Wednesday, July 07, 2010
Magnetic Man - I Need Air
I’ve been off blogger so long, I’ve forgotten how to blog.
Hence, I shall reacclimatise by putting up a track, which I heard alot on BBC Radio 1 (on Annie Mac’s show especially) while I was in London. I heard it whenever I put the BBC iPlayer on, while slacking at Su's/washing dishes/ reading the papers or whatever else I was doing. So it stuck.
Skream + Benga + Artwork = Magnetic Man
Kinda like it when acts collaborate to form supergroups. I mean, look at Velvet Revolver.. members of Guns N Roses and Stone Temple Pilots. Audioslave was made up of members of Soundgarden and Rage Against the Machine. Swedish House Mafia consists of Steve Angello, Axwell and Sebastian Ingrosso.
Pure Aceness.
Just like this track..and how breezy it is. It’s like a new breed of dubstep. Or electro. But screw labels, it’s just a bloody good listen.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
my hockey journey (LAMEASS TITLE, IKR)
So, I play hockey for my hall..and have been since the Inter Hall Games (IHG) started in December last year. I ended up in it by chance..being just called up for the team cos they didn't have enough players and cos they decided to tap on the softball girls for "sportswomen" who could potentially play the sport.
Yeah I've played hockey, but recreationally in secondary school and JC..in other words, I was pretty much a noob at it- but it wasn't like I hadn't handled a hockey stick before. So I was like, ok fine, just play.
I remember distinctly it was a Sunday morning and we had to report at 9am. Of course Izzy and I turned up, together (we sorta come as a package haha) and we learnt the rules of the game in the half hour before the match started. This was both our first times playing on a real hockey pitch, at Delta summore! (It has a massive "Home of Hockey" banner there haha) so getting used to the vastness of the place and getting our bearingswith the stick.
They actually let me start! As a forward during the first half, and Izzy subbed me in the second half. With the help of two national players on our team, and pure talent from some of the other girls on the team, and just keeping the ball in play (on the part of the noobs) we progressed rapidly from qualifying to quarters.
We returned the following Sunday, again keeping the same order of play where I played the first half and Izzy, the second. We played our hearts out and we won 2 more games and qualified for the semis (the final 4). Oh yes, at this point I should probably mention that all 16 halls sent in male and female hockey teams for the IHG. Ok, done.
Upon reflection of my time thuse far in hockey, I realised that in any team sport I play, I usually prefer playing the role of defender..so playing as a forward required a mindset shift. No, I didn't score any goals (lol please, that would've been expecting too much) but at least I didn't make a fool of myself and I was very proud of that! I also quite liked the shrots and knee-high socks combination, mostly because I could finally put my soccer socks to use.
I was also hoping that I was making my dad proud in some little way, carrying on his hockey playing legacy. He played hockey all through school and he even played it for the army. So basically that's all he did throughout National Service; play hockey. What a life.
He was rather impressed that we were playing on astroturf, which has to be watered down before and after every game. He used to play on GRASS at the grounds near CCAB and the Old SMU (haha! old skool yo!). He always picked me up after the games..I think it's cos he wanted to hear how they went, and how I'd played. :)
So we'd qualified sometime in early January, and we finally got the call last week (a good 2 months later?), that they'd decided to bring the matches back to the school grounds. We have a lovely,well-maintained pitch at NIE, lying RIGHT there all along -__-
I was relieved that they were finally happening, but I was shit scared cos I knew I was unfit. Since the softball season ended, the only exercise I'd been getting was at the clubs (dancing, of course! what were you thinkinggg) -__- I think I can speak for all of us that we were super out of it, having not played the sport for months. (Well, except for Izzy..she's a true sportswoman and super fit and can play anything and I am so tempted to use the word goddess-like now hahaha)
And then I get a bombshell of a text.
The captain asked me if I could play Keeper. At first she said it was cos the two other girls who'd been playing keeper all along couldn't make it (and i was like, thanks. i feel like such a spare tyre now) And then she revealed to me that they were neither tall enough nor agile enough. LOLWHUT. Yeah ok i'll take that as a compliment!
But then it got me thinking that maybe I just sucked as a field player so they dumped me in goal..so I was realllyyy upset about it, and I was telling my "jock" friends that I didn't wanna do it cos I thought it was lame, but mostly cos I was damn scared about the responsibility of defending goal. But by then I'd already agreed to play. Take one for the team, Ahmad had advised me. And yeah, I was actually willing to. Even though I'd never actually been in the keeper's pads before, much less played that position!
GUH. The beauty of it was, the first time I wore the full pads (which consisted of "Smartypants" LOL, which are massive weightloss advert-type padded shorts, a chest plate, shin guards, kickers, which is the bit that covers your shoes, a rectangular shaped shield in my left hand and a hockey stick with a glove-like thing in my right hand. OH. And a claustrophobia-inducing helmet) was 40 minutes before our semis match. LOL. I was like, this is some JOKE right?! Cos i looked like a transformer, and could barely move..
But my captain and vice-captain and the defenders were so supportive of me in my noobiness and promised that they would run back to help me guard the post if ANYTHING happened. They'd defend with their lives for me. It was all a bit drama, but it was reassuring lah. I felt safe. I felt I could ACTUALLY pull it off.
But hey, I didn't even have to do anything during that match cos the attack was SO good, that the ball crossed the midline no more than twice during the course of the game. WHUUUUTTT. Ok lah, the other team was just fumbling. We won them 4-0.
The captain warned me that I WOULD be tested in the next match though, the finals, in other words.
As we cooled down, we watched the other two halls battle it out- the traditional powerhouses vs a bunch of relative unknowns who were putting up a pretty decent fight (the team was made up of half the winning female softball team, so hockey wasn't their first sport either, just like our team). I remember being instructed to watch the keeper of the powerhouse team, cos they said she was an experienced one. I don't remember wacthing her much, cos unlike our semis game where play was concentrated on one side of the field, this game was mostly played out in midfield, with few shots on target and the keepers weren't tested. Except for the 1 goal that the powerhouses scored, which was really unfortunate. Cos the underdogs put up SUCH a fight.
After that match ended and we had half an hour till our 10.25pm Finals match, I was taken aside and again reminded that this game, I'd definitely be tested, so I needed to be on my toes. Literally. (It was advice given to me by the keeper of the SA guys hockey team in my year, who was there to support one of our girls haha :) I listened to him alright!)
to be continued..
Yeah I've played hockey, but recreationally in secondary school and JC..in other words, I was pretty much a noob at it- but it wasn't like I hadn't handled a hockey stick before. So I was like, ok fine, just play.
I remember distinctly it was a Sunday morning and we had to report at 9am. Of course Izzy and I turned up, together (we sorta come as a package haha) and we learnt the rules of the game in the half hour before the match started. This was both our first times playing on a real hockey pitch, at Delta summore! (It has a massive "Home of Hockey" banner there haha) so getting used to the vastness of the place and getting our bearingswith the stick.
They actually let me start! As a forward during the first half, and Izzy subbed me in the second half. With the help of two national players on our team, and pure talent from some of the other girls on the team, and just keeping the ball in play (on the part of the noobs) we progressed rapidly from qualifying to quarters.
We returned the following Sunday, again keeping the same order of play where I played the first half and Izzy, the second. We played our hearts out and we won 2 more games and qualified for the semis (the final 4). Oh yes, at this point I should probably mention that all 16 halls sent in male and female hockey teams for the IHG. Ok, done.
Upon reflection of my time thuse far in hockey, I realised that in any team sport I play, I usually prefer playing the role of defender..so playing as a forward required a mindset shift. No, I didn't score any goals (lol please, that would've been expecting too much) but at least I didn't make a fool of myself and I was very proud of that! I also quite liked the shrots and knee-high socks combination, mostly because I could finally put my soccer socks to use.
I was also hoping that I was making my dad proud in some little way, carrying on his hockey playing legacy. He played hockey all through school and he even played it for the army. So basically that's all he did throughout National Service; play hockey. What a life.
He was rather impressed that we were playing on astroturf, which has to be watered down before and after every game. He used to play on GRASS at the grounds near CCAB and the Old SMU (haha! old skool yo!). He always picked me up after the games..I think it's cos he wanted to hear how they went, and how I'd played. :)
So we'd qualified sometime in early January, and we finally got the call last week (a good 2 months later?), that they'd decided to bring the matches back to the school grounds. We have a lovely,well-maintained pitch at NIE, lying RIGHT there all along -__-
I was relieved that they were finally happening, but I was shit scared cos I knew I was unfit. Since the softball season ended, the only exercise I'd been getting was at the clubs (dancing, of course! what were you thinkinggg) -__- I think I can speak for all of us that we were super out of it, having not played the sport for months. (Well, except for Izzy..she's a true sportswoman and super fit and can play anything and I am so tempted to use the word goddess-like now hahaha)
And then I get a bombshell of a text.
The captain asked me if I could play Keeper. At first she said it was cos the two other girls who'd been playing keeper all along couldn't make it (and i was like, thanks. i feel like such a spare tyre now) And then she revealed to me that they were neither tall enough nor agile enough. LOLWHUT. Yeah ok i'll take that as a compliment!
But then it got me thinking that maybe I just sucked as a field player so they dumped me in goal..so I was realllyyy upset about it, and I was telling my "jock" friends that I didn't wanna do it cos I thought it was lame, but mostly cos I was damn scared about the responsibility of defending goal. But by then I'd already agreed to play. Take one for the team, Ahmad had advised me. And yeah, I was actually willing to. Even though I'd never actually been in the keeper's pads before, much less played that position!
GUH. The beauty of it was, the first time I wore the full pads (which consisted of "Smartypants" LOL, which are massive weightloss advert-type padded shorts, a chest plate, shin guards, kickers, which is the bit that covers your shoes, a rectangular shaped shield in my left hand and a hockey stick with a glove-like thing in my right hand. OH. And a claustrophobia-inducing helmet) was 40 minutes before our semis match. LOL. I was like, this is some JOKE right?! Cos i looked like a transformer, and could barely move..
But my captain and vice-captain and the defenders were so supportive of me in my noobiness and promised that they would run back to help me guard the post if ANYTHING happened. They'd defend with their lives for me. It was all a bit drama, but it was reassuring lah. I felt safe. I felt I could ACTUALLY pull it off.
But hey, I didn't even have to do anything during that match cos the attack was SO good, that the ball crossed the midline no more than twice during the course of the game. WHUUUUTTT. Ok lah, the other team was just fumbling. We won them 4-0.
The captain warned me that I WOULD be tested in the next match though, the finals, in other words.
As we cooled down, we watched the other two halls battle it out- the traditional powerhouses vs a bunch of relative unknowns who were putting up a pretty decent fight (the team was made up of half the winning female softball team, so hockey wasn't their first sport either, just like our team). I remember being instructed to watch the keeper of the powerhouse team, cos they said she was an experienced one. I don't remember wacthing her much, cos unlike our semis game where play was concentrated on one side of the field, this game was mostly played out in midfield, with few shots on target and the keepers weren't tested. Except for the 1 goal that the powerhouses scored, which was really unfortunate. Cos the underdogs put up SUCH a fight.
After that match ended and we had half an hour till our 10.25pm Finals match, I was taken aside and again reminded that this game, I'd definitely be tested, so I needed to be on my toes. Literally. (It was advice given to me by the keeper of the SA guys hockey team in my year, who was there to support one of our girls haha :) I listened to him alright!)
to be continued..
Sunday, February 07, 2010
I really don’t want a 21st birthday party, but my grandma insists I have one cos I’m the eldest granddaughter.
If it were up to me, I’d just have a coupla mates over at my place, and dinner at Hard Rock Cafe..just like I’ve done all these years.
But NO..for indians it’s gotta be this extravagant semi-wedding sorta thing where everyone comes dressed to the NINES, and there’s a DJ and silly games and it’s all just VERY unneccessary.
I’d rather all the money wasted on a big party be channeled towards a car/ a trip to London during my summer holidays where I can watch gig after gig with Venetia and Su Hui, in venues like the Camden Roundhouse and Brixton Academy and WEMBLEY stadium.
for fuck’s sake.
That would make me happy, not all the peripherals and flashiness. Honest to God.
If it were up to me, I’d just have a coupla mates over at my place, and dinner at Hard Rock Cafe..just like I’ve done all these years.
But NO..for indians it’s gotta be this extravagant semi-wedding sorta thing where everyone comes dressed to the NINES, and there’s a DJ and silly games and it’s all just VERY unneccessary.
I’d rather all the money wasted on a big party be channeled towards a car/ a trip to London during my summer holidays where I can watch gig after gig with Venetia and Su Hui, in venues like the Camden Roundhouse and Brixton Academy and WEMBLEY stadium.
for fuck’s sake.
That would make me happy, not all the peripherals and flashiness. Honest to God.
I really don’t want a 21st birthday party, but my grandma insists I have one cos I’m the eldest granddaughter.
If it were up to me, I’d just have a coupla mates over at my place, and dinner at Hard Rock Cafe..just like I’ve done all these years.
But NO..for indians it’s gotta be this extravagant semi-wedding sorta thing where everyone comes dressed to the NINES, and there’s a DJ and silly games and it’s all just VERY unneccessary.
I’d rather all the money wasted on a big party be channeled towards a car/ a trip to London during my summer holidays where I can watch gig after gig with Venetia and Su Hui, in venues like the Camden Roundhouse and Brixton Academy and WEMBLEY stadium.
for fuck’s sake.
That would make me happy, not all the peripherals and flashiness. Honest to God.
If it were up to me, I’d just have a coupla mates over at my place, and dinner at Hard Rock Cafe..just like I’ve done all these years.
But NO..for indians it’s gotta be this extravagant semi-wedding sorta thing where everyone comes dressed to the NINES, and there’s a DJ and silly games and it’s all just VERY unneccessary.
I’d rather all the money wasted on a big party be channeled towards a car/ a trip to London during my summer holidays where I can watch gig after gig with Venetia and Su Hui, in venues like the Camden Roundhouse and Brixton Academy and WEMBLEY stadium.
for fuck’s sake.
That would make me happy, not all the peripherals and flashiness. Honest to God.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
last niiiite, she saidddd
I love The Strokes and all, but NO. Their album shouldn't be the top in NME's Top 50 Albums of the Naughties.
1. The Strokes - Is This It (gotta say, that album cover, every time it comes up on my Ipod, it makes me chuckle and look around nervously lest someone thinks i've porn in it LOL)
2. The Libertines - Up the Bracket (YES. Doherty and Barat, TIME TO BLOODY REUNITE. but agh...not that brilliant to deserve Number 2)
3. Primal Scream - xtrmntr
4. Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not (fucking brilliant debut)
5. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Fever to Tell
6. PJ Harvey - Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea
7. Arcade Fire - Funeral (i prefer Neon Bible)
8. Interpol - Turn On the Bright Lights (yes)
9. The Streets - Original Pirate Material (YES. Mike Skinner.)
10. Radiohead - In Rainbows (FK YES. great album.)
11. At The Drive In - Relationship of Command (wtf, no)
12. LCD Soundsystem - The Sound of Silver
13. The Shins - Wincing the Night Away
14. Radiohead - Kid A (how the fk is this lower than In Rainbows?)
15. Queens Of The Stone Age - Songs for the Deaf
16. The Streets - A Grand Don't Come for Free
17. Sufjan Stevens - Illinoise
18. The White Stripes - Elephant (yeah i prefered stuff of Elephant too)
19. The White Stripes - White Blood Cells
20. Blur - Think Tank
21. The Coral - The Coral
22. Jay-Z - The Blueprint (jiggaman :D, reprezentin on the list!)
23. Klaxons - Myths of the Near Future (FKIN ACE ALBUM THIS!! so forward looking. i think i did a review)
24. The Libertines - The Libertines (*sings* can't stand me now, can't stand me noww)
25. Rapture - Echoes
26. Dizzee Rascal - Boy in Da Corner
27. Amy Winehouse - Back to Black
28. Johnny Cash - Man Comes Around
29. Super Furry Animals - Rings Around the World
30. Elbow - Asleep In the Back
31. Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
32. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Show Your Bones
33. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible (*thumbs up*)
34. Grandaddy - The Sophtware Slump
35. Babyshambles - Down in Albion (the one with "fuck forever"?)
36. Spirtualized - Let It Come Down
37. The Knife - Silent Shout
38. Bloc Party - Silent Alarm (mehh)
39. Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles
40. Ryan Adams - Gold
41. Wild Beasts - Two Dancers
42. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend (YEAHHH :D ezra koenig is love)
43. Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
44. Outkast - Loveboxxx/The Love Below (lol finally another hip hop album. one of Outkast's better ones..since they each did their own thang. I prefer Andre 3000, anyday)
45. Avalanches - Since I Left You
46. Delgados - The Great Eastern
47. Brendan Benson - Lapalco
48. Walkmen - Bows and Arrows
49. Muse - Absolution (i take GREAT offense at this. This is the album with fking T.I.R.O, Stockholm Syndrome, Hysteria and Butterflies and Hurricanes on it. ARE YOU KIDDING ME that this is not top 10, i mean, top FIVE?!?)
50. MIA - Arular (REPREZENTTT :D this is a masterpiece, in my not so humble opinion. I still remember paying my $27 for it when HMV at the Heeren still had it's urban section. It was a few days after my birthday, in year 1 of JC. Went home immediately and played it through once and was blown.away. One of my most prized possessions. )
Ok yeah so lists are usually largely inaccurate and not representitive, and no one is ever happy with them. But this is a pretty decent list nonetheless (the less American acts the better :P)
AIYA i'm still miffed about The Strokes taking top spot...would've prefered if it'd gone to the Monkeys or to my boys, Muse, yaknowwhatimsayin.
anyway, NME is damn biased and they're sellouts, and they probably rigged the list, but they're still an authority on music and I'd still read the mag. So there.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
if only you could see me now
Really, there is only so much "ironic juxtaposition" a term paper can take.
But what am I to do, when there really ARE all these deliberate placements and comparisons (subtle ones too!) in the movie that I'm supposed to be reviewing/analysing?!
Waltz with Bashir. That movie's the subject of my contemplation, as of late.
I'm not condoning warfare, but today I genuinely had to ask myself if there is actually beauty in war, and whether it was poltically correct to say so.
I choose not to use the term glorification of war, instead, "stylised violence"- which is what war films nowadays essentially are.
But for some reason, this one phrase that Big K imparted to us in our final few months of study of literature, keeps resounding in my head. "Only Connect"- as said by E.M. Forster.
Writing this term paper however, has been one of the most organic writing processes I've had since school started. All the other writing I've done so far- academic, journalistic or otherwise- has felt rather forced. There was no natural inclination to push my own boundaries, which I found highly unnerving. Perhaps I let the competition get to me. I've never had to deal with this many other people who want to enter the same profession, and have followed similar "writing paths" as me before (wrt writing experience and engagement with publications).
Case in point- I haven't been blogging here either! Cos I haven't felt inspired enough, really. To put it in prose. I put it in tweets instead (omg what a sellout. i know right.)
But this term paper exercise, has got me back to my comfort zone almost. I'm not trying to impress anybody but myself. I want this to be a solid piece of work, unlike the rubbish I've been producing for school assignments prior to this. (well not always rubbish- sometimes I think I've done a decent job, but then having a tutor with a vendetta against you is not always advantageous. Apparently, she's always picked on the indians, cos she wants to see us do well. But all she's achieved with me is demoralisation- is there such a word- and an unspeakable desire for vindication. She has made me doubt my own abilities, deliberately might I add, and I will never forget her for that. I might not even forgive her.)
I'm even giving up deepavali visiting to do it. That's how much "in the zone" I am with this piece. I've missed this feeling, cos honestly, it doesn't always happen. And there's been a dry spell for the past 10 weeks.
I think I might be giving up deepavali visiting for other reasons as well. I don't care much for getting dressed up today, THOUGH i've been ITCHING to go out all week. To party, not to stuff my face with goodies and mingle with people. One of those anti-social days, yknow? Either way, there's a party at the Indian Association that we gotta attend tmr- which'll be more worth my while I think. Plus I get to lay eyes and walk on the beloved cricket pitch at the IA I once played on as a 17-year-old.
I'm fully aware how badly this is reflecting on me as a filial daughter for not making obligatory appearances at relatives houses. I never resented doing that before- why now?
Maybe cos I don't care anymore. I've become a cynic, and a prat. A cynical prat.
But this too shall pass.
But what am I to do, when there really ARE all these deliberate placements and comparisons (subtle ones too!) in the movie that I'm supposed to be reviewing/analysing?!
Waltz with Bashir. That movie's the subject of my contemplation, as of late.
I'm not condoning warfare, but today I genuinely had to ask myself if there is actually beauty in war, and whether it was poltically correct to say so.
I choose not to use the term glorification of war, instead, "stylised violence"- which is what war films nowadays essentially are.
But for some reason, this one phrase that Big K imparted to us in our final few months of study of literature, keeps resounding in my head. "Only Connect"- as said by E.M. Forster.
Writing this term paper however, has been one of the most organic writing processes I've had since school started. All the other writing I've done so far- academic, journalistic or otherwise- has felt rather forced. There was no natural inclination to push my own boundaries, which I found highly unnerving. Perhaps I let the competition get to me. I've never had to deal with this many other people who want to enter the same profession, and have followed similar "writing paths" as me before (wrt writing experience and engagement with publications).
Case in point- I haven't been blogging here either! Cos I haven't felt inspired enough, really. To put it in prose. I put it in tweets instead (omg what a sellout. i know right.)
But this term paper exercise, has got me back to my comfort zone almost. I'm not trying to impress anybody but myself. I want this to be a solid piece of work, unlike the rubbish I've been producing for school assignments prior to this. (well not always rubbish- sometimes I think I've done a decent job, but then having a tutor with a vendetta against you is not always advantageous. Apparently, she's always picked on the indians, cos she wants to see us do well. But all she's achieved with me is demoralisation- is there such a word- and an unspeakable desire for vindication. She has made me doubt my own abilities, deliberately might I add, and I will never forget her for that. I might not even forgive her.)
I'm even giving up deepavali visiting to do it. That's how much "in the zone" I am with this piece. I've missed this feeling, cos honestly, it doesn't always happen. And there's been a dry spell for the past 10 weeks.
I think I might be giving up deepavali visiting for other reasons as well. I don't care much for getting dressed up today, THOUGH i've been ITCHING to go out all week. To party, not to stuff my face with goodies and mingle with people. One of those anti-social days, yknow? Either way, there's a party at the Indian Association that we gotta attend tmr- which'll be more worth my while I think. Plus I get to lay eyes and walk on the beloved cricket pitch at the IA I once played on as a 17-year-old.
I'm fully aware how badly this is reflecting on me as a filial daughter for not making obligatory appearances at relatives houses. I never resented doing that before- why now?
Maybe cos I don't care anymore. I've become a cynic, and a prat. A cynical prat.
But this too shall pass.
Monday, October 05, 2009
I didn't respect Lady Gaga as an artist until I saw this.
Watch it quick before it's taken down!
Is it me or is there a lot of New York-centric music coming out recently? That's inaccurate, there has been New York-centric music for decades now, expressing nothing but love, really, for the Big City. The big city and it's big dreamers. The land of opportunity. New Yawk.
I need to see it for myself. Newark airport doesn't count :P
Watch it quick before it's taken down!
Is it me or is there a lot of New York-centric music coming out recently? That's inaccurate, there has been New York-centric music for decades now, expressing nothing but love, really, for the Big City. The big city and it's big dreamers. The land of opportunity. New Yawk.
I need to see it for myself. Newark airport doesn't count :P
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
It feels damn good to be part of a team again.
A sports team. Softball, for my hall.
I can't tell if it's the exercise/pain or the endorphins that I'm addicted to. OK addicted is a strong word, but it's close enough!
The cricket training I've had helps me out in fielding and throwing..BUT, sometimes I start throwing downwards like I would when bowling a cricket ball, which you're NOT supposed to do in softball. Haha that's when I get Oi-ed at, in a playful way of course, and I literally knock it into my head to remember not to do it the next time. Frustrated lah! When I lapse into simple, stupid mistakes. Then again, this is only session number 3 :P And when fielding, I have to be conscious of the fact that I've a new appendage of sorts- a catcher's mitt. What I don't understand is that even with a bigger target (a softball is bigger than a cricket ball) and a slower pitching rate and a bloody glove to catch the thing, I'm still fumbling!! ALKSHAK:JSA:SAGSLA.
Batting on the other hand, is going much better. Golf is helping with this one haha- Where you're supposed to impact the ball, where the wrist breaks, the follow through..is all the same. Yeah Cheryl (my neighbour) was right- I'm a ball and bat person. I was rubbish at even throwing the frisbee that she'd brought along to training (lol don't ask me why she had one on hand). Now I just have to practice finding the sweet spot and pulling off the softball equivalent of fours and sixers. Actually, come to think of it, in slow pitch games, a pull shot (i dunno what it's called in softballing terms)-one that you hit hard n low, which makes it run on the ground- would be the
most effective type of shot. But nothing beats the satisfaction of hearing the ball thwack off the bat at the sweet spot- oh man, still gives me shivers. D, you know what I'm talkin about.
I remember when we played softball for PE in JC, yj and I would talk tactics and batting order during every session...especially if we were playing against A7. And you know how yj talks with his hands? Floppy arms and expressive fingers hahah. It was bloody competitive when we played on different teams. Tennis boys (joe included), tennis girl (stace), consummate sportsman (tuan),cricket girl, BRING IT ON BITCHESS!! i think we still lost to A7 lah :P :P
I must say, BenSoh was a good teacher when it came to softball though. A lot of the things he taught us have come in handy- BenSoh and that pro softballer fella we got as our sidekick PE teacher. Stance, batting technique, not so much fielding lah- that's a whole different ball game (excuse the pun). This was FATED I tell you!
Now, I just have to get my teammates to get my name right. Cos it's kinda dumbass when you're calling for the ball, or you're signalling someone during play, and you can't remember/pronounce your teammate's name- what's new *rolls eyes*. Excuse me while I go bang my head against the wall.
A sports team. Softball, for my hall.
I can't tell if it's the exercise/pain or the endorphins that I'm addicted to. OK addicted is a strong word, but it's close enough!
The cricket training I've had helps me out in fielding and throwing..BUT, sometimes I start throwing downwards like I would when bowling a cricket ball, which you're NOT supposed to do in softball. Haha that's when I get Oi-ed at, in a playful way of course, and I literally knock it into my head to remember not to do it the next time. Frustrated lah! When I lapse into simple, stupid mistakes. Then again, this is only session number 3 :P And when fielding, I have to be conscious of the fact that I've a new appendage of sorts- a catcher's mitt. What I don't understand is that even with a bigger target (a softball is bigger than a cricket ball) and a slower pitching rate and a bloody glove to catch the thing, I'm still fumbling!! ALKSHAK:JSA:SAGSLA.
Batting on the other hand, is going much better. Golf is helping with this one haha- Where you're supposed to impact the ball, where the wrist breaks, the follow through..is all the same. Yeah Cheryl (my neighbour) was right- I'm a ball and bat person. I was rubbish at even throwing the frisbee that she'd brought along to training (lol don't ask me why she had one on hand). Now I just have to practice finding the sweet spot and pulling off the softball equivalent of fours and sixers. Actually, come to think of it, in slow pitch games, a pull shot (i dunno what it's called in softballing terms)-one that you hit hard n low, which makes it run on the ground- would be the
most effective type of shot. But nothing beats the satisfaction of hearing the ball thwack off the bat at the sweet spot- oh man, still gives me shivers. D, you know what I'm talkin about.
I remember when we played softball for PE in JC, yj and I would talk tactics and batting order during every session...especially if we were playing against A7. And you know how yj talks with his hands? Floppy arms and expressive fingers hahah. It was bloody competitive when we played on different teams. Tennis boys (joe included), tennis girl (stace), consummate sportsman (tuan),cricket girl, BRING IT ON BITCHESS!! i think we still lost to A7 lah :P :P
I must say, BenSoh was a good teacher when it came to softball though. A lot of the things he taught us have come in handy- BenSoh and that pro softballer fella we got as our sidekick PE teacher. Stance, batting technique, not so much fielding lah- that's a whole different ball game (excuse the pun). This was FATED I tell you!
Now, I just have to get my teammates to get my name right. Cos it's kinda dumbass when you're calling for the ball, or you're signalling someone during play, and you can't remember/pronounce your teammate's name- what's new *rolls eyes*. Excuse me while I go bang my head against the wall.
Friday, September 18, 2009
we will be victorious
The Boys Are Back In Town...
May be a song by Thin Lizzy, but it is most appropriate to herald the return of the kickassest three-piece band of the 21st Century. Do not question it.
here they are KILLING IT on Jools Holland
Uprising:
United States of Eurasia:
which is STUNNING live, as well. even though it sounds far too complex to reproduce on the album.
May be a song by Thin Lizzy, but it is most appropriate to herald the return of the kickassest three-piece band of the 21st Century. Do not question it.
here they are KILLING IT on Jools Holland
Uprising:
United States of Eurasia:
which is STUNNING live, as well. even though it sounds far too complex to reproduce on the album.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
I am BellamyGirl89, dontchoo forget that.
Depeche Mode..I mean, Muse. :P jk jk.
performing the fking ACE new track off The Resistance called "Undisclosed Desires"- easily my favourite, on my first listen through the entire album. Matt Bellamy with a Keytar. what more reason do you need to watch this video. just click play already.
I've been waiting for this damn album for a good THREE YEARS. Now that it's here..with all the hype that was built up about it, with Zane Lowe (the authority on music in general, imho. i trust his taste, i really do. though i don't always agree with it) describing the album as "A beautifully recorded, strong, sweeping, fighting, uplifting, rocking, and inclusive record about love."
I pretty much AGREE WITH HIM.
Though I'll do a proper review once I get my hands on the CD proper and listen to it a gabillionjillion times. It's my Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends of 2009, I can feel it already.
Which reminds me, I haven't listened to the 5-hour Muse Night special yet. OOPS. Why do I get the feeling that Zane will absolutely love this track as well? haha
AND AND..there's so much of a classical influence, Case in point: a three- part, count em, THREE part symphony at the end of the album. Absofuckinglutely floored by the gloriousness of "Exogenesis" and all its grandiose orchestral sounds. LOVE.
LOVVEEEE.
K I'll save it for now.
performing the fking ACE new track off The Resistance called "Undisclosed Desires"- easily my favourite, on my first listen through the entire album. Matt Bellamy with a Keytar. what more reason do you need to watch this video. just click play already.
I've been waiting for this damn album for a good THREE YEARS. Now that it's here..with all the hype that was built up about it, with Zane Lowe (the authority on music in general, imho. i trust his taste, i really do. though i don't always agree with it) describing the album as "A beautifully recorded, strong, sweeping, fighting, uplifting, rocking, and inclusive record about love."
I pretty much AGREE WITH HIM.
Though I'll do a proper review once I get my hands on the CD proper and listen to it a gabillionjillion times. It's my Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends of 2009, I can feel it already.
Which reminds me, I haven't listened to the 5-hour Muse Night special yet. OOPS. Why do I get the feeling that Zane will absolutely love this track as well? haha
AND AND..there's so much of a classical influence, Case in point: a three- part, count em, THREE part symphony at the end of the album. Absofuckinglutely floored by the gloriousness of "Exogenesis" and all its grandiose orchestral sounds. LOVE.
LOVVEEEE.
K I'll save it for now.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Monday, September 07, 2009
Mmm whatcha say, Mmm that you only meant well?
We went bowling on National Day.
The kids were fascinated by the scoring system..even at the tender age of 6, Ishani was questioning why the score additions were not uniformly incremental- if you got a strike or a consecutive spares. Hell, even I don't know how it works. I just play to win :P
But yeah, definitely my fave niece.
(L-R) Ishani, Harini.
The kids were fascinated by the scoring system..even at the tender age of 6, Ishani was questioning why the score additions were not uniformly incremental- if you got a strike or a consecutive spares. Hell, even I don't know how it works. I just play to win :P
But yeah, definitely my fave niece.
(L-R) Ishani, Harini.
sunk in
The stunning, stunning Audi r8.
If only you could hear it as well.
I took this last night, while on the drive back from an interview with a civil servant for my media writing mod.
I believe the point of the exercise was to get field experience..and go through the trouble of securing an interview with people with gahmen jobs (it's harder than it looks, trust me), and deal with setbacks, and churn out concise, balanced work within a short timeframe. Whether the final piece is up to standard or not is another question, but if you happen to be the one whose name your tutor remembers and likes to pick on, you'd better damn well do a good job.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
i don't really know who this person is, nor why she's pretending to be a singer
Anderson Cooper totally slagging off Heidi Montag
ROFLMAO.
Heidi got served.
I had no clue AC was so catty! But he told it like it iz, yo!
I can't stand heidi, OR spencer BRATT for that matter..they actually deserve to be shot. I'm sure you would agree with me on this if you also watch "I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here"/ The Hills. (before you judge, come now. i need my share of mindless telly as well, no? this one takes the cake lah.)
ok back to the nastiness that is Speidi. They're so atrocious, they've been banned from E!. HAHAHAHAH. I'm not kidding you. Back in the day when I'd the time to watch e! news regularly, I clearly remember Seacrest putting it to a poll and asking viewers to vote on whether the couple should be banned or not. The public spoke, and we are all the better for it.
Unfortunately, these fools find nooks and crannies and keep themselves in the spotlight.
You know what?
fug it. i'm doing my term paper on Speidi..purely cos they're a fascinating case study in answering the question of the role of celebrities. and in doing so,I will unwittingly have perpetuated the spread of Speidi in my own small way.
NOOOOOO!!!!!!!
ROFLMAO.
Heidi got served.
I had no clue AC was so catty! But he told it like it iz, yo!
I can't stand heidi, OR spencer BRATT for that matter..they actually deserve to be shot. I'm sure you would agree with me on this if you also watch "I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here"/ The Hills. (before you judge, come now. i need my share of mindless telly as well, no? this one takes the cake lah.)
ok back to the nastiness that is Speidi. They're so atrocious, they've been banned from E!. HAHAHAHAH. I'm not kidding you. Back in the day when I'd the time to watch e! news regularly, I clearly remember Seacrest putting it to a poll and asking viewers to vote on whether the couple should be banned or not. The public spoke, and we are all the better for it.
Unfortunately, these fools find nooks and crannies and keep themselves in the spotlight.
You know what?
fug it. i'm doing my term paper on Speidi..purely cos they're a fascinating case study in answering the question of the role of celebrities. and in doing so,I will unwittingly have perpetuated the spread of Speidi in my own small way.
NOOOOOO!!!!!!!
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
ready for the weekend
this is serisously TOO. COOL.
Calvin Harris you are my hero.
AND i frickin love this song..PIANO :D hehe
Calvin Harris you are my hero.
AND i frickin love this song..PIANO :D hehe
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Ganesha aka Vinayagar aka Ganapathy aka Pillaiyar- is one of my favourite gods I have images of him in my room, that I wake up to every morning. There's a statue of him, much like the one in the pic, on top of my stereo. There's a lovely mother-of-pearl inlaid mahogany flat portrait of him at the front of the house, at the top of the main wall facing the front door..can't miss it. There's a minute ganesha statue just below the speedometer of the car, blue-tacked down to keep it secure.
He's a protector and a remover of obstacles..revered, loved, and accessible. The first prayer of a Hindu is usually to him.
Tomorrow it's the Vinayagar Chathurthi..a very auspicious day celebrating the birth of the elephant-headed God.
Every year, my dad's side of the family (the hindu side), has massive prayers at the temple. Every one makes an effort to turn up cos you can't miss this one. My grandparents, as heads of the family, take charge of everything. The daughters and daughters-in-law are expected to turn up the day before to cut vegetables for the massive feast that'll be distrubuted the next day. The men are expected to run alot of errands, getting supplies and ferrying people in cars. The grandkids are expected to set up and serve the food after the prayers. This involves rolling out the mats in the dining hall , laying out the banana leaves for the seated devotees, walking down the line serving the different components of the full vegetarian meal (rice, a variety of vegetable dishes, sambar, yoghurt, vadai and a sweetmeat), topping up the quickly emptied food vessels and of course, clearing away the used banana leaves one by one after the people are done eating and setting up for the next round of people. It runs like clockwork, and it's exhausting. But this is our duty to the fellow devotees and in a way, it's like serving the community because it's not only family that turns up to be part of the prayers, but complete strangers as well. People usually flock to the temple on an auspicious day, cos they want a piece of the divinity haha.
It's all good.
Share the love.
He's a protector and a remover of obstacles..revered, loved, and accessible. The first prayer of a Hindu is usually to him.
Tomorrow it's the Vinayagar Chathurthi..a very auspicious day celebrating the birth of the elephant-headed God.
Every year, my dad's side of the family (the hindu side), has massive prayers at the temple. Every one makes an effort to turn up cos you can't miss this one. My grandparents, as heads of the family, take charge of everything. The daughters and daughters-in-law are expected to turn up the day before to cut vegetables for the massive feast that'll be distrubuted the next day. The men are expected to run alot of errands, getting supplies and ferrying people in cars. The grandkids are expected to set up and serve the food after the prayers. This involves rolling out the mats in the dining hall , laying out the banana leaves for the seated devotees, walking down the line serving the different components of the full vegetarian meal (rice, a variety of vegetable dishes, sambar, yoghurt, vadai and a sweetmeat), topping up the quickly emptied food vessels and of course, clearing away the used banana leaves one by one after the people are done eating and setting up for the next round of people. It runs like clockwork, and it's exhausting. But this is our duty to the fellow devotees and in a way, it's like serving the community because it's not only family that turns up to be part of the prayers, but complete strangers as well. People usually flock to the temple on an auspicious day, cos they want a piece of the divinity haha.
It's all good.
Share the love.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)