Blog updates

After a month long hiatus, it is about time to get back on track. Updates are long overdue, so to keep a long story short, here's the list of changes, summarised and tightly packed into a nutshell.

Upon feedback from readers, the various segments of the blog will no longer cease to exist from this term on, i.e. Review Monday and Newsunday. The segments limit content in terms of flexibility, so the different contents will be spilled out throughout the week throughout the month instead of a designate day of the week. More flexibility means more unrestricted and unlimited content! Hooray!

New "special features" columns are to come in the near future, and if you look at the sidebar you will find a hint. As for the highly-received comics, Leoj will no doubt continue his publications.

Next up, learn how to train a dragon!

The show packed with gossips

A new gossip show in town! Brought to you by the variety producers behind "Paris & Milan", "Buzzling Cashier" and "Life Transformers".
This show features seven hosts, Guo Liang, Kym Ng, Quan Yi Fong, Michelle Chong, Zhou Chong Qing, Marcus Chin and Henry Thia, who roleplay as famous people and celebrities around the world, mainly from Taiwan, Hong Kong, China and Singapore, and discuss about current affair topics from the character's perspective and give their views on things that truly matter. A gathering of international and local artistes, including “Jac Key Chan”, “Lee Ann”, “Chris-tofu Li”, “Patty Howl”, “Li Jinx”, “Yow Yow”, “DD Hsu”, “Risss Low”, “Jacky Woo”, “Aiyah” and “Gao Ning Feng”!

I must say, I enjoyed this show very much. Every episode is packed with laughter. Even the actors and actresses themselves cannot control their laughter! If you're the gossip monger, this show is packed with juicy gossips right up to the fullest! The show actually discusses everything and anything, with almost nothing to hide. You may even find out something new or shocking about your favourite stars through this platform! Topics that have been discussed include the stars' take on gambling in conjunction to the opening of the casinos in Singapore, the "Most Trusted Star List" coined up by the media is various countries and even the very recently Jack Neo saga (with footage of the press conference included if you missed it).

It has been a long time since I've watched an entertaining variety show (the last was Paris & Milan). If you're finding for shows of this genre, this show is a must-watch for you! In this show, the oh-so-famous Aunty Lucy has her own column, so if you are a fan of her, here's another show to take note of.

Someone has uploaded the episodes to YouTube, so you can watch them here.
Catch "Black Rose" every Tuesday from 8 to 9pm on Channel 8.

Rating: 4/5 (Wonderful!)

Save the Earth

Do your part to save the Earth! Come on, it'll only take one hour. The World Wildlife Fund provides a chance for all to do your part to save the Earth with the yearly initiative: "Earth Hour".

This Saturday, 27 March 2010, is when Earth Hour will take place. From 8.30pm to 9.30pm, majority of the lights will be put out and here, you can do your part by switching off all the lights to show your support. During this time, millions of families around the world are participating too!

To show their support for Earth Hour, Fish & Co. is offering $1 Fish & Chips (usual price: $13.90++) if you watch their Earth Day Rap video and send it to 10 friends! For more information, visit this page.

Lots of electricity is consumed throughout the year. If this huge amount of consumption goes on, the Earth would soon run out of natural resources. Take this chance to help the Earth. Is one hour too much to ask? I know I'll support this event as it is very meaningful. In fact, this one hour's effect will not be much. We should keep this in mind throughout the year and determine in order to save the Earth. The Earth's ours.

For more information, visit the official Earth Hour website here.

Paranoid much?

Have you ever felt the chill whenever you walk home alone at night and under blocks of HDB flats? Do you feel worried whenever you hitch a ride on a taxi or board the train? Are you always suspicious of your surroundings? Do not fret, you are not alone. In fact, most of us have the same feeling. It's purely human reaction, nothing unusual about it. No, it's not harmful.

I personally am afraid of terrorist attacks, so I try to avoid crowded areas. Before secondary school, I hated taking the bus and always shiver whenever I see a big black bag on the floor. Turns out it was a laptop, false alarm, but that didn't keep me from worrying until I started secondary school where bus rides became a routine. When I didn't think about these, I learnt much more about the society by observing the small happenings.

Why do we worry more about these as we grow up and mature? This is because of our environment. We are mostly influenced by factors such as scary movies, some which are powerful enough to give you nightmares for weeks. No one actually recovers, they grow inner and makes you react the next time such a situation occurs. We also tend to worry during the night as we have the knowledge that thefts usually happen during the night when it's too dark to see the person. Why don't we worry in the morning? Thefts happen then too.

Some of the contributing factors come from security talks. I'm sure everyone have at least heard one talk by the fire defense or police, or watched Crimewatch or even drama shows on the news. Taxi thefts and pickpocketing is oh-so-common in these areas that they tend to make us grow more alert and paranoid.

It is good to keep your worrying at a level as being too innocent and gullible will lead to danger. Yet, being too paranoid is also bad for oneself if it affects your lifestyle and patterns. Ask yourself, do you have this "phobia"?

Bond by bowling

Last Friday was our End of Term Activity for Term 1. It was meant as a break after the tests this term, so it was more fun and relaxing than educational and enriching. Above all, this event gives us a chance to bond with our friends and strengthen our relationship.

No, this event was not meant as a friendly competition or competition of what not. It was meant as a time where friends gather together and have fun bowling. No competition, no ranking, no match. We did have fun.

Bonding with friends let us understand more about each other and this in turn facilitates our future discussions, chats and gatherings. It is heartwarming to see friends cheering for you as you bowl, regardless of whether you are aiming for a strike, a spare, a hit on the pins or even a gutter. Your friends will always be there to cheer you on.

Bowling might seem just like a game, but we treat it more than just a game. We see it as a time to bond, a time so precious that we will value the time together.

And that's how we bond by bowling.

Fulfilling a simple request

Has been a long time since we had a special feature. Here's one to break the post barrier! Today's review is about this book, "Waiting for Normal".

This is a story of an innocent child nicknamed Addie who has only one wish. It's a simple wish, yet finding the solution to fulfill it is like finding a needle in the haystack. Addie's parents have divorced, twice. During Mommer's second relationship, they had two more children, who grew and became closer to Addie as time passed. When they divorced, Addie was separated with her half-sisters, stepfather and step-grandfather and left with Mommers to live in a simple tavern under the train tracks. There, she meets new friends in the minimart across her house and in the process learns about the horrible truth about cancer and adopts a hamster in the process. Mommers started to go out with another guy called Pete and was usually not at home. Addie grew closer to Soula and the others at the minimart. When a fire broke out in the house, Addie was put in the care of Jack, the step-grandfather.

Addie's waiting for normal, but how do you define normal? No changes, or just like the past? Learn and mature with Addie as she overcomes life's problems one after another. Oh, and together with her hamster.

For those whose hearts go out to her, don't fret. She gets half of her normal at the end and lives "happily ever after", but you've got to read the whole story to know how it ends! This is a wonderful story, written in plain words. The story is really touching, especially when you see Dwight giving out his love, care and concern. You can also see the story progress as Addie becomes more independent. She doesn't have a "love for learning", but her curiosity lets her learn much more.

Who is Hannah? Who is Katie? You just got to read the story.

Rating: 3.5/5 (Good)

ITWeek: Tribute to Mrs. Dubose