I discovered this song only recently while watching the American Idol finals. The lyrics are really meaningful, and I found myself listening to it over and over again. I also found out that David Archuleta's version is almost identical to the version sung by Eva Cassidy.
Anyhow, here's the lyrics to the second stanza
Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world
You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Thursday, May 22, 2008
American Idol 7
I happened to catch the American Idol marathon last Saturday on cable, and was quite hooked from there (I didn't even know we were into Season 7!).
I was particularly impressed with David Archuleta and not so much with David Cook. I thought his interpretation of "Think of Me" from Phantom of the Opera was simply superb, as were a number of his other songs from Mariah Carey week and Neil Diamond week.
I missed the finals on TV, but thanks to youtube, managed to hear their final performance tonight, and it was amazing. The songs were fantastic. David A's "Imagine" gave me goosebumps, and David C's rendition of U2's "I still haven't found what I'm looking for" was also really good.
I thought David A's age worked against him -- some of the songs he picked were really soulful and deep songs, but he was probably too young to convey that depth of emotion. If he were, say 5 years older, the songs would have probably sounded 2x better.
David C definitely came across as the more soulful one, and I read later that his brother is suffering from advanced brain cancer, which is really quite sad. His final song, "Time of My Life", which he sang after being announced the winner, was quite touching.
What a great finale show. Makes me wish I could sing well. Sigh. Maybe I should go karaoke
I was particularly impressed with David Archuleta and not so much with David Cook. I thought his interpretation of "Think of Me" from Phantom of the Opera was simply superb, as were a number of his other songs from Mariah Carey week and Neil Diamond week.
I missed the finals on TV, but thanks to youtube, managed to hear their final performance tonight, and it was amazing. The songs were fantastic. David A's "Imagine" gave me goosebumps, and David C's rendition of U2's "I still haven't found what I'm looking for" was also really good.
I thought David A's age worked against him -- some of the songs he picked were really soulful and deep songs, but he was probably too young to convey that depth of emotion. If he were, say 5 years older, the songs would have probably sounded 2x better.
David C definitely came across as the more soulful one, and I read later that his brother is suffering from advanced brain cancer, which is really quite sad. His final song, "Time of My Life", which he sang after being announced the winner, was quite touching.
What a great finale show. Makes me wish I could sing well. Sigh. Maybe I should go karaoke
More acquisitions
Sighhh.....$$$$
Say hello to uhm....sorry i'm not creative enough to come up with a name for these things.
Monday, May 19, 2008
(Tech) Geek
The bug has struck again. I now hanker after a Macbook / Macbook Pro. Somebody stop me please. I don't need one, but I want one. What will I do with my Mac Mini?
I previously reported that my screen was dying, and that yay I can buy a new one. However, it must have read my complaint because now it's working fine again, which means I still can't retire it. Why won't you die goddammit.
The bike's great, although it's been so hot recently that I've only cycled out once. It's a real fine piece of machinery -- when you pedal it makes this whooshing noise that suggests very little friction in the bearings at the wheels, as a result of which you can go quite fast while pedalling quite effortlessly. I'm reminded of the turbines on the Boeing airplanes. If you've ever seen one you'll realise why Rolls Royce make such fine engines. There is so little friction in the turbines, that even after the engine stops, the turbines keep rotating on and on without much sound.
East Coast Parkway is not really conducive to cycling. There are so many people there, and I feel like strangling those rollerbladers, though someone has pointed out to me that they have as much right to the track as cyclists do. Point taken, but it still doesn't stop me from wanting to strangle them, especially when they hog the whole track. The pedestrians also need a good dose of strangling, since they frequently stroll on the cycling track. AND they have the gall to complain that cyclists cycle on pedestrian tracks. What do I do in return? Why, I cycle on their pedestrian track of course. They have much better views of the beach.
The beach is quite interesting -- lots of activities going on; it's really developed a lot since my VJ days. Plenty of beautiful people to ogle at, especially skimpily dressed roller bladers.
I cycled past the national sailing centre, and seriously thought of signing up for a sailing course. The idea of sailing alone in the sea with the sun and sand in your face, away from society (ok well, 50m away from the beach) with noone to bug you is quite appealing. Am still contemplating. One of the criteria for joining the course is: "must be physically fit". Hmmmm. I suppose that can be worked on. Might be a great way to meet new people too.
Speaking of meeting new people, a colleague's farewell drinks on Friday was held at Velvet. It's quite a cool place, and I can see how people go there to pick up someone for a Friday / Sat night quickie. Plenty of beautiful people. This ang moh chick was sitting alone at a counter staring at the dance floor wistfully. I wonder if that's a sign that she wanted to be picked up. I promised myself to go google "guide to bar (politics?)" when I got home, but didn't get around to doing it.
Velvet was also where I got drunk so bad for the first time I had to puke, though fortunately so it was only the cab stopped outside my house and I opened the cab door that I stuck my head out of the cab floor and puked on the road. The Long Island Tea(s) did me in. I'm sure the cab driver was relieved I didn't puke in his cab.
I previously reported that my screen was dying, and that yay I can buy a new one. However, it must have read my complaint because now it's working fine again, which means I still can't retire it. Why won't you die goddammit.
The bike's great, although it's been so hot recently that I've only cycled out once. It's a real fine piece of machinery -- when you pedal it makes this whooshing noise that suggests very little friction in the bearings at the wheels, as a result of which you can go quite fast while pedalling quite effortlessly. I'm reminded of the turbines on the Boeing airplanes. If you've ever seen one you'll realise why Rolls Royce make such fine engines. There is so little friction in the turbines, that even after the engine stops, the turbines keep rotating on and on without much sound.
East Coast Parkway is not really conducive to cycling. There are so many people there, and I feel like strangling those rollerbladers, though someone has pointed out to me that they have as much right to the track as cyclists do. Point taken, but it still doesn't stop me from wanting to strangle them, especially when they hog the whole track. The pedestrians also need a good dose of strangling, since they frequently stroll on the cycling track. AND they have the gall to complain that cyclists cycle on pedestrian tracks. What do I do in return? Why, I cycle on their pedestrian track of course. They have much better views of the beach.
The beach is quite interesting -- lots of activities going on; it's really developed a lot since my VJ days. Plenty of beautiful people to ogle at, especially skimpily dressed roller bladers.
I cycled past the national sailing centre, and seriously thought of signing up for a sailing course. The idea of sailing alone in the sea with the sun and sand in your face, away from society (ok well, 50m away from the beach) with noone to bug you is quite appealing. Am still contemplating. One of the criteria for joining the course is: "must be physically fit". Hmmmm. I suppose that can be worked on. Might be a great way to meet new people too.
Speaking of meeting new people, a colleague's farewell drinks on Friday was held at Velvet. It's quite a cool place, and I can see how people go there to pick up someone for a Friday / Sat night quickie. Plenty of beautiful people. This ang moh chick was sitting alone at a counter staring at the dance floor wistfully. I wonder if that's a sign that she wanted to be picked up. I promised myself to go google "guide to bar (politics?)" when I got home, but didn't get around to doing it.
Velvet was also where I got drunk so bad for the first time I had to puke, though fortunately so it was only the cab stopped outside my house and I opened the cab door that I stuck my head out of the cab floor and puked on the road. The Long Island Tea(s) did me in. I'm sure the cab driver was relieved I didn't puke in his cab.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Shut the **** up and go on a diet fatso!
This article is rather funny and should be read by everyone.
In summary the US has been saying that increasing wealth in middle class India is to be blamed in part for rising food prices.
India just responded by saying that the American consumes 50% more calories than is required by a normal person, and if the Americans would just go on a bloody diet and stopped being so fucking fat, the world's food crisis would be solved.
Hilarious.
In summary the US has been saying that increasing wealth in middle class India is to be blamed in part for rising food prices.
India just responded by saying that the American consumes 50% more calories than is required by a normal person, and if the Americans would just go on a bloody diet and stopped being so fucking fat, the world's food crisis would be solved.
Hilarious.
Monday, May 12, 2008
iPhone!
Singtel today announced that they have signed a contract to bring the iPhone to Singapore!!!! News reports say that it will come in September.
Boy I can't wait. Bye Starhub.
Boy I can't wait. Bye Starhub.
Title inflation
The Americans are tops at creating waffly job titles often requiring the broadest interpretation of the title. For example, how does the job scope of a "Sales Engineer" possibly involve any element of engineering other than the fact that they have to "engineer" (in other words, concoct) sales?
Today, as I read the CV of this intern that I'm supposed to be a "buddy" to, I am most amused to read that his job experience includes being a "sandwich artist" at Subway.
I'm thinking to myself: "SUBWAY SANDWICHES VERY ARTISTIC MEH?????"
The intern is quite fit, since his hobbies include visiting the gym at least twice a week, and I feel like a right tub of ghee / lard next to him.
Today, as I read the CV of this intern that I'm supposed to be a "buddy" to, I am most amused to read that his job experience includes being a "sandwich artist" at Subway.
I'm thinking to myself: "SUBWAY SANDWICHES VERY ARTISTIC MEH?????"
The intern is quite fit, since his hobbies include visiting the gym at least twice a week, and I feel like a right tub of ghee / lard next to him.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Toys Toys
Having been deprived of toys when I was younger (being poor and all), is it any wonder that I have these cravings of sorts to buy myself things?
The latest acquisition is a mountain bike.
I've been agonising over this for a while now, going to various bike shops and asking my friends. It was a little shocking at first how much these things cost and the spectrum of cost. On one end you have the bikes from Giant and Carrefour which go from S$60, complete with spongy brakes and cranky gears. On the other you have these really cool looking carbon fibre frame bikes which can cost S$6,000.
The struggle was always the fear that the more expensive a bike you buy, the higher the likelihood it would get stolen. On the one hand, I didn't want to ride a rust bucket with Chinese components and spongy non-responsive brakes (and more importantly / superficially, which LOOK like rust buckets), but on the other hand I didn't want to spend too much money and have a bike I couldn't ride to, say, Marine Parade Library or Parkway to run errands (traffic's too much of a bitch to bother driving there). This is kind of like the problems I had choosing a car (Chery QQ vs the rest of the world).
The problem was finally resolved when I found out, during my Nepal trip, that Dutch people typically tend to own 2 or 3 bikes -- a rust bucket that they use to commute to work, and another that they use for leisure riding. Why didn't I think of that before???
So yesterday I went to look for my first "serious" bike. I wasn't intending to spend more than $600 on it, but when I went to the shop (Cycle Craft, East Coast Road), I was served by this really nice and uhm, REALLY HOT girl. There was another bike enthusiast there (who was just hanging around the shop chatting to the staff, having just finished his day's ride), who saw that I was a newbie and helpfully guided me through my hundreds of really dumb questions.
And so it was, that by a combination of both very good service, pleasant shopping experience and the fact that the sales person is hot, I blew S$1,000 on a mid-range bike. It's coming on Wednesday, I can't wait!
PS this is why women will always sell expensive toys better than men. I figure psychologically there must be some sort of analysis to this that goes something along the lines of (1) toys are not necessities and are bought by part of your discretionary income; (2) the more expensive the toy you buy, the more it indicates that you have a higher discretionary income; (3) see hot woman, biological instincts come in and it becomes an indirect competition to show that you are the perfect mate, i.e. display the peacock feathers; (4) ergo, blow more money than you intended / wanted on a more expensive toy.
Here it is, and this afternoon, I'm going to Giant to buy my rust bucket.