Can I Pick 'Em Or Can I Pick 'Em?

Looks like wild card viewers' choice Sylvester Sim is on his way up the ranks. And if you've been following my blog, you would remember that I spotted him very early in the competition. So proud of myself. :)

He did a great job of Elvis Presley's Hounddog -- he gave it a rock 'n roll / soft rock / heavy metal take. ( You have to watch it in order to know what I'm trying to describe. ) Blew me away!

Following last night's performances, here're my top 3:

1. Sylvester
2. Olinda
3. Taufik

Christopher Lee and Jerry Ong need to be eliminated quickly before they turn this contest into a complete farce ( it's already cheesy enough as it is ). Maia isn't too bad, but she lacks class, and is a dubious role model ( call me conservative, but that's my opinion ). Daphne and Leandra? Sweet, wholesome girls, but need more training for their voices and stage presence. David Yeo remains in the running, but he hasn't done anything truly dazzling yet.

My yardstick: picturing the Singapore Idol winner together with all the other World Idol contenders ( may very well include Fantasia Barrino this year, since Ruben Studdard's chance has come and gone ). I think Sylvester's versatility and unique look will stand him in good stead. Not to mention that unbelievable voice that contrasts so starkly with his overall appearance. Olinda may also wow the judges if she matures sufficiently -- and loses some weight. But Taufik may just fade into the background, unless he too makes a drastic transformation mid-way through the competition.

Oh yeah, must remember to vote for Sly after this. Heh heh. :D


Edwards Rocked!

I absolutely loved the Vice-Presidential debate, though I'd expected more sparks. Cheney, ever the unflappable opponent, stood his ground and lobbed some sarcastic remarks on and off, but you gotta give Edwards some credit for remaining steadfast yet diplomatic in his rebuttals.

There were some personal attacks -- albeit delivered in rather benign manners. E.g. Cheney's previous involvement with a company that, according to Edwards, did business with so-called rogue nations; and Edwards' less-than-satisfactory attendance record at Senate meetings. These issues weren't directly defended, but with regard to Cheney's insistence that the VP debate was the very first time he'd ever met Edwards, the Kerry camp released a photo less than 2 hours after the event, showing Cheney and Edwards standing side by side at a Prayer Breakfast a couple of years back.

Wooo, major boo-boo, Mr. Vice President. :)

Polls have shown varying results so far. Some have Cheney in the lead, others Edwards. In conclusion, we're back to square one -- a neck-and-neck race with no clear-cut outcome at this particular point in time.

The 2nd US Presidential Debate takes place tomorrow at 9am, on CNN ( Singapore time ). I'll be post-night, but you can bet I'm gonna try to watch it. :)


I Have A Question ( Well, Two Actually )

1. Whatever happened to the PAP's promise to address the opposition party MPs' queries regarding why they weren't invited to PM Lee HL's swearing-in ceremony at the Istana? Right now, the only thing I read in the papers is the ( rather childish ) exchanges between Chee Soon Juan and the entire PM ( past and present ) population. Enough already...

2. Why didn't we have an election for the PM post this year? ( And why hasn't anyone protested the fact that we didn't? )


The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom

To the very good friend who bought me this book, I apologize in advance.

In all honesty, I couldn't bring myself to read the novel. Not because of the subject matter, but due to the fact that its writing failed to engage me. I realize it's a bestseller, and has received terrific reviews for its inspirational story content. But having read Schindler's List a decade ago, that account still resonates strongly and The Hiding Place failed to suppress any of that, which made it impossible for me to appreciate the latter in any significant way.

But please don't take my word for it. :)


Germs: The Ultimate Weapon
-- by Judith Miller, Stephen Engelberg and William Broad

I got this at Sunny Bookshop, mind you. That place is a veritable treasure trove. :D

With my interest in disaster medicine -- including terrorism and biological warfare -- this tome is right up my alley. Spanning the globe -- the Soviet Union, Iraq, Japan -- and boasting a crackling pace and sharp editing, it promises to be a tasty read. More to follow at a later date.

And last but not least,


Welcome Back, Re-minisce!

He's probably wincing as he reads this, but the dude from London is home ( his second home, as he puts it ), and will be joining the ranks as an overworked, underpaid Singaporean doctor sometime soon. Good luck! :)

Time to catch 40 winks before dinner. Have a nice weekend!