WHITNEY HOUSTON IS BACK Y'ALL!

Yay, Whitney is back! She looks better and she sounds better. There have been two outstanding performances from her recently and sadly, one of them was at the funeral of her ex-husband's mother. The other performance was from BET's Celebration Of Gospel. Way to go, gal!

GONG XI FA CAI!

祝┏┯┓┏┯┓┏┯┓┏┯┓┏┯┓┏┯┓♥(\ /)
福┠恭┠┨賀┠┨新┠┨年┠┠快┨┠樂┨ღ( . .)ღ
你┗┷┛┗┷┛┗┷┛┗┷┛┗┷┛┗┷┛c(”)(”)

This is the year of the Rabbit and to be more specific, the year of the Water Rabbit. They are usually perceived as :
1. cuddly (definitely like me).
2. warm (definitely like me too).
3. lively and vivacious (like me when I want to be).
4. adorable and cute (like me?)
5. instinctual (absolutely unlike me).

Since these characteristics do not fit me, it is crystal-clear that I am not a Rabbit. Anyway, I'd like to wish Happy Chinese New Year to all and may the year of the Rabbit bring us happiness and prosperity! Lou Sang! Lou Sang! Lou Sang! Lou Sang! Lou Sang! Lou Sang! Lou Sang!

AL FATIHAH

Another ex-classmate passed away yesterday. After leaving school more than 25 years ago, I only know the whereabouts of my schoolmates through a few close friends and it was through one of them that I got to know about his passing. I was at work when I received the sad news. He was a very nice person who was soft-spoken and always smiling. Looking back at the old picture below, a deep rush of nostalgia suddenly swept through my heart. How innocent and carefree we were back then. And so full of hope of life ahead. There he was in the picture. The first person in the middle row from left. I wish time could stand still for a while so I could once again relish in the joy of youth. Kamal Bahrin, you will be missed. Al Fatihah.

Top row (l-r) : Qisti, Anbalagan, Lutfi, Shamsul Amir, Amir Azman, Shamsul Fadzali, Allahyarham Rosidi, Aminuddin, Nafzal, Khir.
Middle row (l-r) : Alzafri, Azlan, Allahyarham Kamal Bahrin, Roslan, Razman, Darul Hisham.
Bottom row (l-r) : Meor Jamaluddin, Badrul, Nasrat, Zainol Fikri, Rahman, Tarmizi, Hamdan, Syed Hazman.

LET'S KARAOKE 10 : RIHANNA - ONLY GIRL (IN THE WORLD)

Say whatever you want but I could not resist trying to do a karaoke for this one. I know I am past the 'teenage-dance-club' period but this time I really could not help myself. The song itself is very catchy and the hook stays in my head almost forever. Rihanna has definitely progressed from her very dark and edgy image. This time she looks more feminine and even flirtatious. The video clip is fantastic and I like it very much. There is a surreal feeling to it especially the reddish hue, the multi-coloured balloons and the swing that seems suspended from the sky. To all the girls out there, enjoy this one!

The single's cover

La la la la
La la la la
La la la la
La la la la

I want you to love me
Like I'm a hot pie
Be thinkin' of me
Doin' what you like
So boy forget about the world cause it's gon' be me and you tonight
I wanna make you beg for it
Then Imma make you swallow your pride
Oooohhh

Want you to make me feel like I'm the only girl in the world
Like I'm the only one that you'll ever love
Like I'm the only one who knows your heart
Only girl in the world...
Like I'm the only one that's in command
Cause I'm the only one who understands
How to make you feel like a man, yeah
Want you to make me feel like I'm the only girl in the world
Like I'm the only one that you'll ever love
Like I'm the only one who knows your heart
Only one...

Want you to take it
Like a thief in the night
Hold me like a pillow
Make me feel right
Baby I'll tell you all my secrets that I'm keepin', you can come inside
And when you enter, you ain't leavin', be my prisoner for the night
Oooohhh

Want you to make me feel like I'm the only girl in the world
Like I'm the only one that you'll ever love
Like I'm the only one who knows your heart
Only girl in the world...
Like I'm the only one that's in command
Cuz I'm the only one who understands
Like I'm the only one who knows your heart
Only one...

Take me for a ride, ride
Oh baby, take me high, high
Let me take you by surprise
Oh make it last all night, night
Take me for a ride, ride
Oh baby, take me high, high
Let me take you by surprise
Make it last all night

Want you to make me feel like I'm the only girl in the world
Like I'm the only one that you'll ever love
Like I'm the only one who knows your heart
Only girl in the world...
Like I'm the only one that's in command
Cuz I'm the only one who understands
How to make you feel like a man
Only girl in the world...
Girl in the world...
Only girl in the world...
Girl in the world....

ÜBER CHILDREN

I'm not a parent and I don't have any children so I'm spared from having huge ambitions and aspirations for them. Some might consider my not having children as a big loss since I will never be able to see my own children grow and develop. I don't really think much about this but whenever I look around, I see a not so healthy trend among parents nowadays and it's getting more and more serious. All parents want the best for their children and there is nothing wrong with that but sometimes, this can mean pushing these children beyond the ordinary limit and setting extremely high standards for them. Most of the time, it's not even the children who are competing with their peers but the parents who are competing to see who can produce 'more intelligent' children. I know there will be some who will not agree with me but this is still my opinion (and I am entitled to having one). Nowadays, it is nothing out of the ordinary when we read about pre-school children with special talents and skills. There are some who can solve complicated Mathematical problems, play musical instruments like professionals, read and write at the age of two, memorise a whole set of numbers et cetera et cetera et cetera. Some parents claim that their children are 'special' because the parents have come up with special methods, strategies and techniques to train their children. Sometimes, these parents demand special care, attention and privileges be given to their so-called ' gifted children'. There are even a few who underrate the current system as if the whole world revolves around their children and nothing is good enough for them. Well, I'm sure every parent thinks their children are special anyway and I believe every child is special in his or her own way. This situation has become so commonplace in our society that we have even stopped questioning whether what we are doing is actually good for the children. We are proud when another child prodigy is discovered and we hope these children are going to come up with miracles when they grow up. Remember SufiahYusof? Remember Mohd. Shukri Hadafi? Remember Chiang Ti Ming? These are a few of local examples of gifted children who somehow do not make it in the real world. They might be geniuses in their own specialised fields but it takes more than a special gift in a specific area to make a child wholesome and balanced. What about their social, emotional, psychological and spiritual development? Are these areas covered too when we make a fuss over these children? This trend of producing 'superhumans' is not limited to the academic world only. It has affected other areas too. We often hear about child actors and singers who have problems adjusting to the real world once they grow up. Michael Jackson, Tatum O'Neal, Gary Coleman, Mcaulay Culkin, Dana Plato and Lindsay Lohan are a few examples of how fame and abnormal childhood can affect a person's personality, character and judgment. Some like Drew Barrymore and Tami Stronach are lucky enough to be able to escape the traps of childhood fame. The athletics field is not spared either. A few years back, the whole world was shocked by the physical attributes of Richard Sandrak who was nicknamed Little Hercules. Now we have Giuliano Stroe, a six-year old boy who also happens to be a bodybuilder just like Sandrak. Both of them started to lift weights when they were barely out of their diapers. Scary, isn't it? It's also not unusual to hear about girls as young as four years old who undergo almost military-like training in order to prepare them for beauty pageants. Truly sad actually. I staunchly believe that there should not be any competition between nature and nurture. These two should go hand in hand. Each complementing one another and NOT completing the other.

p/s On a lighter note, maybe these superheroes above will be able to produce our much needed superbabies but until then, we still have to depend on our own human genetic pool.

FACEBOOK CLOSING? I DON'T THINK SO

There have been rumours circulating around the Internet saying that facebook is closing soon. Really? Nah, I don't believe in any of this stuff until it is proven true. All I know is that too many people who are involved in its operation are making too much money to even consider that idea. Who are they trying to fool anyway? It is possible that facebook will be taken over by another entity but to close it will be the most stupid move anyone can make. To all facebook fanatics, I can bet my top dollar it will still be here for a while. Even if it does close, I still don't understand why we should be worried. It's not like our entire lives are totally dependent on it. So chill, guys. With or without facebook, life goes on.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011 - LET'S KARAOKE 9 : MADONNA - VOGUE

The single's cover

I know it's a little bit too late to wish y'all a Happy New Year but what the heck. A lot of people are still in the New Year mood and it's better late than never anyway. One thing for sure, I'm 'vogueing' into 2011 with new hopes and new spirit (but with last year's resolutions of course). I hope 2010 was a good year for all of you (as mentioned in my previous entry, mine was okay but it could have been better) and I hope 2011 will be a blast for all of us. So let's vogue into 2011 in style!

What are you looking at?

Strike a pose
Strike a pose
Vogue, vogue, vogue
Vogue, vogue, vogue

Look around everywhere you turn is heartache
It's everywhere that you go (look around)
You try everything you can to escape
The pain of life that you know (life that you know)

When all else fails and you long to be
Something better than you are today
I know a place where you can get away
It's called a dance floor, and here's what it's for, so

Come on, vogue
Let your body move to the music (move to the music)
Hey, hey, hey
Come on, vogue
Let your body go with the flow (go with the flow)
You know you can do it

All you need is your own imagination
So use it that's what it's for (that's what it's for)
Go inside, for your finest inspiration
Your dreams will open the door (open up the door)

It makes no difference if you're black or white
If you're a boy or a girl
If the music's pumping it will give you new life
You're a superstar, yes, that's what you are, you know it

Beauty's where you find it
Not just where you bump and grind it
Soul is in the musical
That's where I feel so beautiful
Magical, life's a ball
So get up on the dance floor

Vogue (Vogue)
Beauty's where you find it (move to the music)
Vogue (Vogue)
Beauty's where you find it (go with the flow)

Greta Garbo and Monroe
Dietrich and DiMaggio
Marlon Brando, Jimmy Dean
On the cover of a magazine

Grace Kelly, Harlow, Jean
Picture of a beauty queen
Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire
Ginger Rogers, dance on air

They had style, they had grace
Rita Hayworth gave good face
Lauren, Katherine, Lana too
Bette Davis, we love you

Ladies with an attitude
Fellas that were in the mood
Don't just stand there, let's get to it
Strike a pose, there's nothing to it

Vogue, vogue, vogue, vogue

Oooh, you've got to
Let your body move to the music
Oooh, you've got to just
Let your body go with the flow
Oooh, you've got to just,
Vogue !

2010 ROUND-UP (2009 RECYCLED)

Any great achievements for me? NO. Any extraordinary happenings? NO. Any exciting changes in my lifestyle? Definitely NO. Everything came and went like the previous years. Am I happy? YES. To some, it can be quite strange how a person can be happy and content when not much has happened to him or her. Yeah but that's me. I'm comfortably cocooned in my life at the moment that I don't think I want anything changed (unless it's for the better). At least, not yet. I'm sure that something is bound to happen sooner and later and I'll be shocked out of my pants when that happens. Till then, I'm going to enjoy the routine that I've created for the past couple of years and if there are going to be any changes, I hope they will be gradual. Some of my friends have commented on my laid-back attitude and I can only agree with them. After all, what is there to argue when everything that they say is true? Still, it doesn't mean that I don't work hard or put in any effort at all. I do but I don't think I'll be increasing the quota for my effort any time soon. Even then, I would say that what I've done is definitely much more than that done by some of my colleagues and friends. So how about that?

p/s Nothing much happened to me in 2010 and this entry is the same one that I wrote a year earlier. In other words, it's recycled and I might do the same thing again at the end of this year!

MY BIRTHDAY : JUST ANOTHER DAY

I celebrated my birthday a few days ago and to tell the truth, there was nothing special on that day. It was just like any other day. I was too tired to think of any way to celebrate (and too old for that actually). I had my breakfast with my mum and did my house chores after that (didn't I just mop the whole house a few days ago?). I checked my facebook and replied the birthday wishes that I received (thank you y'all!). In the afternoon, I had a light lunch with a friend and after that, we went to the bank to finalise his house purchase (I sat there in a daze waiting for the next customer to be called as the bank officer went through all the details with him). Then both of us went to the hardware stores to look at paint samples and catalogues (This got me a bit excited since I love seeing colours). We also went to see a guy to get quotations since he wanted to do a little bit of renovation for his living room (I had to keep my mouth shut since the renovation was for his house and he could be quite stubborn with the way he wanted things done.) After that, it was off to the supermarket to get a few things on my grocery list (the same veggies and the same canned processed food as always). It was drizzling by the time I finished and we headed back to my house. I went to bed quite late and that was that. I remember someone said "A birthday is just the first day of another 365-day journey around the sun. Enjoy the trip."

p/s So much for adding another number to my age, huh?

MICHAEL JACKSON - BREAKING NEWS

I believe many have heard that Michael Jackson's posthumous album will be out soon. December 14 to be exact. The first single 'Breaking News' from the album 'Michael' premiered today and I like it very much. It is definitely a 'Michael Jackson song' (no doubt about that) but the song itself is not without any speculations and doubts. There are many out there who think that the singer of the song is not actually Michael Jackson himself. Well, I don't know what to say. It could be Michael and it could be someone else imitating his voice. There are rumours circulating on the Net saying a singer named Jason Malachi is the one who actually sings the song. The passion, feeling and conviction usually associated with Michael's delivery are not truly evident in this song and this could be the cause of all the doubts and suspicions. Either way, his estate and Sony will definitely be making lots and lots of money from this. There are many factors that could have contributed to this. Michael's voice could have changed as he got older and if that is really him, I'm sure the vocal recording is not the final take. It could have been a recording taken during a song rehearsal. The recording company could only work with what was available to them and that is why the song lacks many of Michael's signature sounds. I'm sure the truth will be known sooner or later. We have enough sophisticated technology to identify a person's voice and it's not impossible somebody out there can prove whether it's Michael's voice or not. During the meantime, I'm simply going to enjoy the song regardless whether it's Michael Jackson or not. After all, it is indeed breaking news.

p/s Well, what do you think? Is it Michael?