In the mind of a journalist: An interview with Penny Dai

Seems like I really do have an affinity with Penny Dai, the Malaysian singer.
I was asked last minute to carry out an joint interview with her just now, and needless to say, I wasn't too happy. Sure, I want to be part of the entertainment desk for a long time, but I was also very open about my dislike for Penny after an interview with her last year. But lord and behold, the editor asked me to interview her. Sigh.
Actually, Penny has nice songs and I admit she is a wonderful songwriter. What I dislike about her is the way she answer questions, almost as if she has practiced answering beforehand. This is probably only my opinion, as my friend thought that Penny was just being logical in her answers. So ok, I am just being biased. I just hope that she tone down on her make-up next time though.

TV-Junked: John Stallings, Chip & Reichen, Richard Hatch

I always seem to fall in love with gay guys on reality tv shows. It's not my fault, who ask them to be so hot?! (Look, that rhymes.) (My nonsensical babbling below, venture if you dare.)
I was watching reality tv show "Manhunt: The search for American Most Gorgeous Male Model" (or something) yesterday night and drooled hopelessly at the silver-blue eyes of John Stallings. He seemed calm and collected, and looked like he really want to win. Serious is good. And the moment he said "whatever", I went into my crazy fangirl mood and started pointing at the screen, shouting "Squall! Squall!" Aww, my Squall... But too bad, the judges are obviously blind and decided to eliminate him in the second round. Darn. Two episodes are not enough. And at that point in time, this little being in my brain started bouncing and thinking 'Wait, this guy looks gay.'
So I decided to check up on his bio, and surprise surprise, he is gay! *faint* And he acts and giggles like a school girl! Lucky he is in the States, otherwise I will pounce on him for his cuteness.
Like I said, it's not my fault that they are all gay and I just happen to like them. Hopefully, this won't happen in real life. Or at least the infamous "all the cute guys are either married, attached or gay" isn't 100% true.

An Unexpected Death

My hamster died on Tuesday.
Needless to say, I was shocked. There were no signs. Sure, she was less active when I looked at her that morning, but hamsters are suppoed to be nocturnal. They are supposed to be sleeping in the afternoon. She ate the food I gave so I didn't think that anything was wrong with her.
But when I went home that night after a long day, I found her cold and dead. With ants crawling about her mouth. I was shocked but strangely not too upset. I only had her for six months, and so I am still not that emotionally bonded to it. In fact, I was more puzzled then sad. What did I do wrongly in my caring of her? The only thing I could think of was the hot atmosphere in my room which is probably not too conducive for hamsters.
My sister and I buried her in this garden near our block immediately. My sis even went to illegally pluck some red flowers and put it on top of the small mound of soil.
It was a short time since we met, but she will always have a place in my mind.

Sightings: A garden in the middle of a building

Update: I just realised that the garden may be accessible from the inside of building. Seems like there is a door.

I was walking along Clarke Quay on Saturday, when I spotted this building which made me very puzzled. It was a blue tower with glass windows, nice design, but what is strange is the garden in the middle of nowhere. There is a cave-in region where pots of plants are placed. For what reason, I do not know. Maybe to let the birds have a place to rest? The first thought that came to my mind was 'Man, the cleaners must have a hard time cleaning the garden'. Really strange architecture. Anyone knows which building I am talking about?

In the mind of a journalist: We view things differently

I am amused by how journalists, either permanent or interns, see things differently from the public. Me and my colleagues were walking back to our desks after lunch when one of them suddenly got called out to check out on a fire scene. And she very excitedly bounced around before leaving. No doubt I was excited too.
To people working in the media, accidents, crimes, natural and man-made disasters are good news. They mean that we have something to write on, instead of writing on stupid stuff like falling trees, irritating beehives and loansharks expressing their creative talent on people's doors. It's not that we are happy that something bad happen; we are just happy that we can finally write something of a better read. Ok, and probably something that is more action-packed.
Maybe this is simply the mindset of an intern but I can't help getting excited over such bad stuff. So make me happy and inform me if you see any fire. A falling tree is okay too once in a while.

OtakuON: Falling in love with Ren

How can those Japanese artists draw Ren until he is so cute?! I'm so anvious, how I wish I can draw as good as them.
Nya, I'm supposed to love Horohoro most, but I am so falling in love with Ren. *pouncing on frowning Ren* Shaman King proves to be a very entertaining series. So far, I am not bored yet. Check out the wonderful art by Shin if you are a Shaman King fan (especially one of Hororen). I can't post any art here due to the artist's copyright warning.

Blogging=Loss of Privacy?

Update: The article is not out today so we shall see.

Does blogging deprives you from privacy?
I have been at SPH for quite a while now, but this is one of the few times that I am truly unsupportive of the editors' decision. A girl posted pictures of her slashed wrist on her blog, including many of her personal information. From the newspaper's point, this is newsworthy. And thus, it is gonna be reported. On today's newspaper if I am not wrong. Personally, I do not think the article should be published as it is invading the poor girl's privacy. Furthermore, her permission was not obtained. Even if the pictures are on her blog, it is different from it being published on the national papers. Websites are not that easily accessible if you don't know where to find. And she is a fellow cosplayer, so I somehow feel a sense of closeness to her.
But what can I do? It is a fact that she willingly posted stuff online. So she must bear the consequences of potential privacy loss. It is just like the SPG issue. But being a fellow netizen, I wouldn't want the press to just take things from my site to publish. I feel like a knife is piercing through my conscience now. But this is just life.

Me becoming a vegetarian? Nah.

I don't think I can ever be a vegetarian. I went out for dinner with my fellow hallmates from Block 50 yesterday and after waiting VERY long for those latecomers, we went to this vegetarian restaurant "Magenta" at Raffles Place. I have to say the food is not bad, especially the tofu. But I just can't get over the fact that the meat are all made of soya. I can taste the fakeness in them. The fake chicken, fake fish, fake char siew... It's probably only me though because the others obviously enjoyed the food. Seems like I can never ever chase away the carnivore in me. Luckily, I had a Taiwanese sausage before the meal. Not too yummy but at least it's meat.
Check out the dinner photos below and at my flickr account. I made sure my new camera was fully utilized. But damn, I am nearing my monthly upload space at flickr. 80%! *faints* Oh yes, James took a short random video which the first seven people can get it from here.

Mighty Nine! But why is the organizer KS not here?

A few of the dishes among the eleven in total. Not bad, but they are all fake meat!

A Blogger Manifesto

Check out this article from Andrew Sullivan. A wonderful piece about how blogging may just take over the role of journalism and how it is actually profitable.
I actually did a project for university on the future of journalism and its relation to technological advances. Despite the lack of restrictions and editors in the blogosphere (which I am suffering from now in the real life), there is a serious problem of credibility if it is ever to be taken as a substitute for actual newspapers. Bias is obviously there and who knows whether you can trust the blogger? I know you can't trust many local papers as well, sadly, but at least the papers are from an established organization. The many restrictions actually reduce the mistakes and bias. However, on the Web where one can be annonymous and even create a false image for himself, credibility is a definite problem.
So probably, everything should be taken with a pinch of salt, including the papers and the blogs, unless it is spoken directly from the person about himself. Oh wait, there is this thing called 'lying' as well.

Be careful! I now have a camera to record your every move.

I finally decided to part with my hard-earned money in exchange for a Sony camera. Why Sony? Beside the good recommendations from my friends, I have a strange devotion for Japanese goods that forbids me to buy other products. I was even discussing with Majyo two days ago that if Japan ever invades Singapore, I will most probably be on their side. You are now listening to the thoughts of a traitor. Bwahahaha~
Anyway, the proof of my loyalty went home with me on Tuesday and I tested it on my stuck-to-the-computer-screen sister, my hamster Santiao and myself. See here the big-head-shot (da tou zhao) of Santiao and her beautiful drinking water pose. When she is drinking water, nothing distracts her. Not even a hamster ball which I tried to tempt her with this morning.

Go to my flickr account to see the other picture of Santiao I took.

Zhong Sheng You Yang Xian Ge Feng Song...

And that is the starting sentence of my secondary school song.
I was reading an post by kyntheman about the 'richly poetic lyrics' of his secondary school song which happens to be in Chinese as well. It sure brings back memories. After being forced to sing it for years under the relentless sun every Monday assembly, and having the song being tested as dictation, I can't help but to remember the lyrics. At least part of it. And that is considered very impressive, since my memory span is as wonderful as Nemo's.
However, I really enjoyed those days. The school songs, the family dances, the cheesy mass dances, and horrors, the "Amigos Para Sempres" dance for school anniversary... I complained about them before, but I am glad for the common memories now. It bonded our batch of school girls together. From what I heard, the current batch does not have such 'fortune' and the school may even cancel the family dance. Where is the school spirit? It may seem superficial, but at least the memories bring about something to smile about.

Alright! New background!

Yippee Yay! A new look, though minimal, to my blog. Sigh, the boys are adorable. Downloaded and edited from uei-shiang's website. See, I credited my source, don't come suing me.

Aww, look at those "cute" lil girls...

Sometimes, I wonder why parents want to send their little girls to beauty contests. I just don't understand the logic of it all, don't they feel that the kids lose their innocence after taking part? Childhood should be spent playing in the sand, crashing bugs on the computer, or fighting with the poor older sibling, and not spent learning catwalks. Yes, the girls are cute, yet I feel disgusted. And I can't believe I gonna have to go report on such a beauty contest later. Two days in a row. Please, cry for me.

Attempt Initial

Ah, damn. I hate blogger.com. It is just so darn hard to use, I never had problems with my webby before. *grumbles* Which is why I'm complaining on my very first post. Look at the page, it just sux. I probably need to go study the physics of how this program actually works. Well, at least the Ryoma icon is cute. That's one consolation.