CATHY : SINGLE, DATING, MARRIED AND PREGNANT

I don't even remember when or why I started following her comic strips. All I know is I like them a lot (for those who know me well, they know this is always my most frequently used excuse or reason). Maybe it is because they are quite light and non-political. Another possibility is because they make fun of the modern women's insecurities and idiosyncrasies (as can be seen in its tag line - "four basic guilt groups" of life — food, love, mom, and work). I find the characters to be funny, zany and paranoid but in a very realistic way. In a way, I can see many similarities between the comic strips characters and the characters that I encounter in my life (that includes me too). The main character, Cathy, married her boyfriend, Irving in 2005 after decades of dating him (in cartoon time of course).

After more than 30 years showing how paranoid most of us can be, this comic strips finally came to the end of its run in October 2010 with an announcement of Cathy's pregnancy. As a character, it seems to me that Cathy has almost come full circle. Starting as an insecure woman who has to juggle the 'four basic guilt groups' of life, she can now boasts of having a career, a husband, a home and finally, a family. What more can she ask for?

p/s Bye for now, Cathy. I just can't wait for you to be back with more zaniness and new insecurities.

AKADEMI FANTASIA SEASON 9

This reality show will make its appearance for the 9th season soon and to tell the truth, it doesn't make me excited at all. I stopped watching the show a long, long time ago and I don't think I will start watching again. Soon the battle will begin and I can almost anticipate the hullabaloo and ruckus this show is going to produce and reproduce (like always). It has been reported that this is going to be the final season of the show (or is this another on of their gimmicks?) when, in my opinion, they should have called it quits many, many moons ago. By the way, the word 'gimmick' has a negative connotation to it and used to be associated with con men. It is quite strange that there are many of us who are considered as an educated audience can easily fall prey to the exploitations and manipulations of the mass media. Well, to the fans, have fun watching the show, rooting and voting for the contestants, and spending (or wasting) your mobile phone credit.

p/s As for me, I think I'm going to stick with 'Losing It With Gillian' and "Master Chef'. What a combination, huh?

LET'S KARAOKE 11 : JANET JACKSON - AGAIN

I have always liked Janet (Miss Jackson if you're nasty) since she came out with her third album 'Control' back in 1986. What she lacks in terms of vocal prowess (she is definitely no Celine Dion), she always compensates with interesting video clips and catchy songs. Known for upbeat and dance-oriented songs, she sometimes came up with ballads such as 'Let's Wait A While', 'Come Back To Me' and my favourite 'Again'. 'Again' is taken from 'janet', her fifth and in my opinion, her best album so far. There are two versions of the video clip. One of them contains scenes from her debut film 'Poetic Justice' and for this karaoke, this is the version that I have chosen.

The single's cover

A wise man once said, "You should look at the ocean and realise that no matter how famous you are or how much money you make, you should know that you'll never be as important as the ocean."

I heard from a friend today
And she said you were in town
Suddenly the memories came back to me in my mind

How can I be strong I've asked myself
Time and time I've said
That I'll never fall in love with you again

A wounded heart you gave
My soul you took away
Good intentions you had many
I know you did

I come from a place that hurts
And God knows how I've cried
And I never want to return
Never fall again

Making love to you
Oh it felt so good and oh so right
How can I be strong I've asked myself
Time and time I've said
That I'll never fall in love with you again

So here we are alone again
Didn't think it'd come to this
And to know it all began
With just a little kiss

I've come too close to happiness
To have it swept away
Don't think I can take the pain
Never fall again

Kinda late in the game and my heart is in your hands
Don't you stand there and then tell me you love me
Then leave again
'Cause I'm falling in love with you again

Hold me, hold me
Don't ever let me go
Say it just one time
Say you love me
God knows I do love you again

NEW ORDER - TRUE FAITH

I feel so extraordinary
Something's got a hold on me
I've got this feeling I'm in motion
A sudden sense of liberty
I don't care 'cos I'm not there
And I don't care if I'm here tomorrow
Again and again I've taken too much
Of the things that cost you too much

I used to think that the day would never come
I'd see the light in the shade of the morning sun
My morning sun is the drug that brings me near
To the childhood I lost replaced by fear
I used to think that the day would never come
That my life would depend on the morning sun

When I was a very small boy
Very small boys talked to me
Now that we've grown up together
They're afraid of what they see
That's the price that we all pay
Our valued destiny comes to nothing
I can't tell you where we're going
I guess there's just no way of knowing

I used to think that the day would never come
I'd see the light in the shade of the morning sun
My morning sun is the drug that brings me near
To the childhood I lost replaced by fear
I used to think that the day would never come
That my life would depend on the morning sun

I feel so extraordinary
Something's got a hold on me
I've got this feeling I'm in motion
A sudden sense of liberty
The chances are we've gone too far
You took my time and you took my money
Now I feel you've left me standing
In a world that's so demanding

I used to think that the day would never come
I'd see the light in the shade of the morning sun
My morning sun is the drug that brings me near
To the childhood I lost replaced by fear
I used to think that the day would never come
That my life would depend on the morning sun

YOU'RE NOT...

I don't even dare deny this.