Is it just me or is Livejournal going a bit Wonky? All I get is screwed up HTML script when I try to come on to LJ at home.

Anyway... I think its time I put this blog to rest. Its seen its share of attention, good and bad. It chronicles some of the happiest and lowest points of the last decade of my life. Its private enough to be accurate but too public to be true.

I thought it'd be a good way to do a bit of writing, since I don't get to flex my wruscles at the Job I'm supposed to be working at. But it seems pointless since I don't really have anything to tell anyone here, and don't know if anyone's reading/looking.

So in the remaining few minutes before I send my sister off to her badminton training, I'd like to conclude this journal in the style of Jodecro, in a way reminiscent of Yesiamtired (whom I miss) and with much thanks and love to everyone who's come along and glanced at my psychotic rantings, poor attempts at social commentary, juvenile self-pittance and poorly-disguised open contempt and the occasional good joke.

In the past year -

1.) I have slum down to 90kg - a far cry from the 110kg the once creaked my scale

2.) The same weight loss has improved my general well-being and increased my wardrobe options.

3.)I finally graduated from NUS after an arduous battle - and tossed whatever Literature Major credentials I had into the trash-bin, starting to "work" for my parents - not that I had gained much from NUS apart from receipts from school fees and warnings of expulsion.

4.)I picked up a Martial Art, Muay Thai, and I like it quite a bit. Then proceeded to pester everyone into doing it. I'm currently experimenting with other forms of combat sport, like MMA and Karate and grappling. I've always enjoyed purposeful training and fitness more than keeping fit for general well-being (though that mindset is flawed).

5.)I ran 8-10km for the first time in yonks and I liked it so much I did it again.

6.)I managed to run that far only because my girlfriend bought me a nice little mp3 player - which made me realise the importance of music on long runs.

7.)Realised that I would have enjoyed myself a lot more earlier if I had just done more of I wanted to and less of what other people told me was good for me etc etc.

8.)Got attached to a wonderful girl, Chong Yi.

9.)Got my 2B motorbike license after 2 forfeited attempts in 4 years.

10.)Got a new computer after 7 years! Finally got to custom order one on my own, and am very pleased with it. Learnt a little about the inner workings of a PC, though I should have learnt so in school when I took Intro to Computing.

11.)Friends all got Jobs, some cool, some xiong, but all very admirable, which made me a little envious.

12.)Received the best birthday present I ever got in my life.

13.)Said goodbye to a friend close to my heart, and regretted not spending more time with her.

14.)Got damn irritated at being left out of the loop where marriages are concerned - specifically the marriage of an old friend.

15.)Realised that humans are fickle and forgetful, and chose not to chew on point 14.

16.)Reminded that to do things right, you have to do it yourself, to figure out the right way, and make it your way - so you can say, I did it - my~ way!

17.)Did my yearly (frequency unintended) commercial, and got do a little dance online to make up for the botched "Don't forget the Lyrics" Audition. Kudos to Elastic_plastic for the lobang.

18.)Learned that people are mostly all the same in the end, and the people who want people to care for them, usually care about other people the least. With that in mind, I resolved to be less judgemental, have less expectations and avoid being disappointed in all my personal relationships.

19.)I THINK we played a concert as 4 piece Ronin earlier this year. Though I can't really be sure anymore. Tired of dealing with the inbreeding infighting music/showbiz scene.

20.)Performed my best solo show on the 31st of 2007 in front of supportive friends and decided not to torture anyone anymore with my act.

21.)Went to Bali, then Bangkok as a couple with Chong Yi and walked til my feet were numb...while having a good time!

22.)Saw my first Muay Thai match

23.)Did 2 pull-ups after 4 years of not being able to do so!

24.)Parents both had operations.

25.)I love my family, and am trying to do them proud, be able to protect them and provide bountifully for them.

26.)Made up my mind to be able to look back in many years and have no regrets.

Well that's it. 26 things for 26 years of me being around. Not the best way to close this journal, but better than not saying goodbye. I'll leave the journal account on til livejournal takes it down for inactivity, in case there's any value in my older posts(doubt it though). Thanks for reading, and I'll see you in the real world.

Ciao

Bang.

Yi and me went to Sushi Tei at the Paragon last night...and it sucked. There's seems to be an inverse relationship between the number of branches a franchise operates, and the quality of the food it produces. Lets go down my list of complaints.

1.) I ordered an $11 dollar Tenzaru Soba, which came with a measly 2 tiny tempura prawns and a slice of the Japanese cardboard plant. The soba noodles were lukewarm, and propped up by ice cubes to create the illusion of generosity. I ended up eating it with 2 tablespoonfuls of Wasabi, just to taste anything at all.

2.) The Unagi sushi on the conveyor belt, 2 pieces priced at 5.50, tasted like very cleverly painted strips of marinated tyre rubber. Despite looking fresh, it had probably been on a day long conveyor belt tour, just waiting for the right unsuspecting mouth to come along.

3.) Another $7 dollar item, the Ikura Chawanmushi came along with pieces of eggshell that Yi bit into.

4.) All the remaining Sashimi on the conveyor belt looked badly thrown together concoctions made with leftovers the staff couldn't finish for lunch. And though I was still hungry, I just couldn't bring myself to eat Sashimi that was halfway to becoming beef jerky.

If I wanted food of that quality I'd have gone to either of the Sucky (Sakae & Suki) Sushi places. It'll be a long time before I go back to Sushi Tei to pay more money for crappier food.


Anyway ...GAY ZOMBIES!

You know to be fair, she's a better presenter than I thought she'd be, which -while not saying much- is still not too bad. Her diction and presentation has improved since the last I saw her in the snippets of Shall We Dance.

However, given the importance of the Olympics, you kind of wonder what kind of process goes on at the Mediacorp casting department.

Casting Guy A : "Hey guys the Olympics are coming up, we need 2 presenters for tonight in Beijing. Any suggestions?"

Casting Guy B : "Wow, this is tough. We need presenters who have an air of dignity, look like they stay up to date, and while being frank can still come off as occasionally lighthearted."

Casting Guy C : "How about Jade Seah?"

CGA : "No."

CGB : "No."

CGC : "Why not? She was first runner up in MSU 2006? That qualifies her for everything short of performing heart surgery!"

CGA : "First of all that's not true. Second of all she's inexperienced! She's never done presenting before, least of all presenting sports for the OLYMPICS!"

CGC : "She hosted Shall We Dance what, viewers said they couldn't keep their eyes off her!"

CGB : "Yes that's because no one can actually stand watching FD and Glen Ong for too long without kicking in the TV. She was there so viewers could look at her and listen to them! Just like Radio."

CGA : "The point is, even if she were to present, she'd have to start off with normal news, or the morning shows, we can't just give her the Olympics coverage on her first attempt! People would think we don't take the Olympics seriously! She's got zero sporting or presenting credentials! "

CGC : "Miss Singapore Universe is a sport what!"

CGA : "No."

CGB : "Plus cable has coverage of most individual events so we really need a summary show that is respectable and attractive to viewers...or else they'd just go check on the bloody internet AGAIN."

CGC : "Well...how about we put her in a bikini?"

CGA : "No."

CGB : "No."

CGC : "Just for the swimming events? Or put her in a leotard for the gymnastics? And FBT shorts for the atheletics...You know... keep it fresh!"

CGA : "Aye you think this is the Olympics COSPLAY event coverage is it? Like that might as well shoot straight for youtube!"

CGB : "Or XVideos Cosplay section...or maybe Celebritiesxxx....hee hee"

CGA : "Hee hee"

CGC : "Hee hee... I mean come on guys, we have to keep it attractive right? What beats Jade Seah in a bikini presenting sports from behind a glass desk sitting on an Osim iGallop!"

CGB : "Cheryl Tay."

CGA : "Cheryl Tay."

CGC : "Jade Seaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah."

CGA : "Ok lo-"

CGC : "Jade Seaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah~~~"

CGB : "Wah La-"

CGC : "JADE SEAHHHHHHHH!"

CGA and CGB : "SHUT THE FUCK UP!"

CGA : "Saying her name over and over again won't change our minds! No Bikinis! No Glass tables! A DIGNIFIED, RESPECTABLE OLYMPICS SUMMARY SHOW! With EXPERIENCED presenters - WE'VE GOT A WHOLE DEPARTMENT OVER AT Channel News Asia TO CHOOSE FROM so SHUT UP ABOUT JADE SEAH!"

CGC : "Oh alright... hey wanna go to the lounge and smoke up, I scored some weed from Khao San on my last Thai Trip"

CGA : "Okay sure."

CGB : "I'm sure it'll help us with our decision making process."

A smoky half-an-hour in a small lounge later...

CGA : "Maaaaan (hahaha) I've got no idea whoo (heheee) to shooose for Tonight in Bei-Jang dudes..."

CGB : * Koff Koff* "Yeeaaah we're so (hahaha) screwed!"

CGC : "How about Jade Seah?"

CGA : "......YEAH! She's got... a mouth! Way over-ex-shpirencesss...expirenxeess.... exfoliateee..!"

CGB : "I love her forehead. Its a dignified forehead."*koff koff*

CGC : "Okay I'll let the boss know"




In anycase, I think she's made an admirable effort, but it's time for Mediacorp to admit that its made a mistake, and recast someone who's got more presenting chops, than unfortunate rookie Jade Seah. I mean... if even the government can admit to have made mistakes now and then...ahem

Well I think its best for dear Jade to say ... Sayonara Oh!

I was watching "Lock Up" on HBO late one night on the idiot box, and despite it's datedness, cheesy inspirational post Rocky music, manly bonding car-assembly montage and the fact that I'd seen it a few times before didn't take the amusement out of sitting through it again.

When you think about it, every movie that Stallone has ever done is like an episode of "Sliders: Multi-dimensional Balboa!" Look! It's Rocky as a Vietnam Vet with an innovative hair-band to keep his vision clear while mowing down the Russians and Gooks! No, wait it's Rocky as an assassin who is trying to make a clean break, but Antonia Banderas es trying to give heem his comeuppance! Now he's Rocky the cryogenic cop whose coming after cryogenic criminal Wesley Snipes, and doesn't know how to use the Three Shells (???) Nope... it's actually Rocky, stuck in Jail, with a sadistic elder Sutherland trying to make sure he stays there ....FOR LIFE!

I'm not saying that he's a one dimensional actor - it's probably more that Rocky's a multi-dimensional character...almost infinitely so! The values that he represents - always inspirational - transcend the mere limits of storytelling and character-development. He takes a beating, gets floored...but keeps on getting up! And most of the time he's doing it from the perspective of moral high ground - doing what right, even if nobody else sees it. And at the movies, It's a formula that works, because humans all want to believe that sheer faith and hard work can turn insurmountable odds around - as long as you're doing the right thing, as long as you've got heart!

But really, what's the point Stallone. We all die alone anyway.

Ah never mind. Here's my favorite part of Rocky 6.

FOXING UP THE CITY!

As humans encroach on nature's territory in the name of progress and posterity, wild animals are being forced to adapt to an ill-imposed urban life.  Though many species of animals have thus become endangered, some have adapted remarkably well to their new city and suburban habitats and have thrived despite being displaced from their natural environment.

There is no better example of this than the phenomenon of the city fox. Urban foxes in England and Wales number up to an estimated 30,000 - a figure that seems to remain stable in the last decade- proof of the foxes' incredible aptitude for survivability and adaptation. A lack of natural predators and an undiscerning palate have allowed foxes to deftly navigate the rigors of living in heavily populated human areas. As foxes become as common a sighting as the stray cat, the relationship between humans and these urban foxes has grown closer and more complex - perhaps to the danger of the latter.

Many of these foxes in have found their new hunting grounds in the sparse gardens and backyards of quieter suburban areas - preying on human rubbish, small mammals and insects. Their routine appearance in our environments have spurred humans to leave food - such as dog feed, or supermarket meats - out, whether in an effort to domesticate them, or simply for the joy of having them come back. However, this well-intentioned altruism is ignorant of the fact that these animals are wild, or the inherent dangers of having them return regularly.

"Alarm as city foxes kill pets for food" by Jane Bradley, 12 July 2004, Edinburgh Evening News.

More tensions between foxes and humans seem inevitable. So the question is, as this potentially dangerous and highly evolved animal integrates itself into human environment, an ethical one. If the foxes become a menace, can and should they be removed, given that their very presence is due to the relentless destruction of their habitat by human expansion. Will the conflict between animal and man once again lead to the "unavoidable" act of culling? Only time will tell.

For the moment, let us enjoy having these beautiful creatures among us, lest human society lose it's tolerance, for these foxes in the city.

I had a fever since Friday last week. Between doing sound at the club, shooting music videos and mid term tests I guess I was really pushing my luck...

So today, having woken up feeling cold yet again, and having severe problems even getting out of bed - I decided to take up some great advice and see a doctor. Yi brought me to the clinic she used to work at right opposite Mohd Sultan. After waiting for more than an hour, we were seen to by a thorough and intense looking doctor dude Dr. Gary Keong.

After taking quite a while with the Stethoscope, and making me take several deep uncomfortable breaths, he finally said, "Hmm. I think you have pneumonia."

me - "oh."

Dr. - "You shouldn't let a fever run for more than 3 days without seeing a doctor, you could die you know."

me - "oh?"

Dr. - "Yes, if you left the pneumonia unchecked the bacteria could get into your bloodstream...then you just suddenly collapse and that's it."

me - "ohhh."

It's a good thing Yi was around to take care of me. Thanks baby, you're the best.

So I'm sitting at home for now, taking my meds. I hope I don't end up in the hospital.

And for no reason whatsoever I got reminded of this song



I get hysterical...Pneumonia ...when you get that feeling...you might stop breathing...
Pneumonia, when you're near...

Thanks Darrenwyze, for putting up a gig I didn't think many people would care for...



Watchtower (didn't rehearse)



Crossroads (Snare fell over)



Anywhere (blocked nose song)



And here is my new avatar

Where does a relatively normal english speaking average Asian male fit in in Singaporean society? Or any society for that matter, that's seen a good amount of ang-moh-pai-fication. Where everything ang moh is better, and the better you are at looking, behaving and speaking like an ang moh - the better your chances with work, recognition, romance and whatever else.

In this appearance crazy society of ours - thanks to the advancement of marketing and advertising, unsurprisingly one of the globe's consistently saturated and lucrative industries - first impressions are not important, they are THE MOST IMPORTANT. In the instant of mutual examination, the examiner has already build the ceiling above the walls that define your relationship. And whether or not this ceiling is high or low, depends on how appealing you are - I.E. how ang moh you can be (in most cases).

Because lets face it, Asians are everywhere - we've become a normal everyday occurrence, an accepted fixture, like street lamps or traffic lights. We fade into the background - or more accurately we are a canvas of contrast for an ang moh's prominence to shine. Just like how even a plate of fried rice can be art museum material if the lighting is right, an otherwise average human being is elevated to undeserving heights of adoration if his/her color is just white...I mean, right.

But it's more that that. It's because Ang Moh's come from way across the sea. They've seen more than we have. They can and have lived more wildly than we have. The scent of irresponsible hedonism hangs off them like kelp on a dead whale. They're on a holiday ...and they know it. They revel in their freedom, in their almost palpable almost superhuman effect that they have on the English speaking natives - flouting what should be commonly held values and ethics under the ridiculous excuse of culture shock.

Why do we accept it? Because we've been brainwashed. Because the best fashion comes from Italy. The best TV from Britain. The best movies from the US. The nicest language from France. As if to make up for a complete lack of indigenous culture the Singaporean is dipped in Ang Moh from head to toe, and then shaken by his ankle to dry. So Ang Moh = Good. Local = Bland. Even this post, in it's critique of the Ang Moh Pai defers to the first language of it's writer - Ang moh.

People are all the same. There are good people. There are bad people. There are stupid people. There are smart people. There are humble people. There are boastful people. But what all people should have is a capacity to separate appearance from ability. Personality from nationality. Grace from race. Because for every nice ang moh who won't use this environmentally-ingrained-perception based superiority for ill, theres a shitty ang moh who'll make the best use of it - at the expense of the gullible natives as it were.

Stop saying "Aiyah, it's because he's an Ang Moh what, they're like that" Bad behavior is bad behavior. If we do not have the confrontational aptitude to express it outwardly, then at least let us have the decency not to encourage it. If we can't be proud of our own mundane heritage, let us not attach over-romanticized ideals to a (most-likely) inaccurate and poorly presented slice of foreign culture. People are people after all - so let them be judged by their actions and not their factions.

So to be safe - hate everyone until they give you a reason not to.

The nice Ang Moh's I know are excluded from this post.

It's a new year, and it seems to be building up into an incredibly exciting and happy one, so I thought a new look would be appropriate.

In case you guys were wondering about musclewar, no I haven't given up on it, but honestly, it's lost it's appeal to me somehow. I'm not saying it so I can chicken out of it, but I'm feeling fit, healthy and really happy - and the competition is just not that important to me anymore. If i do participate - it'd have to be next year's one anyway - it'll just be for shits and giggles...and give everyone something else to take the piss out of me about...which I don't mind. We'll see.

I guess I'm not that hard up about recognition and attention - there are better things to occupy my time with that are inherently more rewarding and bring me much more joy.

In other news....


It's not a trick of light. It's not an angle thing. My feet are planted firmly on the scale. JOY TO THE WORLD, I'M BELOW 90KG LAA LAAAA LAAA LAAAAA LAAA LAAAAAAAAAA!

I feel very fortunate actually there were so many times that I could have fallen off the boat, times when I was down, when I was exhausted, when the weight just wouldn't drop, when it seemed like the plateau stretched like an endless horizon - But thanks to good friends, inspiring people, morning sandwich and person courier service, love, a sweatsuit (which I ripped) and muscle wars (!) and quite a bit of luck, I managed to break the 90kg barrier. Looking back, it feels nothing short of miraculous - but if I think hard about it it was a lot of hard work clawing my sedentary arse into consistent physical activity - and it took a lot of support/inspiration/accompaniment from the following people - The Lightweight Babies! Fightclub! Anti-christ! Spike! Simon! The Governator! Youtube! Pride FC! And most of all, Art - who I can no longer live without.

And I think this feels like that start of the rest of a wonderful life.

Happy New Year everyone! The best is getting better!

Saw this in school a week ago haha



It says 19th Jan ! Man... Even as a fatalistic optimist I must say it's looking pretty grim..

On the bright side I was talking to my old classmate Farhan and heres what he had to say about our mutual classmate Simon

farhahnandthejaguar says:
eh wat is simon's fascination with gays man??

farhahnandthejaguar says:
hahaha

Bang says:
hahah I dunno dude you gotta ask him yourslef haha

farhahnandthejaguar says:
fuck man

farhahnandthejaguar says:
i think he's one man

Bang says:
HAHAHAHAH I PUT THIS CONVERSATION ON MY JOURNAL

Bang says:
no lah i think he's just ... overcompensating for being very very man

Bang says:
hahaha

Then later when we were talking about jobs...

Bang says:
what kind of pt job?

farhahnandthejaguar says:
any kind?

farhahnandthejaguar says:
as long as not gay

farhahnandthejaguar says:
like wat simon wld say

farhahnandthejaguar says:
hahahaha

The whole world's talking about it!

I woke up today and weighed myself - 99 KG !!!!

WHAT WHAT WHAT ?!!!?!?!?!?

I don't get it ! I think I've been eating less ever since I started my food journal... well maybe it's muscle. I HOPE it's muscle. 

It's damn sian because at this rate even if I do cut to a relative shape and size my weight will still put me one category above Daniel Zhang... and I want to be in the same category!!!

SIANS. 

Aiyah I'm probably eating too much still. Yeah ... I eat too much and I write it down but I don't realise. Today I shall have the perfect diet day - a day of the perfect amount of food I need to eat to lose the pounds and I will follow it until my birthday. 

WORK HARDER BITCH!

BOBBY LEE'S KOREAN SOAP EP 1


Bobby Lee in his own heart wrenching Korean Soap


YACHT ROCK EP 1


About a few of my favorite bands from the 80's. It's a whole series - it gets funnier as it goes along. The Doobie brothers did Long Train running before Michael Macdonald came around ... look it up on youtube!

I wagered a Chocolate Sundae with Simon on the terms below - 

From the period of now until 30th August - 

1.) I shall eat no pure Carbs - meaning rice, bread, noodles, potatoes and it's derivatives -Fries blah blah 
2.) I shall only smoke a maximum of 3 Cigs per day. 
3.) I have to run  for at least 1 hour straight at least once per week.

I must say, abstinence seems to be doing Simon a whole world of good.

Anyways...I posted a poll on my multiply, and I'm not sure you guys can vote, so I'm doing it here too. The gist of it is I can't decide whether I want to cut my hair so I need your help. 

This is how I will roughly look if I cut it short - 



And here is an approximation of how I will look if I leave it out long 



Democracy at its pointless best. You control my fate!