: The Sakae Sushi outside Plaza Singapura is actually quite good.
I just watched a French Comedy, Le Diner de Cons (The Dinner Game). The movie talks about how Pierre and his apparently 'smart' friends have a dinner every week, where they must invite someone whom they think is an idiot. The guest whom they deemed is the craziest will win this game. However, something cropped up and Pierre is stuck at home with his guest. The tables are then turned against him and his life becomes a real mess.
I think this comedy is really different from the typical comedy where you laugh off your chair. The humor is subtle such that you don't even realise you are actually laughing away. The setting is really simple, no great visual effects, no exaggerated acting. Just the simple conversation make you realize the stupidity of human beings and how even yourself might get into such situation, that is making real stupid mistakes.
The moral I got from the story is that no matter who you are or no matter how intelligent you are, never try to act that you are smart or smarter than anyone else. If you are really smart and trying to act smarter, the consequences will somehow hit back to yourself. And if you are already not so intelligent and try to act smart, you will just be a joke yourself.
I really think it's a nice and simple movie which tells a lot. Just be yourself, and I remember one line from the movie when the supposed idiot trying to help Pierre, 'It's tiring to be intelligent'.
While meeting up with some of the 5 man gang for a mahjong session yesterday at Teck's house, someone mentioned that there's a new board game cafe at Blk85 Bedok North market which is very near where the famous bar chor mee and also near my house. On further checks on the net, I realised there IS such a place and it's called the Hideout Cafe. It looks like it's a nice place for hangouts and gathering. Shall check it out soon. Anyone interested can give me a call!
Photos courtesy of Hideout Cafe.
Another rather happening shop is a chocolate cake shop which serves very nice cakes. It's called choc.a.bloc. Check out the website. It's also near the Blk 85 market. I bought their Mum's Choco Fudge Cake before. It's very soft, not too sweet and very fragrant. You all should try it too. But any orders must be placed at least 3 days advance.
Pictures courtesy of choc.a.bloc
Really can't believe that my neighbourhood market becomes so happening!
