realitymunches

31 December 2008

Ok, I know I won't be alone =)

Retreat has taught me one thing - that at times when you feel that you are in the minority, fret not, because that is just what the majority feels. All it needs is for someone to voice that consensus out, and the feeling is so great when you do realize that people do share those sentiments as you. I was glad I did just that.

Taking the time to talk to people whom I scarcely was able to over the term was extremely beneficial. Many of them made me have a better opinion of them, and it gave me new perspectives on the general sentiments that most councillors had. I was just tired of putting on a smile just for the sake of making myself seem as though I'm having the time of my life (that's why I chucked my camera away), and really, this time, not doing so paid off.

A big thank you to those who have spurred me on during retreat (the mini-notes really do serve as an inspiration) to do my best for myself, for council and for the school.

To everyone out there, have a blessed 2009 and may only good things come in your way.

# posted by Louis : 5:59 PM

28 December 2008

Sizzling this week (29th Dec 2008 - 4th Jan 2009)

For the year 2009, in replacement of the Weekly Top 20 Charts would be the new 'Sizzling This Week'. With 5 recommended songs each week, you'll be sure to have a great week every week. Enjoy!

1) Kings Of Leon - Use Somebody

The 2nd single of their 4th studio album, Only By The Night, Use Somebody serves as a nice follow-up to Sex On Fire.

2) Rihanna - Rehab

Written by Justin Timberlake and Timbaland, Rehab certainly doesn't disappoint Rihanna's unbelievable streak of good singles.

3) The Black Ghosts - Full Moon

In my personal opinion, the best song in the Twilight soundtrack besides mainstream hits Supermassive Black Hole, Decode, and Leave Out All The Rest.

4) Lykke Li - Dance, Dance, Dance

A great singer from Sweden, Lykke Li could make a better music video to compliment the brilliant song.

5) Fleet Foxes - White Winter Hymnal

I STRONGLY recommend you to listen to their entire self-titled album. It is a highly acclaimed album of 2008, claiming several #1 spots in all the year-end album charts. The vocal harmonies are brilliant, the lyrics are highly refined. Very very good, no wonder all their concerts are sell-outs. I want to sing like Robin Pecknold sheesh!

# posted by Louis : 10:08 PM

Trust me, I was on the verge of sending this to the council e-group.

Hi! I will be away from the 29th to 31st of December for the Council Retreat at Batam. However, I can still be contacted on my handphone, though I would love not to be disturbed by anyone if it has got anything to do with work. Nevertheless, from the bottom of my heart, I wish everyone all the best for orientation, take5 and openhouse! Love, Louis.

# posted by Louis : 9:56 PM

27 December 2008

Joy to the World!

Louis is very apologetic for not writing Xmas cards. He has been busy caroling, and as such, couldn't find time to write nice stuff for you all! Nevertheless, he is very touched by some of the greetings he has received from my mailbox or through various means, and would like to thank the following with sincere gratitude:

1) Daddy, for the very touching message in the card. And Daddy Mummy for the monetary assistance.

2) My OM mates, Michelle and Zhiwei. [Wah, zhiwei your christ in christmas ah, totally nice pun. And Michelle, you kinda didn't write who you were addressing the letter to, but I COULD FIGURE IT OUT WOAHAHA.]

3) Caroling people: Karen, Lionel and Vivien. [Ok duh obviously I don't address the 3 of you all individually as caroling people, but I had to find a collective term right HAHA.]

4) My dearest dearest classmates: Cheryl and Kuoying.

Cheryl's card is awarded The Cheapest Card, simply because she made it herself, but yet it still looks very very pretty (especially the xmas tree you can see on the right). Of course, the message inside is even prettier (priceless ok.), and yay, I'm very happy!

My fabulous friend, kuoying, wins the Most Oh-My-God-I-Totally-Didn't-See-This-Coming award. I opened this big fat envelope, and OH MY GOD, I saw a CD, a very nice ribbon wrapped around the red paper, and then I flipped to the other side of the cover and I saw Lou's Christmas List. Oh my god kuoying, seriously, this is the best christmas present. Thank you so very much, I'm going to listen to the CD now.

By the way, I like how you are like a Michael Cera, giving me hot mixes.

---

Sadly, I realized I didn't take any Humans Xmas Party photos with my own camera (save for one with Michy and myself). But fear not, I'll upload some (including the 3A class photo) here when people upload their stuff on Facebook.

Meanwhile, after the party, Cheryl and I chionged to Lionel's house for a very short but memorable stayover, all thanks to the Wii, which I had great pleasure spending time with LOL. And of course, everyone had fun watching me go insane from 12.30a.m to 4.30am, attempting at obtaining Bronze medals in tennis, bowling, baseball, and golf.

# posted by Louis : 2:14 PM

25 December 2008

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Dearest caroling people, I love you so much because you all gave me so much joy and laughter over the past 6 days. Looking forward to caroling with you all next year again yo!

---

I just saw the trailer for Slumdog Millionaire which is coming out in theaters 5 February 2009.

It's a story of a teenage orphan, Jamal, from the Mumbai slums, who is one question away to winning the India equivalent of 'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?' The police find it weird that he knows so much, and suspects him of cheating. The movie shows the orphan telling the story of his life in the slum where he and his brother grew up, of their adventures together on the road, of vicious encounters with local gangs, and of Latika, the girl he loved and lost.

Each chapter of his story reveals the key to the answer to one of the game show's questions. Intrigued by Jamal's story, the jaded Police Inspector begins to wonder what a young man with no apparent desire for riches is really doing on this game show? When the new day dawns and Jamal returns to answer the final question, the Inspector and sixty million viewers are about to find out...

Looks nice, eh?

# posted by Louis : 3:19 PM

23 December 2008

Call me Math Master.

JASON MRAZ: LIVE IN SINGAPORE

VENUE: SINGAPORE INDOOR STADIUM

DATE: 5TH MARCH 2009!!!

very very very very very very good day!

WHO WANTS TO GO?

---

I love carolling!

# posted by Louis : 9:58 PM

22 December 2008

Yue Liang & Twilight

Twilight is one of those movies you cannot miss, simply because everyone's watching it, and it keeps you out of the loop if you deny this opportunity. Granted that it has already achieved this predetermined success in box offices, the movie was really dreary at many moments. I don't really care if they keep staring at each other during biology lessons; I'd rather watch more of those cool scenes like the baseball one. (and surely, Muse's 'Supermassive Black Hole' playing in the background makes it all the better)

But oh well, it's a teenage vampire flick, so they would forego those for the staring scenes where the girls can just swoon over Edward Cullen. Though I got to admit, the part where they flew all the way up to the top of the pine tree was rather sweet, making out against the spectular wilderness backdrop. Very nice.

And like, HELLO, the baddies don't deserve poster shots of them if they only appear on the show for like 10 seconds? I mean, the battle between Gigandet and Pattinson could've been so much more enthralling, but it turned out to be ANTI-CLIMATIC, with Gigandet being subsequently apprehended like a 'Bad Boys' criminal by the vegetarian vampire family, his head twisted mercilessly and thrown into the fire.

I hope this is the lousiest film adaptation of the series, because I cannot afford watching anything worse. Do Stephanie Meyer some justice man. I can't believe some people can actually watch the movie repeatedly for over 10 times. Read Life! today, and then watch Twilight, and we shall determine if those people are sane.

---

I prefer children to old folks. For one, I can relate to children, and for two, being equipped with a very limited dialect vocabulary, talking to old folks can drive you nuts. I wonder who is to blame for this communication barrier between generations. The lost language of the dialects.

---

Oh well. Louis wasn't at St Paul's Cathedral. He was at West Coast Plaza, and chanced upon this really cool backdrop.

# posted by Louis : 10:08 PM

21 December 2008

Looks like this last minute decision to join chorale for carolling was really enjoyable! We will be performing daily until Christmas at hospitals, homes and hotels.

---

Yes Man, I made a mistake.

I promised myself not to watch any bad movies, but I got to admit this movie doesn't get a 'Yes' from me. So, don't watch it. I watched it because I wanted to kill time with Karen and Lionel and because we couldn't watch Twilight until tomorrow, when more people will be available. Surely, there are some humorous moments, but it was generally slapstick eh. I think this review captured whatever I felt.

---

The top 10 of Billboard Hot 100 currently has two songs for the 4 respective artists: Beyonce, Britney Spears, Kanye West, and T.I. Lady GaGa and Katy Perry rounds up the 10. See it for yourself.

# posted by Louis : 6:55 PM

20 December 2008

TOP 100 SONGS OF 2008

1) I'm Yours - Jason Mraz

2) Viva La Vida - Coldplay

3) Mercy - Duffy

4) No Air - Jordin Sparks feat. Chris Brown

5) Hot N Cold - Katy Perry

6) Disturbia - Rihanna

7) Feedback - Janet Jackson

8) Stop And Stare - OneRepublic

9) Great DJ - The Ting Tings

10) 4 Minutes - Madonna feat. Justin Timberlake and Timbaland

---

11) Just Dance - Lady GaGa feat. Colby O'Donis

12) The Man Who Can't Be Moved - The Script

13) Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) - Beyonce

14) Damaged - Danity Kane

15) American Boy - Estelle feat. Kanye West

16) Circus - Britney Spears

17) I Kissed A Girl - Katy Perry

18) Womanizer - Britney Spears

19) Spiralling - Keane

20) No One - Alicia Keys

---

21) Leavin' - Jesse McCartney

22) Untouched - The Veronicas

23) Chasing Pavements - Adele

24) When I Grow Up - The Pussycat Dolls

25) Mercury - Bloc Party

26) Take Back The City - Snow Patrol

27) Sex On Fire - Kings Of Leon

28) I Will Possess Your Heart - Death Cab For Cutie

29) Never Miss A Beat - The Kaiser Chiefs

30) Keeps Gettin' Better - Christina Aguilera

---

31) Elephants - Rachael Yamagata

32) Crush - David Archuleta

33) Human - The Killers

34) Run - Leona Lewis

35) Details In The Fabric - Jason Mraz feat. James Morrison

36) Nine In The Afternoon - Panic At The Disco

37) Bye Bye - Mariah Carey

38) I Don't Care - Fall Out Boy

39) So What - Pink

40) Good Days Bad Days - The Kaiser Chiefs

---

41) One Step At A Time - Jordin Sparks

42) Breakin' Dishes - Rihanna

43) Wire To Wire - Razorlight

44) Poker Face - Lady GaGa

45) We Cry - The Script

46) Paper Planes - M.I.A

47) Warwick Avenue - Duffy

48) Violet Hill - Coldplay

49) Let's Dance To Joy Division - The Wombats

50) Pocketful Of Sunshine - Natasha Bedingfield

---

51) Duet - Rachael Yamagata (feat. Ray Lamontagne)

52) Halo - Beyonce

53) In My Arms - Kylie Minogue

54) That Green Gentleman (Things Have Changed) - Panic At The Disco

55) Hometown Glory - Adele

56) Feels Like Tonight - Daughtry

57) That's Not My Name - The Ting Tings

58) I'd Rather Be With You - Joshua Radin

59) Light On - David Cook

60) Built To Last - Melee

---

61) Closer - Ne-Yo

62) Lucky - Jason Mraz (feat. Colbie Caillat)

63) Now Or Never - Cast of High School Musical 3

64) You Are The Best Thing - Ray Lamontagne

65) Say (All I Need) - OneRepublic

66) Be Ok - Ingrid Michaelson

67) Low - Flo Rida (feat. T-Pain)

68) Thunder - Boys Like Girls

69) Shut Up And Let Me Go (The Ting Tings)

70) If I Were A Boy - Beyonce

---

71) Guilty Pleasure - Cobra Starship

72) Shake It - Metro Station

73) Love In This Club - Usher (feat. Young Jeezy)

74) If I Never See Your Face Again - Maroon 5 (feat. Rihanna)

75) D.A.N.C.E - Justice

76) What About Now - Daughtry

77) Sorry - Buckcherry

78) Lost! - Coldplay

79) Spotlight - Jennifer Hudson

80) Broken Strings - James Morrison (feat. Nelly Furtado)

---

81) A & E - Goldfrapp

82) New Soul - Yael Naim

83) If You're Out There - John Legend

84) Lovers Are Losing - Keane

85) In Love With A Girl - Gavin DeGraw

86) Love Lockdown - Kanye West

87) About A Girl - The Academy Is...

88) Changes - Will Young

89) Hero Heroine - Boys Like Girls

90) Medicine Man - The Hush Sound

---

91) Dance Like There's No Tomorrow - Paula Abdul

92) Lucid Dreams - Franz Ferdinand

93) Time To Pretend - MGMT

94) Forever - Chris Brown

95) Say - John Mayer

96) Last Name - Carrie Underwood

97) Lovebug - Jonas Brothers

98) Underneath - Alanis Morissette

99) Run (I'm A Natural Disaster) - Gnarls Barkley

100) Black And Gold - Sam Sparro

# posted by Louis : 6:00 PM

19 December 2008

Top 10 Reality TV Personalities of 2008

(in no particular order)

1. Charlie Herschel & Marcus Lehman
9th & 10th, Survivor: Gabon
2. David Cook
Winner, American Idol 7
3. Leanne Marshall
Winner, Project Runway 5

4. Diana Vickers
4th, The X Factor (Season 5)
5. Nick & Starr
Winners, The Amazing Race 13

6. Sheena Sakai
6th, America's Next Top Model Cycle 11
7. Dan Gheesling
Winner, Big Brother 10

8. George Sampson

Winner, Britain's Got Talent (Season 2)

9. Katee Shean
3rd, So You Think You Can Dance? (Season 4)
10. Mark Kanemura
5th, So You Think You Can Dance? (Season 4)

# posted by Louis : 12:00 AM

18 December 2008

Today was a fruitful OM day. =) Starwalls rocks.
And the next week will be a fruitful 'I shall go and sing carolling' week.
Ok, this is really exciting ok. I'm not making a mockery out of this. I AM SERIOUS. grr.

# posted by Louis : 11:59 PM

Yay, I'm SOOO excited for you!

Do you feel that, with Facebook, you are even more disconnected from the world?
I felt so the past 2 weeks. Boy, does that drive me nuts.

Though I got to admit, the Survivor: Gabon post-finale pictures make me smile all day.

# posted by Louis : 10:52 AM

16 December 2008

Well it goes like this, the fourth, the fifth.

I flew to St Paul's Cathedral in London yesterday and atoned for all my sins. The whole place was magical.
---
Speaking of churches and holy places, here's a holy song for you. Alexandra Burke, winner of X Factor Season 5, with the video premiere of her latest single "Hallelujah", cover of Leonard Cohen. Well, I needed to say the original artist's name, for everyone forgot the roots of this song.

# posted by Louis : 3:31 PM

15 December 2008

Survivor and the Infinite Playlist

Initially, I thought the producers had designed the final immunity challenge, traditionally involving endurance, to breeze Bob Crowley, the Physics teacher from Maine, into the Final 3. The result, however, was shocking: Susie won immunity for building the highest "House Of Cards" using wooden tiles.

Nevertheless, Bob, who had won 5 consecutive immunity challenges, was unfazed by the prospect of winning the million dollars. Sugar, his self-sacrificing benefactor, vouched for his spot in the Final 3, as she forced a fire-making tiebreaker challenge between Bob and Matty, of which the latter was sent home.

Bob won the jury vote by 4-3 to Susie, whilst Sugar received zilch. Despite the latter's popularity amongst the fans, Bob still managed to edge her, eventually becoming the big winner for the night.

Final Tribal Council had a variety of questions directed to the Final 3 from the jury. Charlie adorably asked Bob if he had enjoyed it while they were snuggled together (he did), whilst Corinne, the figure of brute arrogance and elitism, charged Sugar unabashedly. This is what she said:

"You are an unemployed, uneducated leech on society, and the only thing I would vote to give you is a handful of antidepressants so that no one has to be subjected to your constant crying anymore. And maybe if you got some, then maybe it would sound a little more sincere when you are crying about your dead father."
Ironic, considering how it is Sugar who is uneducated, yet is able to understand social codes and sensitivities which Corinne simply does not get.

----

Set in New York City, the city that never sleep, Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist is about two suburban but city-savvy teenagers developing a similar passion for indie rock. Nick (Michael Cera) is the only straight guy in his very cool queercore rockband, and is trying to patch things up with his hot yet shameless and infidel girlfriend, who has a boy toy wherever she goes. Norah (Kat Dennings) is the rich daughter of a record-industry mogul, and also has a rich boyfriend whom she doesn't really like. She, along with her BFF, Caroline, is in pursuit of an elusive underground band called Where's Fluffy? It is there where Nick and Norah meet, and the romance ensues.

Caroline had several grotesque moments, including sticking her hand into a vomit and poo-infested toilet bowl to reach her ringing handphone. [P.S Don't ever swap chewing gum with your friends. You never know where it could come from.]

I enjoyed the sweet calibrating chemistry between the lead couple, though Cera's appearance often brought me back to Juno. The band, The Jerk-Offs, was very entertaining. I love the soundtrack, although I've never heard of more than half of the bands.

---

Watch the Iraqi journalist throw his shoes at George Bush. Nasty, but Bush dodged like a pro.

# posted by Louis : 10:43 PM

Top 10 Duo/Groups of 2008

(in no particular order)

1. OneRepublic [Piano Rock/Alternative Pop]
Hits this year: "Stop And Stare", "Say (All I Need)", "Mercy"
["Apologize" was a 2007 song.]
2. Kaiser Chiefs [Indie, Pop Punk]
Hits this year: "Never Miss A Beat", "Good Days Bad Days"
3. Death Cab For Cutie [Indie Rock/Pop]
Hits this year: "I Will Possess Your Heart", "Cath", "No Sunlight"

4. The Ting Tings [Alternative Pop, New Wave]

Hits this year: "Great DJ", "That's Not My Name", "Shut Up And Let Me Go", "Be The One"

[Coming to Singapore 13th Jan 2009!]
5. Coldplay [Alternative Pop/Rock]
Hits this year: "Viva La Vida", "Violet Hill", "Lost!", "Lovers In Japan"

6. The Pussycat Dolls [Pop, R&B]

Hits this year: "When I Grow Up", "I Hate This Part"

7. The Script [Celtic Rock, Alternative]

Hits this year: "We Cry", "The Man Who Can't Be Moved", "Breakeven"

8. Snow Patrol [Indie Rock]

Hits this year: "Take Back The City", "Crack The Shutters"

9. Keane [Alternative Pop/Rock]

Hits this year: "Spiralling", "The Lovers Are Losing", "Perfect Symmetry"

10. Panic At The Disco [Punk Rock, Modern Baroque Pop]

Hits this year: "Nine In The Afternoon", "Northern Downpour", "That Green Gentleman (Things Have Changed)"

Click here to view the Top 10 Female Artists of 2008.

Click here to view the Top 10 Male Artists of 2008.

# posted by Louis : 10:52 AM

14 December 2008

Then, the class structures were as rigid as women's corsets.

The Duchess

We have Keira Knightley acting as Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire, Ralph Fiennes acting as the Duke, and Dominic Cooper (Mamma Mia!) acting as the Duchess' boo.

Storyline: Georgiana's mother has arranged a marriage for her daughter and the Duke, and she is required to produce a male heir for him. She fails to do so, bearing 3 daughters instead. The Duke is blatantly unfaithful, has sex with everyone, including Georgiana's best friend. Georgiana falls in love with Charles Grey, a future Prime Minister, and carries his 'bastard child' (so long as she didn't bear the Duke's child, it's a bastard child). She is then faced with a tough decision: To leave with Grey and 'bastard child', or to stay with her daughters and live in a love triangle for eternity. You do realize that women in the 18th century are quite powerless and have quite limited choices yeah.

Georgiana is a very cool Duchess. She has a superb fashion sense, she drinks and gambles like nobody's business, she is politically astute (yeah advocating women's rights and such) and well liked by the common people. Knightley's seems to be featured in every period piece these days, having acted in Atonement and Pride and Prejudice (which I reckon we'll watch during a Literature lecture).

Ralph Fiennes acted well with his very stone-faced yet complex countenance. A man of few words, he seems more at ease with his pet dogs than with people. Oddly enough, he doesn't mind if Georgiana is unfaithful and shows infidelity, but he gets into a rage because she is not discreet enough in her affairs, and that could cause him public embarassment. I think he was nominated for the Golden Globe for this supporting role.

On a sidenote, I personally thought Dominic Cooper did better here compared to his role in Mamma Mia!

Overall, the movie was a tad too draggy. Ideas not very fresh, but oh well, that's what you get for watching a biography. You can't expect much deviation right. I thoroughly preferred The Other Boelyn Girl.

---

X Factor 5

Receiving 58.34% of the 8 million votes, Alexandra Burke is winner of X Factor 5, edging out opponents JLS & Eoghan Quinn. DUH. I mean, if Diana Vickers was in the finals, at least I see some competition. And I can't believe Eoghan actually topped the voting charts for 6 out of the 10 weeks.

Some of Alexandra's more outstanding performances included 'Listen', 'Hallelujah', 'Candyman' and 'I'll Be There'. Doubt she'll be as well-known as Leona Lewis, or even Shayne Ward, as a matter of fact. Too many duplicates of her around. Vickers winning the competition would have produced something very great.

# posted by Louis : 5:40 PM

12 December 2008

Good people will prevail.

Finally, a strategic move, not conceived the producers but by the contestants, kept me at the edge of my seat in today's episode. Sugar the Sweet Strategist, how apt, the term coined in the trailer for Gabon's season finale. She's the living example of how you can play the game without being conniving and yet make people like you for being downright honest and virtuous.

In all fairness, Crystal also got into my good books after getting eliminated. She had this cheerful disposition in Ponderosa which was unfounded during gameplay. And the other jury members needn't be so smirk towards her. She may be an Olympic medallist, but she's human after all.

Hope the standings turn out like this on Monday:

Winner: Sugar, 2nd: Bob, 3rd: Susie

I want Susie instead of Matty to be in the final 3 simply because I want her to get 0 votes from the jury for having played such an absurd strategy (if there even was one) which wins me no admiration. She wreaked discord upon the land of harmony.
---
In other news, Britney sells more than 500,000 copies in its first weeks of sales for Circus, debuting at #1 on the Billboard 200! Circus also reached #3 on the Hot 100, and Womanizer at #10. 2 of her singles in the top 10 at one time - A first for Britney. Beyonce and T.I are doing the exact same thing this week; Beyonce for 'Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)' (#2) and 'If I Were A Boy' (#6), T.I for 'Live Your Life' (#1) and 'Whatever That Crap Song Is' (#5)

# posted by Louis : 9:09 PM

11 December 2008

Top 10 Female Artists of 2008

(in no particular order)

1. Beyonce [R&B, Pop]
Hits this year: "If I Were A Boy", "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)", "Halo", "Love In This Club (with Usher)"
2. Christina Aguilera [Pop, R&B]
Hits this year: "Keeps Gettin' Better", "Genie 2.0"
3. Duffy [soul, R&B]
Hits this year: "Mercy", "Warwick Avenue", "Stepping Stone", "Rain On Your Parade"
4. Lady GaGa [dance-pop, electropop, piano rock]
Hits this year: "Just Dance (feat. Colby O'Donis)", "Poker Face", "The Fame"

5. Leona Lewis [Pop, R&B]

Hits this year: "Better In Time", "Forgive Me", "Footprints In The Sand", "Run"
[P.S. "Bleeding Love" is a 2007 song.]
6. Rachael Yamagata [Alternative, Blues Rock]
Hits this year: "Elephants", "Faster", "Duet (with Ray Lamontagne)"
7. Sia [Pop]

Hits this year: "The Girl You Lost To Cocaine", "Soon We'll Be Found"

8. Britney Spears [Pop]

Hits this year: "Break The Ice", "Womanizer", "Circus"

9. Katy Perry [Pop/Rock]
Hits of this year: "I Kissed A Girl", "Hot N Cold", "One Of The Boys"
10. Rihanna [Pop, R&B]
Hits of this year: "Take A Bow", "Disturbia", "Rehab", "If I Never See Your Face Again (with Maroon 5)", "Live Your Life (with T.I)"

Click here to view the Top 10 Male Artists of 2008.

# posted by Louis : 10:50 PM