Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Gotta Get Me...
...some more gay friends!! Not so much the over-the-top queens alá Carson Kressley or Sean Hayes, although they are hysterical to have around. But the gays who look and behave like any other straight male, but are aware that they fall in love with men rather than women.
Had the best time in a loooong while last night when I was unexpectedly invited along to a BBQ by a gay friend. He told me that it'd be just 5 gay guys hanging out, and that I was welcome to come along. So I made the decision to go. Hadn't been out in company for quite some time since my housemate moved out, and I thought that better 5 gay guys than straight ones where I have no idea what their agenda is. My friend told me to wear something pretty, and I was like: define pretty... He responded something along the lines of "well..something other than what you're wearing now". I was in an over-sized t-shirt and fleece pants, you see. It being winter and all.
Had the best time in a loooong while last night when I was unexpectedly invited along to a BBQ by a gay friend. He told me that it'd be just 5 gay guys hanging out, and that I was welcome to come along. So I made the decision to go. Hadn't been out in company for quite some time since my housemate moved out, and I thought that better 5 gay guys than straight ones where I have no idea what their agenda is. My friend told me to wear something pretty, and I was like: define pretty... He responded something along the lines of "well..something other than what you're wearing now". I was in an over-sized t-shirt and fleece pants, you see. It being winter and all.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Bits and Pieces from the Media Today
Ms Rachel Lloyd puts it far more eloquently that I ever could.
Which of these Female Office Tribes do you have in your workplace? And which one do you (unabashedly) identify with? I reckon I'm The Bore. Yup.
That's all we need. A wasp that's the Viking/Spartans of all wasps. On a side note...Z...I want me some of that macro lens. The one that can photograph a warrior wasp in all its scary glory.
This scaredy cat climbed an almighty cactus and escaped being mountain lion dinner. Wpnder how it managed to get itself up and down without getting scratched to oblivion...
We need to talk. Wonder if this will work for me....the death knell part. Not the building communication blocks aspect.
Da Sista -- check out the colour of the leather mini-dress that Zoe Saldana is wearing. Same shade as the Salmon Pink Dress that you donch likez... I need my tan back. Pronto.
Apply sun screen. Don't apply sun screen. Wear a hat. Hats are useless. Will researchers make up their bloddy minds and issue consistent advisories??
For all its finesse and beauty, France seems to be one of the most rascist, bigoted, and sexist country around. Or is it limited to Paris? I don't know. Met a young Frenchman briefly while I was living on the Gold Coast. Didn't spend that much time with him as he was boarding at Terry's friend's place. A homestay student. And initially he was a charming young man, but after 2 weeks, he turned into a horror houseguest that Elaine couldn't wait to get rid of. Thank God he was only in Australia for 8 weeks.
Ohhhh. LOVE!!! I just absolutely adore 1950s/60s fashion. Funny though. I still haven't watched a single episode of "Mad Men" in spite of the rave reviews it's always got. So in love with the dark blue/black version of the traditional houndstooth-pattern dress.
If this is what the designers are doing, it's no wonder recent collections from Alyssandra, Fairbelle, loef, KindofWonderful et al are looking...well...huh????
Which of these Female Office Tribes do you have in your workplace? And which one do you (unabashedly) identify with? I reckon I'm The Bore. Yup.
That's all we need. A wasp that's the Viking/Spartans of all wasps. On a side note...Z...I want me some of that macro lens. The one that can photograph a warrior wasp in all its scary glory.
This scaredy cat climbed an almighty cactus and escaped being mountain lion dinner. Wpnder how it managed to get itself up and down without getting scratched to oblivion...
We need to talk. Wonder if this will work for me....the death knell part. Not the building communication blocks aspect.
Da Sista -- check out the colour of the leather mini-dress that Zoe Saldana is wearing. Same shade as the Salmon Pink Dress that you donch likez... I need my tan back. Pronto.
Apply sun screen. Don't apply sun screen. Wear a hat. Hats are useless. Will researchers make up their bloddy minds and issue consistent advisories??
For all its finesse and beauty, France seems to be one of the most rascist, bigoted, and sexist country around. Or is it limited to Paris? I don't know. Met a young Frenchman briefly while I was living on the Gold Coast. Didn't spend that much time with him as he was boarding at Terry's friend's place. A homestay student. And initially he was a charming young man, but after 2 weeks, he turned into a horror houseguest that Elaine couldn't wait to get rid of. Thank God he was only in Australia for 8 weeks.
Ohhhh. LOVE!!! I just absolutely adore 1950s/60s fashion. Funny though. I still haven't watched a single episode of "Mad Men" in spite of the rave reviews it's always got. So in love with the dark blue/black version of the traditional houndstooth-pattern dress.
If this is what the designers are doing, it's no wonder recent collections from Alyssandra, Fairbelle, loef, KindofWonderful et al are looking...well...huh????
Thursday, Thy Name is Serendipity...
Was going to log on to the M1 website to check out when I can upgrade my mobile phone. Hit the enter key too fast, and this is what I got...
Piotr Sroczyński
Of particular interest was his Photography section. For some reason, only the Malaysia and Singapore links are viewable. I don't understand the language, but Borneo-Malaysia and Singapore still sorta...kinda...looks the same-ish in Russian. Or whatever language this is.
Piotr Sroczyński
Of particular interest was his Photography section. For some reason, only the Malaysia and Singapore links are viewable. I don't understand the language, but Borneo-Malaysia and Singapore still sorta...kinda...looks the same-ish in Russian. Or whatever language this is.
Serendipitous Coincidence or Coincidental Serendipity
Which 2 names leap out at you?
Aside from the names, what else is...intriguing about this? Hmm.
Round One: FIGHT!
When WSU returns live to iPPV on 11/19, we will be presenting the biggest womens wrestling event of the Fall. WSU has been on fire all year in 2011, from putting on one of the most incredible ladder matches, celebrating Mercedes Martinez’s 2 Year reign as champion and watching new stars develop, while being a place for new beginnings. On 11/19 on iPPV, in our double main event of “BREAKING BARRIERS II”, we will see new stars get the opportunity to shine, while seeing Former WWE Womens Champion Melina get a new beginning.
Former WWE Womens Champion Melina will be making her WSU debut on 11/19. Melina joins names such as Jillian Hall, Luna Vachon, Christy Hemme, Jazz, Ivory, Dawn Marie, Molly Holly and others as someone with WWE experience looking to start anew in the biggest womens wrestling promotion today. Someone also on that list is Serena Deeb, a person who is not happy about Melina coming to WSU. Serena told WSU she will be releasing a video message about Melina’s debut in WSU where she will explain why she’s not thrilled with Melina in WSU.
Aside from the names, what else is...intriguing about this? Hmm.
Round One: FIGHT!
Killing Me Softly...
Had a conversation with Aunty's youngest son, Ivan, this afternoon. Completely unplanned. And after the convo, Adele's Someone Like You started swimming in my head. And also sent me into a very pensive and emo mood.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
As The Rest of US East Coast Shook...
...Wall Street yelled out "Business As Usual! Money to be made...and lost!"
Ok. Seriously though. The 5.9 magnitude earthquake that just happened in America is quite unexpected. I don't know much about US geography, but from reports, it seems like the aftershocks went interstate. Thank God there appears to be no reports of death or injury. Just a lot of building and landscape damage.
And I didn't make up the scenario of Wall Street trading through the quake and aftershocks. From the abovelinked article:
Update: checked with a friend in the US, and things aren't as bad as reported in the media. Classic sensationalistic journalism.
Ok. Seriously though. The 5.9 magnitude earthquake that just happened in America is quite unexpected. I don't know much about US geography, but from reports, it seems like the aftershocks went interstate. Thank God there appears to be no reports of death or injury. Just a lot of building and landscape damage.
And I didn't make up the scenario of Wall Street trading through the quake and aftershocks. From the abovelinked article:
Not everyone, however, was quite so terrified by the tremors. On Wall Street traders could be heard shouting: 'Carry on trading!' despite the shaking.
Update: checked with a friend in the US, and things aren't as bad as reported in the media. Classic sensationalistic journalism.
So I Was Really Looking Forward To This...
It's called the "Gabbana Pleated Velvet Dress". Inspired by one of Dolce & Gabbana's creations that Selena Gomez wore to some party earlier this year.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Leverage Cast Gift to the Crew
 |
| From Gina Bellman's Twitter Feed |
Who is the feller on the shirt??
That would be Pete Dowd. Second Unit Assistant Director on Leverage. And subject of running "Ask Pete Dowd" series of twitcasts by Tim Hutton.
 |
| From Dean Devlin's Twitter Feed |
Needed a Reminder...
...so I went mosey-ing. And got the reality check I lacked. I love the internet.
For goodness' sake, stop thinking you're special.
For goodness' sake, stop thinking you're special.
Monday, August 22, 2011
SingTel Needs Better Customer Focus
Warning: This post is going to be filled with the word SingTel. At every opportunity, SingTel will appear. Even if it SingTel doesn't make SingTel sense to have the SingTel word SingTel in the sentence SingTel. Partly to test if by SingTel doing so, it bumps up the possibility of a search engine locating this SingTel post, and bring it to the attention of SingTel. And partly 'cos I'm gonna use SingTel in lieu of a swear word wherever SingTel possible. Let the SingTel games begin.
More Evidence Leverage S4 Finale is Gonna Be EPIC!
 |
| JR's caption for this? "On the #leverage finale, local law enforcement is Not. Happy" |
 |
| #leverage counting down to the explosion. ALL of these are bombs. |
These vids are from Beth Riesgraf's Twitter Feed:
And Dean Devlin has been tweeting his joy about getting to "blow shit up". OMG. Sounds like John Rogers and Chris Downey have managed to script a season finale to top Season 3's finale. zomg.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Microsoft Windows Scam. Again. By the indefatiguable Indian telemarketers.
I so wish that I could track down these sons and daughters of low-life bitches who keep giving me "courtesy calls" to "inform" me that my computer is malfunctioning and having error reports and warnings. I wish I had my phone set up such that I could record calls straight off the bat. Then I'd record the lies these arsewipes try to spew. Moronic fucking Indian bitch that called me just now had the audacity to call me a liar when I told her that I was out of town and my computer couldn't have been turned on. Granted. I was lying about it. But who is she to call me a liar when my computer couldn't possibly have sent info to her "company" informing them of "error messages".
Gotta give these scam artists credit though. They seem to have stopped using "I am calling you from the Microsoft [insert whatever bombastic sounding IT fixit department name] about your Windows 95/98/XP/Vista/7 operating system" {please feel free to use an Indian accent or faux-Western accent spoken by Indian national}. G almost got taken in by them 2yrs ago, until something started smelling fishy and he called me to ask if the deal was genuine, and I told him straightaway to disconnect his modem and turn off his computer. 'Cos Microsoft does NOT cold-call customers at all. When he did that, guess what happened? The low-life dropkick called him back to say that the connection had dropped and that he needed to reconnect immediately so that their system could finish scanning his computer. I was on the mobile with G when they called him back on his home phone, so I told him to tell them that he needed to go out, thanks for their help, goodbye. In the end, we formatted his system to ensure all traces of whatever trojan they inserted was gone for good.
Now the con-men and con-women are just saying that they're calling with regard to the Windows OS you are using. But it's still a scam. Google/Yahoo/Bing "microsoft windows scam" and there thousands of hits. Remove the quotation marks and it returns millions of sites ranging from an official Microsoft Advisory, to various alerts by media outlets, to forum discussions. Apparently the Indian scammers originally targetted UK residents, then moved to US then Australia. Each time when the media of the country picked up the story to expose the scam, they would move countries until the interest died down, then start again.
Fucking Indian government needs to stop their in-fighting and do something about this. They wonder why their citizens are hate-targets. Look within their country, for pete's sake! All the things that their people do to make a living and survive in their over-populated, under-developed, corrupt country. I don't blame the telemarketers. They are just trying to ensure they don't end up a statistic on the starvation or prostitution count. I blame the people who set up the companies and the Indian government.
And it's all the more frustrating that the victim countries' governments AND Microsoft can't do anything about it. Except post advisories and warnings.
Microsoft at a loss over Event Viewer scam
Windows Event Viewer phishing scam remains active
To the female Indian telemarketer who called me out on my lie: find a job that gives you some measure of self-respect and respect in general.
Update: Just found out that this scam has already hit Singapore. Google spat out various articles dating back to Mar/Apr 2011.
Update 2: Got called TWICE today. fucktards.
Gotta give these scam artists credit though. They seem to have stopped using "I am calling you from the Microsoft [insert whatever bombastic sounding IT fixit department name] about your Windows 95/98/XP/Vista/7 operating system" {please feel free to use an Indian accent or faux-Western accent spoken by Indian national}. G almost got taken in by them 2yrs ago, until something started smelling fishy and he called me to ask if the deal was genuine, and I told him straightaway to disconnect his modem and turn off his computer. 'Cos Microsoft does NOT cold-call customers at all. When he did that, guess what happened? The low-life dropkick called him back to say that the connection had dropped and that he needed to reconnect immediately so that their system could finish scanning his computer. I was on the mobile with G when they called him back on his home phone, so I told him to tell them that he needed to go out, thanks for their help, goodbye. In the end, we formatted his system to ensure all traces of whatever trojan they inserted was gone for good.
Now the con-men and con-women are just saying that they're calling with regard to the Windows OS you are using. But it's still a scam. Google/Yahoo/Bing "microsoft windows scam" and there thousands of hits. Remove the quotation marks and it returns millions of sites ranging from an official Microsoft Advisory, to various alerts by media outlets, to forum discussions. Apparently the Indian scammers originally targetted UK residents, then moved to US then Australia. Each time when the media of the country picked up the story to expose the scam, they would move countries until the interest died down, then start again.
Fucking Indian government needs to stop their in-fighting and do something about this. They wonder why their citizens are hate-targets. Look within their country, for pete's sake! All the things that their people do to make a living and survive in their over-populated, under-developed, corrupt country. I don't blame the telemarketers. They are just trying to ensure they don't end up a statistic on the starvation or prostitution count. I blame the people who set up the companies and the Indian government.
And it's all the more frustrating that the victim countries' governments AND Microsoft can't do anything about it. Except post advisories and warnings.
Microsoft at a loss over Event Viewer scam
Windows Event Viewer phishing scam remains active
To the female Indian telemarketer who called me out on my lie: find a job that gives you some measure of self-respect and respect in general.
Update: Just found out that this scam has already hit Singapore. Google spat out various articles dating back to Mar/Apr 2011.
Update 2: Got called TWICE today. fucktards.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Walkabout
Had a vanity appointment today, and decided to go into the city early to see if I would be inspired by the sights and sounds. Took my Canon A495 instead of the Lumix FZ20. The cranes you see in the water are part of the rebuilding of CityCat (ferry) jettys after the flood we had earlier in the year. Just amazing that they got the man-made lagoon back to such pristine conditions in a short time. It's like the floods never happened. Until you look at areas that used to be bright green grassy patches, and see that they're still brown. The pics have only been resized downwards. No other touchups. Clicking on each pic will open it in a new window/tab. Which do you like?
Z..If You're Reading This...
......this is for you
There I was..doing a generic search of my name and nick in some attempt to manage online presence/reputation, and this pops up in Google search. My delicious french toast breakfast nearly landed on my poor laptop.
Oh. And. Only my Google+ profile is linked definitively to me. All the other links in the first 7 pages point to someone else who is very very prolific in her use of social media.
Z...I am now irrevocably linked to him, of all people. Kill. Me. Now.
There I was..doing a generic search of my name and nick in some attempt to manage online presence/reputation, and this pops up in Google search. My delicious french toast breakfast nearly landed on my poor laptop.
Oh. And. Only my Google+ profile is linked definitively to me. All the other links in the first 7 pages point to someone else who is very very prolific in her use of social media.
Z...I am now irrevocably linked to him, of all people. Kill. Me. Now.
Email Extravaganza. Not.
So I was clearing out my Hotmail account of all the clutter. Email notifications from goodness knows where, newsletters that I barely skim through...not quite spam, but...yeah. Clutter. Then I came across a series of Facebook-related notifications. And then that song by Jennifer Paige swam into my consciousness. You know which tune I'm talking about. The one that goes "it's just a little crush, not I like I faint everytime we touch...". Yeah. That one. Gawd. I'd forgotten how gooey I'd gotten then. Actually. Still abit mushy inside now when I think about it. HAH! Outta my league though. Wait. Since when was I ever in a league? Um. Stratosphere? Atmosphere? No blinkin' idea.
Anyway. As usual, it was all internalised and never vocalised. Classic me. One more time *siiiiiighhhhhh* Ok. I'm done now.
I had 900 unread mails sitting in the Hotmail Inbox and another 180 in the Junk folder. Guess how many I deleted? Good grief. This is one of the rare times I'm thankful for the damned Windows Live interface. Using the email client was far easier to manage mass-deletions than going through the web platform. GMail needs a similar interface. Did I mention I have 4000 unread mails in GMail? Yeah. Does that explain why I need a separate account for professional use?
Clutter clutter. Sounds familiar.
Da sista just sent me a youtube link to The Little Mermaid's Poor Unfortunate Souls in Japanese. After getting over the shock of hearing the purple octopus woman speaking Japanese, I was horrified to hear the song translated almost word for word into a different language. Problem? Music did not match the words inserted. And purple octopus woman wasn't as terrifying as in the English version. Lost in translation indeed.
Anyway, need to find the time and energy to de-clutter the GMail account. I don't even want to think about the other accounts I've maintained over the last 10yrs. zomg.
Anyway. As usual, it was all internalised and never vocalised. Classic me. One more time *siiiiiighhhhhh* Ok. I'm done now.
I had 900 unread mails sitting in the Hotmail Inbox and another 180 in the Junk folder. Guess how many I deleted? Good grief. This is one of the rare times I'm thankful for the damned Windows Live interface. Using the email client was far easier to manage mass-deletions than going through the web platform. GMail needs a similar interface. Did I mention I have 4000 unread mails in GMail? Yeah. Does that explain why I need a separate account for professional use?
Clutter clutter. Sounds familiar.
Da sista just sent me a youtube link to The Little Mermaid's Poor Unfortunate Souls in Japanese. After getting over the shock of hearing the purple octopus woman speaking Japanese, I was horrified to hear the song translated almost word for word into a different language. Problem? Music did not match the words inserted. And purple octopus woman wasn't as terrifying as in the English version. Lost in translation indeed.
Anyway, need to find the time and energy to de-clutter the GMail account. I don't even want to think about the other accounts I've maintained over the last 10yrs. zomg.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Wait. What??
STYLE CENTRAL: THE WORLD'S FASHION CAPITALS
- London
- New York
- Paris
- Milan
- Los Angeles
- Hong Kong
- Barcelona
- Singapore
- Tokyo
- Berlin
- Sydney
- Madrid
- Rome
- Shanghai
- Monaco
- Las Vegas
- Melbourne
- Moscow
- Amsterdam
- Buenos Aires
- Bali
- Mexico City
- Rio de Janeiro
- Mumbai
- Sao Paulo
Top 4 capitals listed are nothing new. The article expressed surprise that London had overtaken the others to claim number 1. But what surprised...no...shocked me is finding that Singapore is at number 8. Ahead of Tokyo, Sydney and Melbourne.
Singapore. A fashion capital. More fashionable than Tokyo. Or Sydney. And wait. WHY is Melbourne at 17 while Sydney is ranked 11?? Also, how in the world did Bali make the list?! Oh. One more thing...where's Seoul?
Healthiest Dinner Ever
Blanched in boiling water. Still crunchy. Only one problem. After finishing the whole bowl of broccoli and long beans, I had chocolate chip ice cream for dessert. Ooooops.
Sterling is Baaaaaack
Episode Synopsis: Sterling enlists the gifted grifters to pilfer a nuclear-reactor component from a skyscraper in Dubai during an international chess tournament. They must rise to the occasion—yet they might only be pawns in this intricate game. Jonathan Frakes directed the episode.
Original Air Date: Aug 28, 2011
Original Air Date: Aug 28, 2011
Much as I hate how he's the bad guy in Leverage-verse, Mark Sheppard is one brilliant character actor. Love love LOVE him! Why the hell did Warehouse 13 have to kill off Benedict Valda?? Use an artifact and bring him back already! Dammit. While on the topic of WH13, Jaime Murray is one sexy mama regardless of what she wears. Hustle sure as hell used her sultry style to maximum effect. So did Spartacus: Gods of the Arena, for that matter.
Thoughts That Fly By When Surfing the 'Net
Why the hell do people consider individuals who appear on reality television shows as "stars" or "cast members"? These people are a) attention whores, b) ratings fodder, c) voyeurs fodder, and d) would-be social lepers until MTV invented "reality tv".
Jennifer Hudson prouder of weight loss than Oscar win. Perfect example of the skewed mentality towards the female form. Worst offenders are women ourselves. Closely followed by men.
How does Isaiah Mustafa ooze sultry-ness and masculinity all at the same time?
Store milk at 3degrees Celcius to help ensure milky good freshness. And adhere to expiration date.
Why are people still trying to define "classy"? Like stereotyping, it's just a ridiculous waste of time.
Jennifer Hudson prouder of weight loss than Oscar win. Perfect example of the skewed mentality towards the female form. Worst offenders are women ourselves. Closely followed by men.
How does Isaiah Mustafa ooze sultry-ness and masculinity all at the same time?
Store milk at 3degrees Celcius to help ensure milky good freshness. And adhere to expiration date.
Why are people still trying to define "classy"? Like stereotyping, it's just a ridiculous waste of time.
I Have No Words But...
...What. The. Fuck?
Lawsuit: Mo. girl expelled for making rape claim
The article goes on to detail the incidents leading to the conviction of the perpetrator. School and school district say that they have no responsibility/liability yada yada blah blah. Won't rehash everything here. What got me is that, after the 1st incident, the girl was forced to recant her accusation and then write an apology to the animal who raped her. There's no indication what kind of disability she has that she qualifies as a special education student, so I'm not assuming that she's got Down's, ASD or GDD, but special needs indicates some form of learning impediment.
And even after the 2nd incident, the school, instead of apologising and rectifying their original position, continues to wash their hands off the whole thing. True that you have no control over what the students do...even if the act takes place on school grounds. But you are responsible for how you handle the matter, and this is a gross injustice! You expel the victim thereby telling the perp that what he did was ok, allow the girl back in the school, create a situation where her rapist had the opportunity to corner her again, subject her to further torment, continue to ignore her right to be heard properly, and suspend her again on grounds of "disrespectful conduct"! What is wrong with people?? What the hell did she do that classes as disrespectful conduct? Being helpless when faced with a stronger (presumably) normal-functioning male? Reporting the incidents to her parents and school authorities? Reporting to the police?
She's in a mainstream school, which means her cognitive abilities, while requiring particular attention to nurture, is still at a level that can comprehend and process complex information. Knowing right from wrong. Telling her that she was wrong to be raped, wrong to report it, and wrong to stand up for herself, is just...disgusting.
Lawsuit: Mo. girl expelled for making rape claim
A southwestern Missouri school district has denied accusations in a federal lawsuit that officials failed to protect a middle-school girl from being raped, calling the lawsuit "frivolous" and saying the girl "neglected to use reasonable means to protect herself."
The girl, identified as a 7th grade special education student, was raped twice during the course of two school years, according to the lawsuit filed July 5 against Republic School District in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri. The lawsuit was first reported by the Springfield News-Leader newspaper in Missouri Wednesday.
The article goes on to detail the incidents leading to the conviction of the perpetrator. School and school district say that they have no responsibility/liability yada yada blah blah. Won't rehash everything here. What got me is that, after the 1st incident, the girl was forced to recant her accusation and then write an apology to the animal who raped her. There's no indication what kind of disability she has that she qualifies as a special education student, so I'm not assuming that she's got Down's, ASD or GDD, but special needs indicates some form of learning impediment.
And even after the 2nd incident, the school, instead of apologising and rectifying their original position, continues to wash their hands off the whole thing. True that you have no control over what the students do...even if the act takes place on school grounds. But you are responsible for how you handle the matter, and this is a gross injustice! You expel the victim thereby telling the perp that what he did was ok, allow the girl back in the school, create a situation where her rapist had the opportunity to corner her again, subject her to further torment, continue to ignore her right to be heard properly, and suspend her again on grounds of "disrespectful conduct"! What is wrong with people?? What the hell did she do that classes as disrespectful conduct? Being helpless when faced with a stronger (presumably) normal-functioning male? Reporting the incidents to her parents and school authorities? Reporting to the police?
She's in a mainstream school, which means her cognitive abilities, while requiring particular attention to nurture, is still at a level that can comprehend and process complex information. Knowing right from wrong. Telling her that she was wrong to be raped, wrong to report it, and wrong to stand up for herself, is just...disgusting.
Had a Whole Post Typed Out...
......and realised: who the fuck really cares??
Definitely not these brain-eating amoebas.
Might post that piece. Maybe not. We'll see.
In the meantime, enjoy the brain-eating amoebas. Just make sure you've properly digested your meal. Regurgitated anything is never a pretty sight.
Definitely not these brain-eating amoebas.
Might post that piece. Maybe not. We'll see.
In the meantime, enjoy the brain-eating amoebas. Just make sure you've properly digested your meal. Regurgitated anything is never a pretty sight.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
So I Just Bought This...
$59 for Foils, Protein Treatment, Style Cut, Blow-Dry, GHD Finish plus Lash and Brow Makeover from Bounce Hair Body Beauty ($330 Value)
As the less recognised cousins of rabbits, hares may not be deemed as adorable, but they do exude sleek furry coats courtesy of super moisturising Protein Treatments. Keep human hair in check with today’s Groupon: $59 for a complete hair and beauty package, including a half head of foils, Keratin moisture treatment, style cut, blow-dry, GHD finish, lash tint, brow tint, brow wax and more at Bounce Hair Body Beauty, Highgate Hill ($330 value).
Highgate Hill hair institution, Bounce Hair Body Beauty, offers clients a well-balanced combo of international haircare experience with a complete hair makeover offered in this deal. Settle into comforting décor for up to two hours of pampering bliss with a luscious moisture and protein treatment, followed by a half head of foils, style cut to bring out each personality, blow-dry and glam GHD finish. Peepers are then prettied with all over preening, featuring a lash tint, brow tint and brow wax.
Bounce Hair Body Beauty brings babes and beaus of the river city back with acclaimed service and an internationally experienced edge. An indulgent jewel in convenient Highgate Hill, Bounce boasts accolades such as team member Elise Fraser’s DeLorenzo Australian Stylist of the Year. The charitable salon enchants Grouponites with a $50 voucher to use with their next service.
This is gonna be interesting...I've only ever permed my hair, and the last time I did that was 2+yrs ago. I didn't particularly enjoy sitting in the hairdresser's chair for 3hrs doing that either. Wait. The very 1st time I permed my hair, I was there for almost 5hrs. 'Cos there was a screw up with the equipment. Nothing caught fire, thank God. But it was a very very long visit. The subsequent 2 times I had the perms took about 3hrs each. Still bloddy long. But I'm overdue for a haircut anyway... might as well get it done for a bargain price and maybe change my look to something less boring.
Update: Booked myself in for 2nd Sept at 1.15pm. Am now experiencing anxiety. What...unholy torture have I just subjected my hair to?? Belatedly decided to google hair foils and highlighting procedures, and thought: this sounds worse than getting a permanent wave forced into my frickin' straight hair! zomg.
Picture perfect memories
Scattered all around the floor
Reaching for the phone 'cause
I can't fight it anymore
And I wonder if I
Ever cross your mind
For me it happens all the time
It's a quarter after one
I'm all alone
And I need you now
Said I wouldn't call
But I've lost all control
And I need you now
And I don't know how
I can do without
I just need you now
Another shot of whiskey
Can't stop looking at the door
Wishing you'd come sweeping
In the way you did before
And I wonder if I
Ever cross your mind
For me it happens all the time
It's a quarter after one
I'm a little drunk
And I need you now
Said I wouldn't call
But I've lost all control
And I need you now
And I don't know how
I can do without
I just need you now
Whoa, whoa
Guess I'd rather hurt
Than feel nothing at all
It's a quarter after one
I'm all alone
And I need you now
And I said I wouldn't call
But I'm a little drunk
And I need you now
And I don't know how
I can do without
I just need you now
I just need you now
Oh baby, I need you now
Scattered all around the floor
Reaching for the phone 'cause
I can't fight it anymore
And I wonder if I
Ever cross your mind
For me it happens all the time
It's a quarter after one
I'm all alone
And I need you now
Said I wouldn't call
But I've lost all control
And I need you now
And I don't know how
I can do without
I just need you now
Another shot of whiskey
Can't stop looking at the door
Wishing you'd come sweeping
In the way you did before
And I wonder if I
Ever cross your mind
For me it happens all the time
It's a quarter after one
I'm a little drunk
And I need you now
Said I wouldn't call
But I've lost all control
And I need you now
And I don't know how
I can do without
I just need you now
Whoa, whoa
Guess I'd rather hurt
Than feel nothing at all
It's a quarter after one
I'm all alone
And I need you now
And I said I wouldn't call
But I'm a little drunk
And I need you now
And I don't know how
I can do without
I just need you now
I just need you now
Oh baby, I need you now
Having done so long without, you'd think that I've already come to terms with everything. Gotten a grip on all the intangibles. But true to form of a female with normal hormonal cycles, some things just hit really hard in the most unexpected ways at the most inopportune times. Or maybe it's not a hormonal-female thing. Christian Kane's Thinking of You comes to mind right now...
When a new moon shines through your window,Aside from the fact that Christian Kane is hawt, he's undeniably male.
or you hear a sad song on the radio.
And you don't know why, but you just start to cry.
Or you're driving 'round on a sunny day,
and out of nowhere comes the pouring rain.
And a memory hits you right out of the blue.
It's just me, thinking of you.
So. ok. Scratch the "hormonal" thing out as being the cause of the emo. Rather, it's completely normal. Especially for someone who suppresses everything in the name of normalcy and pleasing others. Every now and then, it will just hit. And hit hard. At the same time, it's my own fault that it even has the opportunity to hit at all. I'm just a sucker for punishment. Keep opening myself up to the possibilities of getting hurt. If only I can stay away. Just leave the past back where it belongs. Put everything behind. No more "what ifs" or "if onlys" or "if evers". Then the pain will stop. But...as Lady Antebellum puts it, I'd rather hurt than feel nothing at all.
Rebecca Kirsch gave Gina Bellman a really good line in "The Grave Danger Job". This life is not worth living without the people that make us want to tear down those walls [that we've erected before]. The thrill of vulnerability, the danger of opening your heart......it makes us feel alive.
On the up side, I've never called out of weakness, fatigue, or drunken-ness.
All The Right Moves
I blame this on da sista.
This is very Phantom of the Opera meets Eyes Wide Shut meets Oliver Twist. And am so. hooked. on. the song.
This is very Phantom of the Opera meets Eyes Wide Shut meets Oliver Twist. And am so. hooked. on. the song.
For Da Sista
Watch this only after you've watched the ep. Rebecca Kirsch is the one that John Rogers used to refer to as "Filthy Assistant" in his post-games. Haha!
Man!! This ep really did me in.
The other production video blogs can be found here:
http://www.tnt.tv/dramavision/?cid=44279
Production Video Blog for "The Grave Danger Job"
Man!! This ep really did me in.
The other production video blogs can be found here:
http://www.tnt.tv/dramavision/?cid=44279
Production Video Blog for "The Grave Danger Job"
Need You Now
Ever since I saw the performance by Lea Michele and Mark Salling on Glee, the song has been surfacing in my head every now and then. Mostly when I'm feeling emo.
This one is a mash up of live performances and clips from the official MTV
If only......
This one is a mash up of live performances and clips from the official MTV
If only......
One of Those Nights...
......where you feel like breaking down and giving up. But you have to carry on. And ask yourself: what did you expect? Hearts and flowers and happy ever after? Life doesn't work that way. You know better. Keep the fantasies to things that, cognitively, you know will never happen, rather than provide any form of nurturing to the slightly-tangibles. Seriously. Just keep reminding yourself of the impossibilities, and you will pull through this. Like everything else, it will pass. Forget the pacts. The promises. The "if ever we..." And the subtexts. Focus on the words that are actually repeated. Hold on to them and ride them to safety. If ever there is a time to act on your head instead of your heart. It is now.
Einstein's (or Rita Mae Brown's) definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
Einstein's (or Rita Mae Brown's) definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Will Designers NEVER Learn?
Jumpsuits are for babies and toddlers. NOT for adults. Even if you have no curves or are short or both. I don't care if the Queen of England designed it in collaboration with the Queens of Jordan and Denmark with Princess Diana's input via a seance, and under the combined banner of Alexander McQueen, Dior, YSL, Chanel, Prada and Oscar de La Renta. You frickin' do not put a woman into a jumpsuit.
This...This....and again THIS!!!
Stop Coddling the Super-Rich
Back in the 1980s and 1990s, tax rates for the rich were far higher, and my percentage rate was in the middle of the pack. According to a theory I sometimes hear, I should have thrown a fit and refused to invest because of the elevated tax rates on capital gains and dividends.
I didn’t refuse, nor did others. I have worked with investors for 60 years and I have yet to see anyone — not even when capital gains rates were 39.9 percent in 1976-77 — shy away from a sensible investment because of the tax rate on the potential gain. People invest to make money, and potential taxes have never scared them off. And to those who argue that higher rates hurt job creation, I would note that a net of nearly 40 million jobs were added between 1980 and 2000. You know what’s happened since then: lower tax rates and far lower job creation.Now my question is: why aren't more gazillion-aires supporting Warren Buffett in his stand?
Cynical me: 'cos they're greedy and are secretly plotting to bring down Warren Buffett for his betrayal. *duh*
Optimistic me: 'cos they are quietly agreeing with him and gave him their approval prior to his speaking out.
Apathetic me: I don't give a damn. Ask me again when I will be impacted.
Frick. Governments around the world need to stop pandering to and molly-coddling the rich. The incomes of the middle classes (lower-middle, middle, upper-middle...the whole frickin' middle class dammit) combined outrank that of the rich/super-rich.
Funny. Only during election years do governments "pay attention" to the grassroots. That's another thing. I don't understand why you call the general public "grassroots". I mean. I get what you're trying to connote, but can't you think of a more edifying word?? Like say salt of...the.......earth. No. Ok. How about the people who matter....most. Too long. Um. Lemme think about it.
In any case, kudos to Warren Buffett for voicing what countless middle-class people have been saying. I just hope more of the Million/Billionaire Club will do the decent thing.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Of BP and Marriage
For every annoyance that comes to mind, there are at least 2 other instances of him doing something really sweet...if I stop being annoyed and think about it. The question then becomes: do I (or rather, am I able to) allow the tender actions outweigh the annoyances? Both aspects are a part of him. When I'm calm, the memories of unexpected gestures cause a conflict if I think about breaking it off. But when I'm annoyed, my resolve is firm.
Can I live with a person who I alternately care about and have little respect for? Little respect...not disrespect. I don't disrespect him. I just...don't have much faith and trust in him to be able to be an equal and not another person that I end up looking out for or taking care of. And based on his past relationships with others and with me, there is actually some measure of insecurity for me. 'Cos when he loves a woman (or maybe when he believes he loves a woman), he will be completely devoted to her, placing her and her family second to his own family (hey. any person who places another family ahead of their own is scum to me...unless there's a damned excellent reason), and doing whatever he can to support her dreams and ambitions. BUT when things aren't going well, he is one of the most vicious and vindictive people I know. He won't tear you down, but attack what he believes you intrinsically value. And he has an uncanny ability to ferret out whatever that is. Don't know if he's aware he's doing it, but he does do it.
I think about my walls being up and being very guarded these days with sharing what I feel with people. His defenses are one of those super high-tech ninja-like fortresses that are sunk into the ground during good times lulling everyone that visits into a (false) sense of security, and snaps up in a split second when he feels something is not to his liking. And embedded into the wall are elite snipers and archers ála the Elven folk in Tolkien's Lord of the Rings saga...pointing their weapons at whatever perceived intruder/marauder/person-he-feels-is-attacking-his-perfect-world.
Do I marry him just to give him what he wants and so I don't feel guilty for agreeing to give the relationship a second chance, all the while preparing for the eventuality of divorce? Not to mention the fact that everyone is getting married these days. Must be a fun endeavour. Get married just to own a flat and live together forever without wanting children. Fucking. Kill. Me. Now.
That's another thing. I don't understand why the frick people are keen to get married and not plan to have kids. Or rather, do things to prevent themselves from falling pregnant and say to their friends that they have no intentions of having children. Then...why get married?? My cliqué of friends from primary and secondary school are all married. Varying from 2 to 5 years of marriage. And still no kids. No plan to have kids (as far as I know). Then..there are ex-classmates/schoolmates who got married and had a succession of children. Good for them. But this is not about them.
Maybe I'm too "westernised" in my thinking. Or rather, forgetting the cultural taboos that still exist in SG. Co-habiting is still not the done thing in SG. And maybe many couples decide to get married 'cos they want to live together and copulate without censure.
I...have a better solution. Move to a "western" country. Get out of your comfort zone and start a new life in a new country, and you have all the privacy you want without the ties of marriage. Mind you, I'm "recommending" this to people who have no intentions of having biological children. If you want children with your current partner, I do believe you should get married. Assuming it's a functional and loving relationship, it will provide the children with stability and a strong foundation for role modelling. Getting married just for the sake of it is like telling people "I love this man/woman so much that I want to possess him/her and make sure the world knows he/she belongs to me...and I'm conforming to social conventions by having sex within the sanctity of my marriage vows".
If you are unable to have children, that's a different story altogether. It's those that are unwilling to procreate that I want to ask: why the need to go through all that expense to have a legal document stating that any relationship outside of this one is grounds for punishment?
OK. How the bloomin' heck did I wander into the minefield of marriage???
Anyway...BP. Relationship question mark. I'm a basket case.
In trying to think of a suitable title for this post, the phrase "of mice and men" came up. Couldn't for the life of me remember the author of the book (John Steinbeck. *duh*) so I went googling. And in the wiki entry, there is an excerpt from John Steinbeck's journal
So who do I see an everlasting future with? Um. That's...my secret. Have a great day/night, wherever in the world you are.
Can I live with a person who I alternately care about and have little respect for? Little respect...not disrespect. I don't disrespect him. I just...don't have much faith and trust in him to be able to be an equal and not another person that I end up looking out for or taking care of. And based on his past relationships with others and with me, there is actually some measure of insecurity for me. 'Cos when he loves a woman (or maybe when he believes he loves a woman), he will be completely devoted to her, placing her and her family second to his own family (hey. any person who places another family ahead of their own is scum to me...unless there's a damned excellent reason), and doing whatever he can to support her dreams and ambitions. BUT when things aren't going well, he is one of the most vicious and vindictive people I know. He won't tear you down, but attack what he believes you intrinsically value. And he has an uncanny ability to ferret out whatever that is. Don't know if he's aware he's doing it, but he does do it.
I think about my walls being up and being very guarded these days with sharing what I feel with people. His defenses are one of those super high-tech ninja-like fortresses that are sunk into the ground during good times lulling everyone that visits into a (false) sense of security, and snaps up in a split second when he feels something is not to his liking. And embedded into the wall are elite snipers and archers ála the Elven folk in Tolkien's Lord of the Rings saga...pointing their weapons at whatever perceived intruder/marauder/person-he-feels-is-attacking-his-perfect-world.
Do I marry him just to give him what he wants and so I don't feel guilty for agreeing to give the relationship a second chance, all the while preparing for the eventuality of divorce? Not to mention the fact that everyone is getting married these days. Must be a fun endeavour. Get married just to own a flat and live together forever without wanting children. Fucking. Kill. Me. Now.
That's another thing. I don't understand why the frick people are keen to get married and not plan to have kids. Or rather, do things to prevent themselves from falling pregnant and say to their friends that they have no intentions of having children. Then...why get married?? My cliqué of friends from primary and secondary school are all married. Varying from 2 to 5 years of marriage. And still no kids. No plan to have kids (as far as I know). Then..there are ex-classmates/schoolmates who got married and had a succession of children. Good for them. But this is not about them.
Maybe I'm too "westernised" in my thinking. Or rather, forgetting the cultural taboos that still exist in SG. Co-habiting is still not the done thing in SG. And maybe many couples decide to get married 'cos they want to live together and copulate without censure.
I...have a better solution. Move to a "western" country. Get out of your comfort zone and start a new life in a new country, and you have all the privacy you want without the ties of marriage. Mind you, I'm "recommending" this to people who have no intentions of having biological children. If you want children with your current partner, I do believe you should get married. Assuming it's a functional and loving relationship, it will provide the children with stability and a strong foundation for role modelling. Getting married just for the sake of it is like telling people "I love this man/woman so much that I want to possess him/her and make sure the world knows he/she belongs to me...and I'm conforming to social conventions by having sex within the sanctity of my marriage vows".
If you are unable to have children, that's a different story altogether. It's those that are unwilling to procreate that I want to ask: why the need to go through all that expense to have a legal document stating that any relationship outside of this one is grounds for punishment?
OK. How the bloomin' heck did I wander into the minefield of marriage???
Anyway...BP. Relationship question mark. I'm a basket case.
In trying to think of a suitable title for this post, the phrase "of mice and men" came up. Couldn't for the life of me remember the author of the book (John Steinbeck. *duh*) so I went googling. And in the wiki entry, there is an excerpt from John Steinbeck's journal
In every bit of honest writing in the world there is a base theme. Try to understand men, if you understand each other you will be kind to each other. Knowing a man well never leads to hate and nearly always leads to love. There are shorter means, many of them. There is writing promoting social change, writing punishing injustice, writing in celebration of heroism, but always that base theme. Try to understand each other.What resonated with me are the second and third sentences. I love BP because I understand him. At the same time, it's because of this understanding that I can't see him as the father of my children, much less envision an everlasting future for us.
— John Steinbeck in his 1938 journal entry
So who do I see an everlasting future with? Um. That's...my secret. Have a great day/night, wherever in the world you are.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Comfort Food
Cooked up a batch of Spaghetti Bolognaise (Bolognese?? How the heck do you spell it?!) and it's ohhhh so good. Haven't had it in quite awhile now. For the life of me, I have no idea WHY I didn't cook it sooner. I'd forgotten just how much I love the blend of flavours from using oregano, thyme, coriander, sweet paprika, black pepper, beef, mushrooms, onions, garlic and tomato paste. And there's just something about oregano that ALWAYS makes me start salivating and feeling hungry.You'd think it was poppy and I'm a heroin addict, the way I smother my Italian-inspired dishes with the herb. Sure, I'll throw in a good dose of thyme, rosemary and other herbs. But somehow, oregano gets a double shake. And I just had a horrible realisation. I left out Bay Leaf from my Bolognaise! THAT explains why it tastes slightly off.
Anyway...oregano. Love it! And my dinner was still bloddy good.
I had it with Angel Hair Pasta instead of normal Spaghetti pasta. Angel Hair cooks alot faster, and I was hungry (which explains why there's no pic of the dished up serving). Started prep at 6pm, so it was ready to eat only at 7.30pm. Chopping, dicing, mincing the garlic, onions and mushrooms. Sauteing onions, garlic and herbs, cooking off beef mince, simmering to render fat, draining fat, pouring in tomato paste and mushrooms, simmer, stirring occasionally, simmer somemore while pasta cooks. Yeah. 1.5hrs from the time I picked up the knife till I sat down to eat. Guess that's why I didn't cook it sooner. Cooking proper meals for one can be such a chore sometimes. On the up-side, when I do cook quasi-elaborate dishes, I usually make enough to either freeze or refrigerate for at least 2 more serves.
Now to wash up and scoop myself some Bulla Creamy Classics Rich Chocolate Chip ice cream. To be enjoyed with a steaming hot cup of strong tea.
Anyway...oregano. Love it! And my dinner was still bloddy good.
I had it with Angel Hair Pasta instead of normal Spaghetti pasta. Angel Hair cooks alot faster, and I was hungry (which explains why there's no pic of the dished up serving). Started prep at 6pm, so it was ready to eat only at 7.30pm. Chopping, dicing, mincing the garlic, onions and mushrooms. Sauteing onions, garlic and herbs, cooking off beef mince, simmering to render fat, draining fat, pouring in tomato paste and mushrooms, simmer, stirring occasionally, simmer somemore while pasta cooks. Yeah. 1.5hrs from the time I picked up the knife till I sat down to eat. Guess that's why I didn't cook it sooner. Cooking proper meals for one can be such a chore sometimes. On the up-side, when I do cook quasi-elaborate dishes, I usually make enough to either freeze or refrigerate for at least 2 more serves.
Now to wash up and scoop myself some Bulla Creamy Classics Rich Chocolate Chip ice cream. To be enjoyed with a steaming hot cup of strong tea.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Oh Yeah Baybeh!!
'Leverage' Renewed for Fifth Season
“While many shows decline in their second, third or fourth seasons, Leverage has defied the odds and continued to climb,” said Michael Wright, executive vp and head of programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies.
'Warehouse 13' renewed for fourth season
“Under executive producer Jack Kenny’s leadership, this superlative team of writers, cast, and crew continue to turn out a series that only gets better and better with every episode,” said Syfy president of original content Mark Stern. “Warehouse 13 is deservedly the most popular series in our history and we’re delighted to renew it for a fourth season.”
“While many shows decline in their second, third or fourth seasons, Leverage has defied the odds and continued to climb,” said Michael Wright, executive vp and head of programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies.
'Warehouse 13' renewed for fourth season
“Under executive producer Jack Kenny’s leadership, this superlative team of writers, cast, and crew continue to turn out a series that only gets better and better with every episode,” said Syfy president of original content Mark Stern. “Warehouse 13 is deservedly the most popular series in our history and we’re delighted to renew it for a fourth season.”
Friday, August 12, 2011
Inspired by Boredom
So I decided to grunge up these outfits that my sister said "eeeeyeewww!!" when she first saw them. Going so far as to say that she hates the peach crochet chiffon dress (but I like it! so there...).
Basic Suit Dress Faux 2-Piece Peplum Crochet Chiffon Dress
Ankle boots from KMart. LOVE them. Makes me feel taller. If only I could walk down slopes in them without feeling like I'm going to topple over. At 4" high, they are the highest heels I own. EXCELLENT workout for calves and thighs though. No wonder all the celebrities have beautiful legs. From A-list to ZZ-listers. Totter around all day in sky-scraping heels, and you're bound to train up those muscles without ever having to hit the gym. Of course, this is ignoring the fact that your knees will hate you. But. The price one pays for beauty. Or vanity.
On a side note, I'm starting to think I need to get a tripod. Or get my siblings to bring the one I have in SG over here when they visit. Hmmm...
Ankle boots from KMart. LOVE them. Makes me feel taller. If only I could walk down slopes in them without feeling like I'm going to topple over. At 4" high, they are the highest heels I own. EXCELLENT workout for calves and thighs though. No wonder all the celebrities have beautiful legs. From A-list to ZZ-listers. Totter around all day in sky-scraping heels, and you're bound to train up those muscles without ever having to hit the gym. Of course, this is ignoring the fact that your knees will hate you. But. The price one pays for beauty. Or vanity.
On a side note, I'm starting to think I need to get a tripod. Or get my siblings to bring the one I have in SG over here when they visit. Hmmm...
Leverage Vids
Sneak Preview of The Boiler Room Job
Market correction...
I have never heard of the Leverage team described quite that way before...
Series of pics and vids posted by John Rogers, Beth Riesgraf and Timothy Hutton from the season 4 finale.
Yes. I love this show. shaddap.
Market correction...
I have never heard of the Leverage team described quite that way before...
Series of pics and vids posted by John Rogers, Beth Riesgraf and Timothy Hutton from the season 4 finale.
 |
| Jessi Graff. Not Beth. 'Cos Parker's about to do something mad... and insurance ain't covering Beth if she does it. |
Thursday, August 11, 2011
The Purpose of Politics is to What Now??
The Onion published a story on...actually. I have no idea what the story really is about. All I got out of it was that the Republicans sole reason for existance is to make President Obama's life hell and cause him to lose 4 years (or 8 years, if he gets re-elected) of his daughters' lives. Whatever happened to making a country a better place? Whatever happened to working for your contituency? When did politics degenerate to become so overtly evil? note: I'm not saying that politics was never evil. And more importantly, what is wrong with these Republicans that they are able to spew such poison against another human being? Has ideology become so important to them that fundamental human courtesy and decency have fled their psyche and vocabulary?
The article is called "New GOP Strategy Involves Reelecting Obama, Making His Life Even More Miserable" and assuming The Onion is a reliable media outlet, this is just disturbing to know.
"If you look at what we've accomplished as a party in the last four years—making President Obama lose his temper on multiple occasions and even causing him to storm out of a meeting in frustration—it doesn't make sense for us to throw all that away, not when we could do so much more," House Majority Leader Eric Cantor said. "If by being impossible to work with we are able to make the president physically shake with frustration during every single meeting, give him the nervous tick of mumbling angrily under his breath, tarnish his entire legacy, and in the process completely destroy his faith in humanity, then we've succeeded as lawmakers."
"If you thought this debt ceiling thing was bad, wait till you see how unbearable we are when it comes time for the Bush tax cuts to expire," Cantor added. "We are going to pummel this man over and over and over until he regrets ever getting into politics."
How far we've fallen from the days of Abraham Lincoln and the declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man. "All men are born free and equal, in dignity and in rights, and, being endowed by nature with reason and conscience, they should conduct themselvesas brothers one to another"pffffft.
The article is called "New GOP Strategy Involves Reelecting Obama, Making His Life Even More Miserable" and assuming The Onion is a reliable media outlet, this is just disturbing to know.
"If you look at what we've accomplished as a party in the last four years—making President Obama lose his temper on multiple occasions and even causing him to storm out of a meeting in frustration—it doesn't make sense for us to throw all that away, not when we could do so much more," House Majority Leader Eric Cantor said. "If by being impossible to work with we are able to make the president physically shake with frustration during every single meeting, give him the nervous tick of mumbling angrily under his breath, tarnish his entire legacy, and in the process completely destroy his faith in humanity, then we've succeeded as lawmakers."
"If you thought this debt ceiling thing was bad, wait till you see how unbearable we are when it comes time for the Bush tax cuts to expire," Cantor added. "We are going to pummel this man over and over and over until he regrets ever getting into politics."
How far we've fallen from the days of Abraham Lincoln and the declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man. "All men are born free and equal, in dignity and in rights, and, being endowed by nature with reason and conscience, they should conduct themselvesas brothers one to another"pffffft.
From Beth Riesgraf's Twitter Feed
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| Beth Riesgraf & her stunt double on Leverage, Jessie Graff |
Although...I've been eyeing this one for quite sometime now...
I don't know. Anyway. According to da sista, da dress looks confused. But I still like it. I might unpick the sleeves. What do you think?
update: they've sold out in my size. oh well. heheh... =)
update 2: Nadine Haders, costumer extraordinaire of Leverage, said that Beth's dress is from BeBe. Can't find it though... =/
One of Those Days...
...where you read/hear something that makes you go: when the f*** will you learn that you're not that special? it's not you that causes the laughter and joy. when will you learn to just put your head down, do what you need to do, and ignore all base instincts? in spite of all that's been said...no wait. after all that's been said, it's just words. empty, meaningless words. there's nothing serious, nothing from the heart, nothing that will be remembered 5s after the convo ends.
In the words of many Australians, f***ing get over yourself. You're not all that.
I need to learn. Block out. Follow my head and ignore my heart. Plenty of others when I'm not around. It's me that's surrounded by solitude. F***ing stop thinking that my company is something to look forward to or enjoy.
Mantra for the day: bloddy hell get over yourself.
In the words of many Australians, f***ing get over yourself. You're not all that.
I need to learn. Block out. Follow my head and ignore my heart. Plenty of others when I'm not around. It's me that's surrounded by solitude. F***ing stop thinking that my company is something to look forward to or enjoy.
Mantra for the day: bloddy hell get over yourself.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Fleshing Out
Intrigued by my "ha!" in the previous post? Well. Here we go.
Warning: This is a rant post.
My absolute peeve when online shopping: Scrawny, stick thin, bony models. The frickin' plastic mannequin has more curves than the human mannequin.
What's the point of a model? To show how the outfit will drape on a human body with soft flesh curving in all the womanly areas. I'm not talking bloddy garzongas like Ice-T's wife Coco or Katie Price. I'm talking God-given curves. This is online shopping. Not a runway in Milan, Paris, New York, or even Melbourne. If your customer doesn't know how the dress/top/pants/skirt/jacket will look like over curves, even with PTP measurements that are exact and unchanging, you are going to have not-so-satisfied or downright unhappy customers. (Unless all your customers are stick figures like your model.) Which means you will be extra busy fielding returns/exchange requests.
If you think that all Asians are naturally thin and have no curves to speak about, so it's ok to have teeny tiny humans display your clothes, I say to you: wake up and really look around. And if you think that draping your clothes on a human hanger is good for business, then why not just drape it on a sturdy good quality coat hanger? The broadness of a strong wooden coat hanger is probably about the same as the width of your human one. It's disturbing when a dress looks stunning on the human model but ugly on the mannequin. How is the customer supposed to decide if the outfit will look good on her or not?
Example:
Mind you, this is only an example. There are countless other instances of this happening. This is NOT to say that all stick thin models always make an outfit look good.
Example:
vs
Same dress. Both models equally stick thin. Lighting and styling made a world of difference. But to me, you can't escape the fact that the outfit would look better on someone with meat on their bones and more discernible curves. I mean, the big fashion houses are slowly moving away from underweight models. Why do online shops persist in believing that thin will show off clothes to their best advantage?
Okok. I know designers still create clothes for borderline anorexic people to parade on the catwalk. But at the end of the day, with those designers, you can walk into a physical shop and try on the outfit before forking out $$$. And chances are, if one can afford the ridiculous prices, one can afford to eat organic food and go for slimming wraps (not that I think slimming spas work).
With online shops, they usually allow exchange for sizes, some allow returns for store credits, but I don't think any online retailer operates like a bricks and mortar shop and allow full refunds. So if you want to keep your customers completely happy, shouldn't you do whatever you can to make the decision process less fraught with uncertainty?
Providing accurate PTP measurements is just one part of it. A huge step forward compared to past practices, but still just one part. You must recognise that, otherwise you would just have plastic mannequins as models for your clothes. Since you are aware that customers want to see the garments on a real human, why would you pick the model who best resembles a coat hanger to showcase your collections? This is not haute coutre. This is casual or work wear. Women of all shapes and sizes are gonna be wearing these articles of clothing. Your customers shop online because it's a hassle shop-hopping for suitable clothes that are reasonably priced. Subconsciously attacking their self-esteem and subtly making the shopping process more brain-draining is not a good way to keep them coming back. Most women do NOT have measurements of 32-24-34.
And another thing. Why the fricking hell do some sites think that a skirt that only reaches 1/3 to 1/2 way down the thigh is acceptable for corporate/executive workplaces? My question is: what industry are you targetting? Or better yet, who is your targetted clientele? PR Executives? It's fine if you label the outfit as suitable for parties or cocktail functions. But the fact that you market your clothes to "executives" makes me wonder what's gone wrong. Just because the dress is of very good quality material doesn't mean it's automatically suitable for corporate environments.
Example:
Just in case my dear reader is thinking: but she's tall! of course the dress would be short on her. According to the site, the model is wearing a size S which is 77.5cm long. Size L is just 85cm long. Which will be a little short even for my vertically-challenged ass. AND the name of the dress is? The Corporate Dress. WHO the f*** wears this to a corporate work environment?! Throw on a sharp black blazer, and it's STILL inappropriate work attire. Did I miss something in the latest handbook on dressing for success? Oh wait. Does "success" mean something different now?
In spite of the propagation of "thin is ideal", I still love online shopping. But only at sites that carry clothes in normal sizes. Marilyn Monroe would have to wear XXL based on the sizing of some these websites.
Warning: This is a rant post.
My absolute peeve when online shopping: Scrawny, stick thin, bony models. The frickin' plastic mannequin has more curves than the human mannequin.
What's the point of a model? To show how the outfit will drape on a human body with soft flesh curving in all the womanly areas. I'm not talking bloddy garzongas like Ice-T's wife Coco or Katie Price. I'm talking God-given curves. This is online shopping. Not a runway in Milan, Paris, New York, or even Melbourne. If your customer doesn't know how the dress/top/pants/skirt/jacket will look like over curves, even with PTP measurements that are exact and unchanging, you are going to have not-so-satisfied or downright unhappy customers. (Unless all your customers are stick figures like your model.) Which means you will be extra busy fielding returns/exchange requests.
If you think that all Asians are naturally thin and have no curves to speak about, so it's ok to have teeny tiny humans display your clothes, I say to you: wake up and really look around. And if you think that draping your clothes on a human hanger is good for business, then why not just drape it on a sturdy good quality coat hanger? The broadness of a strong wooden coat hanger is probably about the same as the width of your human one. It's disturbing when a dress looks stunning on the human model but ugly on the mannequin. How is the customer supposed to decide if the outfit will look good on her or not?
Example:
Mind you, this is only an example. There are countless other instances of this happening. This is NOT to say that all stick thin models always make an outfit look good.
Example:
Same dress. Both models equally stick thin. Lighting and styling made a world of difference. But to me, you can't escape the fact that the outfit would look better on someone with meat on their bones and more discernible curves. I mean, the big fashion houses are slowly moving away from underweight models. Why do online shops persist in believing that thin will show off clothes to their best advantage?
Okok. I know designers still create clothes for borderline anorexic people to parade on the catwalk. But at the end of the day, with those designers, you can walk into a physical shop and try on the outfit before forking out $$$. And chances are, if one can afford the ridiculous prices, one can afford to eat organic food and go for slimming wraps (not that I think slimming spas work).
With online shops, they usually allow exchange for sizes, some allow returns for store credits, but I don't think any online retailer operates like a bricks and mortar shop and allow full refunds. So if you want to keep your customers completely happy, shouldn't you do whatever you can to make the decision process less fraught with uncertainty?
Providing accurate PTP measurements is just one part of it. A huge step forward compared to past practices, but still just one part. You must recognise that, otherwise you would just have plastic mannequins as models for your clothes. Since you are aware that customers want to see the garments on a real human, why would you pick the model who best resembles a coat hanger to showcase your collections? This is not haute coutre. This is casual or work wear. Women of all shapes and sizes are gonna be wearing these articles of clothing. Your customers shop online because it's a hassle shop-hopping for suitable clothes that are reasonably priced. Subconsciously attacking their self-esteem and subtly making the shopping process more brain-draining is not a good way to keep them coming back. Most women do NOT have measurements of 32-24-34.
And another thing. Why the fricking hell do some sites think that a skirt that only reaches 1/3 to 1/2 way down the thigh is acceptable for corporate/executive workplaces? My question is: what industry are you targetting? Or better yet, who is your targetted clientele? PR Executives? It's fine if you label the outfit as suitable for parties or cocktail functions. But the fact that you market your clothes to "executives" makes me wonder what's gone wrong. Just because the dress is of very good quality material doesn't mean it's automatically suitable for corporate environments.
Example:
In spite of the propagation of "thin is ideal", I still love online shopping. But only at sites that carry clothes in normal sizes. Marilyn Monroe would have to wear XXL based on the sizing of some these websites.
After YEARS of Online Shopping, I Present to You...the Inaugural Review
So. Anyone who knows me would know that I'm completely comfortable with online shopping. Been doing it for more than 10yrs. What I've never done is reviewed stuff that I've bought. It's always been a private bitching/raving session with my nearest and dearest and that's it. But now I have a perfect excuse to post my ugly mug online.
The site at the heart of this review is Ministry of Retail. They have something called "Be an Ambassador" and what this basically means is that they get word of mouth publicity, clothes modelled by real women, other shoppers get an idea of how a piece of clothing or accessory will look in real life without professional photography and lighting, while the real woman gets a 10% discount off the next purchase. Do I sound cynical? No no. I'm not. I completely understand the cut-throat competitive retail industry made worse by global and virtual economy. And anything that helps me make that tempting article of clothing become a reality in my wardrobe is always a good thing. My cynicism is related to something else that will be fleshed out (ha!) in another post. This post is strictly about the Lady Audrey Dress that I bought in 2 colours (does that mean I get two 10% vouchers? hmmm).
Shopping on the site is easy. Like most sites, you click on a link, it takes you to the page of interest, if there are options for an item, they appear in a drop-down menu. And if you want to add the item to your cart, just click on the "Add to Cart"icon at the top right-hand corner. They offer free returns/exchanges (within reason, of course) and will ship to anywhere in the world that SingPost covers. What is interesting (for me, anyway), is the delivery system. After you've ordered your desired pieces, it will take 14 business days from the day they process your order (i.e. after you've paid) before they ship out the clothes. So depending on where in the world you are, it could take 3 to 6 weeks from the day you order to the day you receive the package. It's all stated on the site...if you're in a hurry for an outfit, don't order from them...or order well in advance. 'Cos even if you're living in SG, it will take at least 14 working days before you are able to go "ahhhhhh...so prettttyyy" (to the item you ordered. not to Ministry of Retail. hello. seriously). So anyway, it took just over 3 weeks for my order to be delivered to me in Australia.
The Lady Audrey Dress comes in Apricot and Black. Don't ask me why they called it Apricot when it's really a muted beige. Maybe it just sounds better...even though it's completely off the mark. Apricot. Anyone seen an Apricot fruit before? Even the dried ones don't have the colour of the Lady Audrey dress. But I digress.
Apricot and Black. Yes. The 2 staple colours any woman should be happy to have in her professional wardrobe. Why? 'Cos they are functional, inoffensive, and lets you demonstrate your brain instead of competing for attention. Navy, White/Cream/Apricot(!!), Black and Red are 4 colours that should always occupy some space in a woman's closet.
The dresses come as you see in the photos. One piece. Long sleeved with 3 non-functional buttons on each cuff. Slight pleating at each side of the dress. Sans any other adornment.
I got size L, which at 88cm (34.6") long falls at knee-length for me (perfect!!), although the sleeves might need shortening 'cos I've got shorter arms. The webpage for the dress states all the necessary measurements for each size, so I won't go into detail. Overall, a rather corporate-evironment appropriate attire (assuming you are around my height of 152cm i.e. 5ft). The material is made up of 65% Cotton and 35% Polyester, and is actually quite thick. It's not lined, but given the thickness of the cloth, it doesn't really need lining. The Apricot is not sheer at all, so don't worry about bright lights.
I like the dress. It's simple, feminine (yes. I did use that word), and you can accessorise however you want. Thin belt, thick belt, chain belt, brooch, opera-length necklace, blazer with statement buttons, or just wear it as it is. If you are no taller than 155cm (5ft 1"), this will be a great work dress. If you are blessed with height, you should check your company's dress guide to see if this is appropriate.
The site at the heart of this review is Ministry of Retail. They have something called "Be an Ambassador" and what this basically means is that they get word of mouth publicity, clothes modelled by real women, other shoppers get an idea of how a piece of clothing or accessory will look in real life without professional photography and lighting, while the real woman gets a 10% discount off the next purchase. Do I sound cynical? No no. I'm not. I completely understand the cut-throat competitive retail industry made worse by global and virtual economy. And anything that helps me make that tempting article of clothing become a reality in my wardrobe is always a good thing. My cynicism is related to something else that will be fleshed out (ha!) in another post. This post is strictly about the Lady Audrey Dress that I bought in 2 colours (does that mean I get two 10% vouchers? hmmm).
Shopping on the site is easy. Like most sites, you click on a link, it takes you to the page of interest, if there are options for an item, they appear in a drop-down menu. And if you want to add the item to your cart, just click on the "Add to Cart"icon at the top right-hand corner. They offer free returns/exchanges (within reason, of course) and will ship to anywhere in the world that SingPost covers. What is interesting (for me, anyway), is the delivery system. After you've ordered your desired pieces, it will take 14 business days from the day they process your order (i.e. after you've paid) before they ship out the clothes. So depending on where in the world you are, it could take 3 to 6 weeks from the day you order to the day you receive the package. It's all stated on the site...if you're in a hurry for an outfit, don't order from them...or order well in advance. 'Cos even if you're living in SG, it will take at least 14 working days before you are able to go "ahhhhhh...so prettttyyy" (to the item you ordered. not to Ministry of Retail. hello. seriously). So anyway, it took just over 3 weeks for my order to be delivered to me in Australia.
The Lady Audrey Dress comes in Apricot and Black. Don't ask me why they called it Apricot when it's really a muted beige. Maybe it just sounds better...even though it's completely off the mark. Apricot. Anyone seen an Apricot fruit before? Even the dried ones don't have the colour of the Lady Audrey dress. But I digress.
Apricot and Black. Yes. The 2 staple colours any woman should be happy to have in her professional wardrobe. Why? 'Cos they are functional, inoffensive, and lets you demonstrate your brain instead of competing for attention. Navy, White/Cream/Apricot(!!), Black and Red are 4 colours that should always occupy some space in a woman's closet.
Apricot Black
The dresses come as you see in the photos. One piece. Long sleeved with 3 non-functional buttons on each cuff. Slight pleating at each side of the dress. Sans any other adornment.
I got size L, which at 88cm (34.6") long falls at knee-length for me (perfect!!), although the sleeves might need shortening 'cos I've got shorter arms. The webpage for the dress states all the necessary measurements for each size, so I won't go into detail. Overall, a rather corporate-evironment appropriate attire (assuming you are around my height of 152cm i.e. 5ft). The material is made up of 65% Cotton and 35% Polyester, and is actually quite thick. It's not lined, but given the thickness of the cloth, it doesn't really need lining. The Apricot is not sheer at all, so don't worry about bright lights.
I like the dress. It's simple, feminine (yes. I did use that word), and you can accessorise however you want. Thin belt, thick belt, chain belt, brooch, opera-length necklace, blazer with statement buttons, or just wear it as it is. If you are no taller than 155cm (5ft 1"), this will be a great work dress. If you are blessed with height, you should check your company's dress guide to see if this is appropriate.
Friday, August 5, 2011
If Only This Really Worked...
Jeri Ryan's Twitter and Google+ accounts are a goldmine for these random things...HA!
The magic button — Make Everything OK
The magic button — Make Everything OK
New Beginnings
Finally got inspired by Z to start blogging again. If anything else, it's a place to vent, reflect, complain, praise, track etc without boring people to death. With the internet, if you don't like what you're seeing/reading, click the X button in the topmost right corner. Just mosey along and you won't be offended by my opinions.
As I finally get my ass into high-gear and prepare to submit the damned thesis, I'm thinking that it's time for some major housekeeping too. And I'm not just talking about my room. Talking about relationships, friendships, and career pathways. Enough of the deadweights. My only problem is being too soft-hearted with BP. But then. You'd think that he would by now be classifying me as horribly horrendous and NON-gf material. I can only hope. I ain't marrying him even if my parents suddenly approve of him. And if marriage isn't on the cards, what's the point in carrying on with the relationship?
Anyway...What to expect from this blog? If you've read my previous ones (nope. you can't find them anymore unless you're family or a long-time [read: since pri/sec sch] friend), it'll be pretty much the same. Ramblings, opinions, rantings, photos, gushings...well. Basically anything that strikes my fancy at that point in time. I promise to keep negativity to a minimum, or at the very least, temper negativity with some hint of a rainbow somewhere.
As I finally get my ass into high-gear and prepare to submit the damned thesis, I'm thinking that it's time for some major housekeeping too. And I'm not just talking about my room. Talking about relationships, friendships, and career pathways. Enough of the deadweights. My only problem is being too soft-hearted with BP. But then. You'd think that he would by now be classifying me as horribly horrendous and NON-gf material. I can only hope. I ain't marrying him even if my parents suddenly approve of him. And if marriage isn't on the cards, what's the point in carrying on with the relationship?
Anyway...What to expect from this blog? If you've read my previous ones (nope. you can't find them anymore unless you're family or a long-time [read: since pri/sec sch] friend), it'll be pretty much the same. Ramblings, opinions, rantings, photos, gushings...well. Basically anything that strikes my fancy at that point in time. I promise to keep negativity to a minimum, or at the very least, temper negativity with some hint of a rainbow somewhere.
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