Walk The Line

Like its four previous seasons, Season 5 of American Idol has seen numerous mini-controversies and memorable moments. From Simon almost quitting the show before auditions started in October of 2005, to Katharine McPhee's rumored breakdown during the semifinal round, to accusations of country-bumpkin Kellie Pickler being merely a less-talented Carrie Underwood. The latest in these uphill battles facing AI contenders is the recent bashing of haters in the message board's of rocker Chris Daughtry. Although CD has consistently gotten rave reviews from fans, observers and the judges (yes, even Simon!), he currently is facing huge criticism over his recent performance, an alternative rock-driven version of Johnny Cash's 1950's classic, "I Walk The Line". Apparently, some rock fans have commented CD's version being strikingly similar to a version done by alternative rock group Live in their Greatest Hits album. I personally have heard of Live's version, and it does sound similar to CD's version. So what?

I just hope petty criticism from haters do not hurt CD's chances. He is one who already deserves the title of American Idol, ten weeks away from the season's finale. America, please, for the love of God, don't make another mistake.

IT Show 2006

Just got back from the IT Show over at Suntec City. I was quite fortunate this time as I got away with just spending $10.50. Usually, when I go to these consumer electronics shows, I end up spending for a new gadget that I did not even know I wanted before I saw it. I just bought three binders for my DVD collection.

What I hate about these IT shows, is the fact that families bring their babies to these extremely crowded exhibitions, using their prams to push people around. These actually use their babies as battering rams to push their way through the crowd ogling at gadgets. You also get a dose of ladies in skimpy outfits giving away flyers and it's so obvious that they know absolutely NOTHING about the products the flyers their giving away are talking about. But hey, I'm not complaining. Poor girls, sweating from the heat of the crowded exhibition hall, feet hurting in those 4 inch boots but they have another thing to worry about, sleazy old men trying to chat them up and get a better glimpse of the goods.

I'm not one to take advantage of this display, but I couldn't help myself. Wish I brought my actual camera.

Dance, Dance

There's nothing hotter than a group of Asian girls pimpin up the dancefloor, even if it is during a talent show.

Knife

Better be careful when you mess with hot Asian women. They'll cut you up!

Let It Snow

I dunno bout you, but I've always hated the tropical weather here in Singapore. Imagine roasting away at 38 degrees Celsius everyday. Somedays..no, make that everyday, I try to imagine myself living in a world of snow. In my opinion, if it gets cold, you could always wear extra layers of clothes. When it's hot, however, no matter how little clothing you have on, you still look like a piece of roasted meat.

Check out what fun living in snow can bring.

When Punk Meets Pipe Bombs

I came across this news item today. Damn ignorant cops.

FALSE ALARM AT OU
Oops ... This bike wasn’t a pipe bomb
Friday, March 03, 2006
Jim Phillips

ATHENS, Ohio — Ohio University police need to brush up on their obscure folk-punk bands.
An OU officer on patrol saw a bike in a busy area of campus early yesterday that sported a sticker reading, This Bike Is A Pipe Bomb.

Buildings were shut down. The Columbus Division of Fire’s bomb squad drove down to investigate. Authorities used a high-powered water spray on the bike, and then pried it apart with a hydraulic device.

Hours later, police learned that the sticker referred to the Pensacola, Fla., band This Bike Is A Pipe Bomb and had nothing to do with the bike’s contents.

The ordeal not only cost graduate student Patrick K. Hanlin his bike, but also earned him a misdemeanor charge of inducing panic.

The 28-year-old declined to comment yesterday.

The officer found the bike about 5:30 a.m. outside a campus snack shop. Hanlin later identified himself as the owner of the bike — what was left of it, anyway — and explained what the sticker meant.

Despite his cooperation, OU spokesman Jack Jeffery said yesterday afternoon that the student was charged criminally.

At a news conference shortly after the all-clear was announced, Dean of Students Terry Hogan said the sticker was benign. The concern was that it was on a bike.

So if it had been stuck on a telephone pole, none of this would have happened?

"I think that’s probably right," Hogan said.

Fire officials cordoned off a large section of campus and closed down four buildings while they investigated. It took them three hours to determine the bike was not set to explode.

Hogan said the bike was in a fairly high-traffic area of campus, but the buildings affected had not yet opened for business when it was found.

"I think the response was an appropriate one," Hogan said.

OU President Roderick McDavis agreed.
"We don’t take this as a joke," he said.

Sophomore Mike Fisher, who lives in a dorm less than 50 yards from the site of the incident, said students weren’t told what was going on yesterday morning. But he doesn’t blame Hanlin for what happened.

"Honestly, I just think it’s the cops being ignorant and taking things so literally," Fisher said.
Hogan, in a news release, encouraged other OU students and fans of the band not to display the band’s name in a way that could lead to safety concerns.

The band’s name prompted police in Austin, Texas, to detain a woman who had the same sticker on her bike at a peace rally in 2001. She was released after officers verified that the band exists.

What A Feelin'

I should get to the gym more...



Enjoy!

Hero

A few weeks ago, I came across this story, of a young, autistic boy becoming an instant celebrity. In this day and age of superstar athletes, it is so comforting to see some young people's dreams come true. It certainly did for Kason McElwain.



Cool eh?

Georgia On My Mind

I am a Taylor Hicks fan.  Yes, I'm not ashamed to admit it.  There's something about a white-haired 29-year old that intrigues me. No, it's not because he has the vocal stylings of Joe Cocker (hehe), or the unique mannerisms of Ray Charles, it is because he loves what he does.  And best of all, he's pretty darn good at it.  He's the exact opposite of what people expect of an American Idol, and that's what's best about him.  

Because of the popularity of old soul classics from Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, and the rest of Motown as of late, some bashers might consider him a copycat.  A wannabe.  A hick, if you will.  I don't care.  I just hope he does well so the rest of the world can see that even someone who doesn't look like Justin Timberlake can be a star. 

Here We Go Again

(This is a continuation of The Last Stop)

Once again, Singapore has proven once again that their official tourism slogan, "Uniquely Singapore", truly embodies the Singaporean spirit. Aside from the sometimes-unintelligible and rage-inducing elbows you get from old biddies on the subway, Singapore is totally unique.

One thing to note is that Singapore is the only country in the world (to my knowledge), whose General Elections is unscheduled. By unscheduled, it means that the Administration, lovingly called the gahmen, ("Government" with a Singaporean twang, get it? I didn't, at first.) can call for the elections whenever they jolly well want to. Huh? I'm expecting an election to be announced pretty soon, as is the trend in Singapore, just after announcing a budget, which gives away billions of dollars to citizens. Never mind, that the money actually comes from the citizens themselves. I guess the gahmen is already satisfied with the interest they earn on the money of tax-payers.

Another "Uniquely Singapore" moment is the disqualification of supposedly dangerous candidates to incumbent office-holders. Example: Last year, an election was to be held for the presidency of Singapore. Yeah, yeah, all of us know that the position of President is merely a title given away to loyal supporters of the current administration, but please, give us folks a holiday, man! The ONE day that workers have a day off fromm the usual bullshit of work. But of course, as usual, the election, if you can call it that, was cancelled, because of a lack of "suitable" candidates running against the incumbent. Of course, there would be no candidates, you disqualified them all! Grrr...

Just recently, another potential candidate, this time for the GE, was deemed to be bankrupt by the courts when he was ordered to pay astronomical damages to the former Prime Minister and father of the current Prime Minister. This happens merely a few months before the GE. Coincidence or conspiracy? You decide.

Just wondering. Why is it that news from the recent budget is missing one key component. In my opinion, the key component. This is the increase of the GST from the currently expensive 5% to the unreasonable rate of 7%. The media has been noticibly quiet about this piece of "good news". I predict that they will talk it after the elections. After Singaporeans re-vote for the incumbent who will, in no immediate future, be unseated.

Singapore, the only place where the saying "the only constant is change" is meaningless. Uniquely Singapore. Sigh....

Eye of the Tiger

When I went back to Manila, it coincided with the Return of the King...of Philippine boxing, Manny "The PacMan" Pacquiao. This diminutive fireball, has captured the hearts and minds of the Filipino masses by defeating Eric "El Terrible" Morales in the 10th round during their fight at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Pacquiao's victory was hailed as the triumph of the Filipino. I have a friend who sells sporting equipment, including boxing gloves, punching bags, etc. She mentioned to me that her sales of boxing equipment has doubled since the much-celebrated victory.

Like any Filipino who has made it into the world stage, Pacquiao received much acclaim and praise from his peers and from the much-despied administration. In true political fashion, the President hosted the boxer at the presidential residence, Malacañang Palace. Hopefully, the PacMan is smart enough to avoid the path taken by former boxers like Onyok Velasco, who,after his silver medal in the 2000 Olympics, faded into obscurity, and once again, in poverty.

In the meantime, the PacMan enjoys his fame, including a hit single(yes, folks, he sings)..."Para Sayo"..which goes...

"Para sayo, ang laban na 'to. Hindi ako susuko..." This fight's for you. I won't give up. How apt.

Only in the Philippines.