Having A Little Bit 'O Fun

I'm not as tech-savvy as Angry Doctor, so this IMEEM Music Player's the best I can do. Just keep clicking the fast forward button to get more songs.

Suggestions for the little empty box:

1) Adam Lambert - Glamorize is my new favourite track!

2) Glee - the Rehab track is smokin'! ( ignore songs #4 and #5 )

I have insomnia. Going to suffer later today.

Yet Another Short Entry

Got side-tracked by clinical and administrative work - again.

First, Adam Lambert got robbed! I had an awful gut feeling he wouldn't win, but was still hoping he would. Many theories are bouncing around on the Internet, but in the end, I do realize that Adam made it to the finals by being himself, and that certainly counts for something, right?

Second, a nice Rolling Stone article, sent to me via email. A quote from the man himself: “My dream now is to make a really dope record, to do something new, push the boundaries a little bit, push people’s buttons, open people’s minds up a little bit." I can't WAIT to get my hands on his album. :)

Third, my favourite Adam picture from American Idol's Rock Week. If you've always thought I'm a conservative wuss, think again. You haven't seen me screaming myself hoarse at concerts. :)

On a different note, something to look forward to -- StarHub, please bring this to local cable! Gotta try the link from my laptop at home. Doesn't work at the hospital, dammit. You happy with yourself up there in the IT department?!?!

Morning rounds beckon. Enjoy your Sunday.

GAH!


Yes, I'm fully aware that Adam's gay / bisexual or whatever, but there's no denying his sex appeal. :)

Wanted to post a picture from Rock Week -- all that leather and bling! -- but can't seem to find it on Google and the American Idol website's photo page isn't loading properly.

So here's my next fave -- something from Motown week. I believe this is the one from his Tracks Of My Tears performance -- the studio version is excellent, but the 'live' rendition is completely different and much better.

One of the rare occasions where Adam's hair isn't flopping all over his face, and the eyeliner / nail polish are absent. He's a good-looking fellow, no? At least a 6-footer -- tall dude, me likey. :)

Thought he outsang Kris by a mile at the finals last night. His cover of Sam Cooke's A Change Is Gonna Come gave me chills, and his attempt at the original song No Boundaries ( despite it being absolutely horrible ) made it sound decent, while Kris crashed and burned when it came to his turn.

If Adam doesn't win this, then I guess either America isn't ready to embrace a non-heterosexual Idol, or the tween girls are ruling the votes this year ( after losing out in the David Archuleta department in 2008 ).

Wishing you good luck, Adam! Only 4 more hours to go before the results show starts.

And I can't wait to see Jason Mraz rock the Nokia Theater stage!

Final Showdown

Am reading the American Idol Forums since local TV and StarHub cable networks inexplicably decided not to air a 'live' telecast of the finals performance show.

Good recap here ( scroll down ).
L, you'll be happy to know that Adam chose to sing Mad World again, since you like that song. :)
I personally would've preferred If I Can't Have You. Have heard the full studio version, which is nothing short of crazy-fabulous!

Don't read the forum review if you don't want to see other spoilers - you've been warned!

As you know, I've been rooting for Adam from the word go, and hope he secures the title. He deserves it!


And, Jason Mraz fans rejoice, 'cos Mr. A-Z is going to be on the results show tomorrow, YES!
Buzz so far is that he'll do a solo - Keith Urban will duet with Kris - but I'm hoping he'll sing with either Kris or Adam ( the latter combo would be much more interesting, of course ).
AI8 is the perfect platform for Jason to go truly global and reach audiences who haven't experienced his stage presence before. Blow them away, J!


Preliminary Feedback?

Two things:

1) The new group blog - we've been getting quite a few hits from The Singapore Daily, so thanks for the free publicity.
There're about 6 doctors contributing to Singapore MD, but like I mentioned before, we've all been rather caught up with various things recently, and hope to write more regularly in the near future.
Comments are most welcome, so hope you'll leave a few when you visit.

2) Mind-bending encounters

Had one just 2 days ago, when a new MO told me s/he's never done a proctoscopic exam before.
I've had my share of shocking revelations over the past 10 years, and although this doesn't take the cake ( I've had much worse ), it's definitely a new one.
Don't ask me how s/he managed to get through med school and housemanship without ever having to stick a proctoscope up a patient. I think I asked him/her about this, but s/he dodged the question.

Will wonders never cease?


Am nursing a headache even after a full day of rest post-Monday hell. Not looking forward to the night shift later, but at least I've got American Idol finals Part 1 & 2 to keep my spirits up. Go, Adam! :)

New Blog

This is an initiative involving a group of local medical colleagues. First entry has been posted by an Infectious Disease physician, whom I guess prefers to remain anonymous for now. :)

A lot it is still under construction, so bear with us. We've all been very busy this week.

Comments are most welcome.
More to follow in the future. May invite various experts to contribute from time to time.

Desperate Times...

I can't take it anymore, so here's a short entry while I spend the last hour of my crappy night shift babysitting a case undergoing CT scans.


American Idol - The Final 2

Was there ever any doubt that Adam Lambert would reach the finish line? That crazy week where he and Kris Allen were in the bottom was obviously a fluke.

Should make a most interesting showdown - glam rocker vs boy-next-door. Kris channeled Jason Mraz with his acoustic version of Heartless this week, while Adam overdid it a little on Aerosmith's Cryin'.

I still favour Adam, who's got the goods in terms of vocals and charisma. But it remains to be seen whether a gay / bisexual this flamboyant can garner enough votes to beat a married Christian worship leader who understandably appeals to the mainstream audience.

I guess I'm quite open-minded in that respect. Bet the ousted Aware EXCO are cringing over the possible 50/50 outcome, heh heh.


Movie Marathon

Haven't watched 3 movies consecutively in a long long time. Am enjoying myself immensely. :)

Considering Wolverine, Star Trek and Angels & Demons, I can't say that any movie really stood out. Best critique would be that none of them was unbelievably bad, but then again they didn't live up to my expectations, especially Star Trek ( with its misleadingly impressive trailer ).

Since my background knowledge is strongest where A&D is concerned, trust me when I tell you to read the book. If you caught the film before touching the novel, then read it anyway. The last few chapters get rather clunky and melodramatic, but the rest of it is thrilling and fascinating, and I guarantee you will enjoy the rollercoaster ride ( even if you pretend not to :)).

If you have the chance to visit Rome in the future, make sure you take the official A&D tour, which I joined back in 2005 and absolutely loved! The guides are just wonderful.


Standing Down, For Now

So as we shift from DORSCON Orange to Yellow, leave restrictions are being relaxed, although I've already gone ahead with cancelling my July vacation to Europe. Dammit!

Anyway, I take comfort in the fact that I've booked another trip, for semi-official reasons, to a country that's closer to home. Just have to wait another extra couple of months before I can get away. Even if the 2nd wave hits us and my leave is threatened, I intend to appeal.
I mean, we have to be reasonable to some extent, right?


Boy am I exhausted. This is one of the rare occasions where I can't leave the ER to get some rest. Only managed a short supper break, which was fortunately taken at just the right moment before the sick patients arrived. Even if my brain's toasted, at least my stomach's full. :)

Time for some breakfast, then 2 hours of overtime covering the new MOs undergoing orientation lectures. Yippee.

The Polls Continue

Short entry because of time constraints - lots of that occurring since returning to work last Monday, sigh.

With swine flu still featuring prominently in the news, the latest question stays on the same topic, and I've left the previous 2 polls' results on the main page to see if what readers here predicted hold true ( although some options are actually quite ambiguous heh ).

Will try to write something more detailed later this week. For now, you can probably get more updates via Twitter.

Watching Angels & Demons tomorrow. Wondering if I should catch Terminator: Salvation next week.

And So It Begins

Link to a new blog, titled Mumblings, maintained by someone who recently joined the house officer pool.

I know the author personally, and his/her earlier blog, Med School Mumblings, has posted its last chapter.

Welcome to working life! Is it everything you imagined it to be? :)

The Jane Austen Book Club Online

Wow, someone actually uploaded the movie on YouTube!

You can watch the film in 10-minute segments ( Part 13 was removed by the user, but you get the idea by Part 12 ).

Part 5 has a really nice scene which starts at the 7th minute. To put things in context, Emily Blunt's a high school teacher, and the guy's one of her students. Won't spill the rest of the beans. :)

Part 7 is a lunch scene, but NOT the one I wrote about. This sequence starts in Part 6, and I just love the dialogue. At the end of Part 6, Dancy says "I like difficult things.", which I found hilarious.
His character's one of the sweetest around. If I've piqued your interest, watch the rest of the clips and start at the very beginning to see how he and Maria Bello's character first meet, and how their relationship progresses.

Part 8 is something our Ministry of Education will frown upon. Haha.

Part 9 - Now THIS is the lunch scene where Dancy looks fabulous! Starts at the 60-second mark. Make sure you watch it in full-screen mode. :)

Last but not least, congratulations to Jamie Cullum, who just announced his engagement to Sophie Dahl. Never expected him to get hitched so soon, but it's great that he has.
Jason Mraz is more elusive in the marriage department. Hope he stays single a while longer. :D

It's 2am. Wonder if I should log off... maybe not. :)

Brief Entry

Was contemplating a lengthy post, being on leave and all, but lost steam somewhere along the way. Time has passed too quickly for my liking, and I am NOT looking forward to returning to work in 2 days' time.

Thanks to a blogger friend in Canada, I notice visits from the Western hemisphere due to the swine flu outbreak, which I briefly mentioned last weekend.

There's a high chance you will read more from me once I'm back in what I call "the hot zone" on Monday, but since Singapore is still quite distant from the main cluster ( USA and Mexico ), my comments are unlikely to be as anxious as those from the 2003 SARS episode.

I have, however, been receiving updates from friends in the ER and wards, and my mailbox continues to be flooded with the latest management protocols for suspected cases. SARS has taught us well, so the measures being taken - though some may consider rather extreme - are fully welcomed by those of us working the trenches.

Ironically, healthcare institutions - with their stringent isolation protocols and 1-visitor-a-day rules - may end up being the safest locations, since I have absolutely zero faith in Singaporeans' sense of civic responsibility. Despite our Health Minister's appeals which made headlines today, I am not hopeful where the locals' personal habits are concerned. As soon as H1N1 hits our shores for whatever reason, I am certain it will spread like wildfire until Singaporeans are forced to stay home, either by the authorities or out of fear, which is what happened in 2003.

But try telling that to my mom, who's already close to freaking out since my leave ends this weekend. Not again, she says, and who can blame her? She still remembers my close brush with a SARS patient who died during my night call but who wasn't diagnosed with the illness till a couple of days later. Those of us who came into contact with her were fortunate because she turned out to be a "non-spreader", and although I took the news calmly and endured the next 14 days of hospital phone calls checking on my health ( I wasn't even granted leave from work due to the manpower shortage ) without breaking a sweat, I don't want to put my parents through that agony again.

Plus, I was in the medical ward back then. This time, it's the ER, which is 100 times more dangerous.

I don't know if age has hardened me, or whether my experience from the SARS epidemic accounts for my current state of mind. My mom asks how I can stay so cool about the possibility of a global pandemic. I don't have a ready answer, but like all my frontline medical colleagues out there, we realize we have a job to do, and accept the responsibilities thrust upon us. And since Singaporeans are famous for not appreciating healthcare workers, an outbreak like this every 5 years serves as a good wake-up call.


On a less depressing note, Wolverine was a nice way to kickstart my movie-going spree. Hugh Jackman is the best reason to watch this otherwise fluffy flick, but the special effects are also pretty awesome ( especially a sequence with Deadpool using his sword to slice bullets ). Taylor Kitsch who plays Gambit proved to be quite the breakout performer. Strong resemblance to James Franco, but better-looking.

Next films on my list: Star Trek ( trailer is unbelievable! ), followed by Angels & Demons ( superb novel, and I've been on the official Rome tour, so it better not disappoint! ).

Another recommendation: The Jane Austen Book Club, which I recently saw on cable. Typical female angst stuff, but I've developed a great affinity for Hugh Dancy, who is adorable as a younger man who pursues an older woman ( played by Maria Bello ). There's a lunch scene where the sunlight illuminates his face, and he looks absolutely gorgeous!
Sorry, I have hormones, okay? :)

Last but not least, the abominable results from this week's American Idol, where poor Adam was in the bottom 2, and Allison was safe! Huh?! This had better not happen again!

On the upside, Taylor Hicks performed, which was a surprise since the last time I read about him and AI, they'd parted on bad terms after creative disagreements.
He's lost a lot of weight, looked and sounded great, and got a standing ovation from all 4 judges ( an even bigger surprise! ).

Next week's theme: Rock! Adam is going to blow the roof off the place, and the fans had better vote for him this time!

Battling insomnia again. Time to visit YouTube. :)

Awww :)

Stumbled upon this lovely video of James McAvoy at the Apollo Theatre stage door - have been wondering what he's up to, turns out he's in a stage play in London. This is one of those times when I really hate being stuck in Singapore.

He's a friendly chap, isn't he? Much more obliging than Kevin Spacey ( yes, there're stage door videos of him from Broadway - seems a bit grouchy ).

It's 3am and I can't sleep.

Watching Wolverine later today. Hope I don't doze off.

Just posting a photo of my favourite American Idol contestant this year. Wishing him good luck as he races to the finish line!

Into The Wild

I thought I could write a long review, but the night shift's been bad and I'm bogged down by various administrative tasks, so this might turn out to be much shorter than I'd prefer.

Whenever I prepare to watch something, be it a film / TV show / play / concert, I always have expectations of some sort. My mood and general degree of wakefulness also contribute to the overall enjoyment, and the whole mix can result in me either loving the entire experience, or hating it to the core of my being.

Maybe I should post these criteria in all my future reviews:

Expectations - low / medium / high
Mood - delirious vs pissed off
Energy level - near comatose or bouncing off the walls

For Into The Wild, the background info I had was a little patchy. I knew Emile Hirsch was in it, that it was directed by Sean Penn, and that it had garnered rave reviews ( though not in terms of an Oscar sweep ).

I caught the 10pm telecast on cable Saturday night, following what I can only describe as a SUPER-CRAPPY FUBAR morning shift in the ER which gave me a tension headache, nausea and bad myalgia in both lower limbs. As such:

Expectations - medium
Mood - extremely grouchy
Energy level - half-dead but unable to sleep at that early hour so let's watch some TV first

Within the first 15 minutes, I was hooked.
Perhaps my lack of in-depth knowledge about the plot helped me stick through the whole 2.5 hours. I thought it would be a straightforward prolonged trek through the wilderness, man vs nature type of epic - like Cast Away, only set in Alaska.

You can read the storyline to your heart's content on the Net, but this exquisite piece of film-making is almost flawless in its execution, from the breath-taking cinematography to the excellent cast. Of course, it helps to have a good book as a guide ( it's based on a novel by Jon Krakauer ), and although I haven't read it, I'm certain many of the most lyrical lines were lifted word for word by Penn ( who wrote the screenplay ). The narratives by the lead character's younger sister are the most poignant, and while I can't quote them offhand at this time, I can tell you that they reduced me to tears time and time again.

Emile Hirsch is now #3 on my list of Rising Young Actors, after James McAvoy and Shia LaBeouf, which says a lot about the impression he made. I was riveted from the word go, and held spellbound by his adventures, whether mundane or exhilarating. He spars admirably with veterans William Hurt and Marcia Gay Harden, demonstrates wonderful chemistry with co-stars both male and female ( Twilight's Kristen Stewart turns in a lovely, understated performance ), but excels the most in solo scenes - in particular, those set in the Alaskan mountains, where his character spent the last 3 months of his life in complete isolation.

Since I highly recommend all my readers to watch this movie, I won't post too many spoilers here. As long as you're patient and open yourself to everything it has to offer, it will be nothing less than unforgettable and life-changing.

My mom dozed through the film - not her cup of tea - and scoffed when I related the plot to her the next day. But she sees it from a mother's perspective, the same way protagonist Chris McCandless' parents couldn't come to terms with his actions even after 2 long years.
I, on the other hand, see it from McCandless' point of view, and thus comprehend his unbridled wanderlust, since I harbour my own from time to time ( usually when I get my migraines ). Not that I have the choice of packing up and leaving home without suffering any consequences! I've learned not to test my mom beyond her limits. :)

I guess the best thing about Into The Wild is what I've taken away from the experience - a greater appreciation for the human condition, a better understanding of family dynamics, and being blown away by the beauty of the written and spoken word ( doesn't happen often! ).

Dead Poets Society still has the #1 Favourite Movie Of All Time spot, but Into The Wild has sidled into #2.

Make sure you see it.


Oscar Winner Ethan Coen's On Twitter

And we're having a nice chat. :)

Check out his Twitter page. He's been incredibly accomodating in answering readers' questions, and has already said the Coen brothers will work with Nicolas Cage again sometime in the future ( he acted in Raising Arizona eons ago - one of his best roles ever ), that he admires Denzel Washington and Daniel Day-Lewis, as well as Leo DiCaprio and Jamie Foxx.

Any of you Coen brothers fans out there? They're the guys who won the Oscar for No Country For Old Men last year, though I personally think Fargo was their crowning achievement.

He's got only about 200 followers so far ( unlike Kevin Spacey's crazy 130,000 ), so chances are high if you tweet him. Chance of a lifetime!


American Idol's Top 5

I'm very happy about the remaining contestants - saving Matt Giraud turned out to be a good move on the judges' part, and I'm glad he's made it this far despite the odds.

Still rooting hard for Adam Lambert though. He's way ahead of the pack, and if I can see him on-stage when I'm back in the U.S. next year, I will do whatever I can to catch his show.

Go Adam! :)


Leave Options

Will start a week of annual leave today. About time, since I can literally feel all the cells in my body dying one by one these days. ( You think it's a joke? It isn't! )

Tried to extend a stay overseas so I can hop over to London to see Spring Awakening, but something about my plane ticket didn't work out so I can't switch flights. ARGH, this Krisflyer redemption booking system wrecked my plan!

Another time then, I suppose. I'm just not meant to see this musical...


Next Pandemic Around The Corner?

Last but not least, a prayer for those affected by the swine flu outbreak.

Protective measures have already been implemented in our department. Had forgotten just how much I detest the N95 masks until I had to wear one tonight. Add the impermeable gowns and you have a bunch of people drenched in sweat working the ER. Yes, even with the air-conditioning blasting. I'm quite okay with the temperature - endured an open-air C class ward for 2 months back in 2003, so this is nothing - but the mask is still pretty awful.

Hope it blows over by the time I return to work next week.

Till next time, take care, and stay healthy.

Great Videos!

Once again, thanks to L, who's always keeping me up to date. :)

A trailer for GLEE, the new TV series from Ryan Murphy, who also created the dark and often disturbing ( my guilty pleasure :)) Nip/Tuck.
I only hope local cable or Mediacorp will bring it to our shores.

And, clips of Patrick Wilson - yes, the dude from Hard Candy, Little Children and Watchmen - singing Broadway numbers.

Here's one from The Full Monty, performed at the 2001 Tony Awards. A little blurry, but you can definitely pick him out.

And, from the 2004 film adaptation of The Phantom Of The Opera - truth be told, I hated this movie because I just couldn't accept anyone other than Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman playing the leads. But watching this segment 5 years later is more tolerable. Wilson makes a suitably vulnerable Raoul, and he sings beautifully. How could I have missed this? Was probably too horrified by Emmy Rossum's weak vocals.

And, my favourite so far, Wilson singing On The Street Where You Live from My Fair Lady, at a Julie Andrews tribute. This is a piece I can never get enough of, and he does a magnificent job. Listen to that amazing vibrato, and see how Andrews beams!
( Here's the original movie sequence. )

His talent is wasted in movies. Hope he returns to Broadway, or sings in one of his subsequent films.

Before I sign off for the weekend, a new clip from John Lloyd Young: They Can't Take That Away From Me.

Broadway rant over. :)

Catchphrase Of The Day

Dare to dream -- and dream big.

Thanks to the great Ethan Coen via Twitter, I'd like to recommend this cool website, which features the world's first wireless phone projector. The company's co-founded by a 20-year-old college student, and he's already impressed Mr. Coen with a "powerful" script.

Makes me feel kinda pathetic, turning 34 in about a month's time and still hoping to write a novel / screenplay. Yes yes, it's all about time management. But I do need inspiration, and so while I'm toying with a couple of ideas, it's the organization that requires lots of work.

But there's no doubt that today's events have renewed my enthusiasm - which has been fizzling over the past 6 months due to the usual mixture of work fatigue and recreational distractions.

I'm fully aware that government officials read my blog, so maybe they can contact Mr. Maric and invite him to Singapore for a chat / expo? Maybe get him to lecture at one of our universities or polytechnics, collaborate on a project?

Am off today, but the weekend's packed with activities. Can't wait to go on leave next week.

Britain's Got Talent!

I know everyone's raving about Susan Boyle, but I think Paul Potts is far better.

Short entry. Back to work...

In Brief

Watched True Blood episodes 5 & 6 last night - it's getting better and better! Stephen Moyer greatly impresses - they should put him in every scene.

Have already added a link to the fansite on the right. Really love this series.

Funny thing is, at least 3 of the lead actors aren't even American. Stephen Moyer is British, Anna Paquin is a New Zealander, and the guy who plays Sookie's brother ( Ryan Kwanten ) is Australian.

Well, doesn't matter as long as they pick the right people to play the right parts. Twilight's Robert Pattinson's British too - definitely better-looking than Moyer but nowhere as intense or sexy. But then, I prefer older men, so I'm biased. :)

Another favourite, Damages, has returned ( finally! ). Season 2 is proving to be quite a mind-bender, and get a load of the star power: William Hurt, Marcia Gay Harden, and Timothy Olyphant ( the villain in Die Hard 4.0, and the romantic lead in Catch & Release ). I just love brainy legal dramas.

Rented Eagle Eye recently ( from the Tanglin Club library, so it costs next to nothing ): agree that it's essentially quite a dumb movie, but I thought Shia LaBeouf and Michelle Monaghan were very watchable in a nice, non-irritating way.
Shia's the only reason I even bothered to sit through the whole thing. You can't deny his talent.

Jumper, on the other hand, is PAINFUL, man. I've never liked Hayden Christensen, and Star Wars Episodes I-III had some major casting boo-boo's ( Samuel L. Jackson does not make a good Jedi, hello! ), among them the wooden Christensen.
So here he is, wooden as ever, aided by his partner-in-crime, the ditzy Rachel Bilson from The O.C., doing her California-chick-rolls-eyes-and-bats-eyelashes routine. It isn't so bad in a 1-hour TV series with a variety of ditzes ( Mischa Barton, for example ), but enduring her for 90 minutes is like having my fingernails avulsed. Her attempts at emoting are compounded by Christensen's own failure at any form of decent acting. Now that they're engaged in real life, I couldn't be happier 'cos they're truly perfect for each other. :)

One flick I can recommend is Grace Is Gone, starring the always reliable John Cusack.
Finally got my hands on it, and he's almost unrecognizable as the bespectacled, mousy husband of a soldier ( i.e. Grace ) who dies in Iraq.
He slouches and has a shuffling gait. He speaks barely above a whisper, and looks absolutely miserable in every scene. But his rapport with the 2 young female co-stars who play his oblivious daughters is wonderful to behold.
Don't like this as much as I do Martian Child, but it's a must for any Cusack fan.


In other news, my blog is apparently ruffling a few feathers - again. I'm always open to direct feedback, so send me an email or call. It's better than hearing about it in a roundabout way.

Anyway, am joining friends for a nice buffet dinner at a posh hotel this evening. Reward for planning the recent local emergency medicine conference. Can't wait to get my hands on the seafood and desserts! :)

Cause & Effect

I used to think it was hormonal, but it's becoming clearer that it isn't.

The thought of going to work actually depresses me.

And it manifests physically in the form of severe lethargy and, more recently, generalized myalgia.

Sigh, man.

Maybe it's just time for another break -- taking 5 days off end of the month.

The annual long vacation can't get here fast enough!


Free Jason Mraz MP3s!

Seem to comprise mostly older songs from his earlier years ( with a nice collection of never-before-released pieces ) but the majority is in acoustic form and has never appeared on a commercial album, so these performances are precious.

From The Cutting Room Floor has a couple of excellent tracks, in particular the very cheeky Older Lover Undercover. Think of it as a coffee-house version of Me And Mrs. Jones. :)

As for Before Rockets And Roosters, these are essentially taken from an acoustic gig, complete with scratchy sound and minimal backup. A perfect illustration of Jason's ability to sound fantastic without the need for any band accompaniment. The "oompa" version of You And I Both is hilarious, and the audience obviously had a great time as well!

I also found a better site through Google -- one where the download speed is 10 times faster, with no-frills direct transfer to iTunes. Be sure to sample Summer Breeze, Shy That Way ( his beautiful duet with ex-girlfriend Tristan Prettyman ), I Melt With You ( from the 50 First Dates soundtrack ) and Rainbow Connection.

For a free MP3 of The Beauty In Ugly ( such a great song! ), go to this site. The Spanish version is even better.

True Blood - First Impressions

Watched 4 episodes back-to-back on Thursday, and the verdict? I like it. A lot.

I haven't checked up on the chronological order of events yet -- which came first, Charlaine Harris' Southern Vampire novels, or the Twilight saga? -- but the overlaps can't be ignored.

Much older male vampire falls in love with a virginal young mortal girl.
One of them is telepathic - in Twilight, it's Edward; in True Blood, it's Sookie.
Bill hails from the Civil War era and was attacked on the way home to his family -- in Twilight, same thing happened to Jasper.
Both vampires have to fight the constant temptation to kill their female objects of affection.
There's a scene in the car where the couple share details about their lives.

Still, True Blood offers a much more realistic depiction of vampires, and of life in general. There's a gay character, lots of family dysfunction, murder, blood-borne diseases, illegal drug dealing... you get the idea.

Wishing you a Happy Easter.

Success!

Bear with me, people. I've been a devoted Kevin Spacey fan for the longest time, and can't believe he replied to me today, multiple times in fact. :)

I figured out the trick: tweet him when he's online ( not texting from his phone ), and ask him questions that he's likely to answer ( though he does reply to a few strange / cheeky ones here and there ). Considering the 12-hour time difference ( I assume he's still in NYC ), it's pretty tough for those of us in the East. ( I am - you guessed it - on night shift, yet again. )

My questions are on my Twitter page, his responses on his.
He's getting about 1000 new followers A DAY. To get an idea of the message load he receives, use Twitter Search and type @KevinSpacey in the box.

Breaking news: he's open to touring with The Bridge Project! Although he did mention he's very busy at the moment, he hasn't said an outright no to the touring bit. Good news for those who can't travel to the US or London to see him on-stage.

Ahh, I'm on cloud nine right now. Haven't been there since meeting Jason Mraz. Both these guys have made my entire year. :)

Pay Hugh Jackman a visit on Twitter ( 1st entry made April 6th ). Hope he stays on even after the Wolverine press tour concludes.


And Speaking Of Jason Mraz

David Archuleta mentioned him in his Life! interview yesterday. Didn't even know David was in town. And why in the world did they put him in a Bugis shopping mall for his showcase? Thought he deserved better.


True Blood Premieres Tonight

On digital cable Channel 59. Looks extremely gory. Me likey. :)

More Jason Mraz Songs


Music I'm hearing for the very first time. Leaves me speechless - in a good way, of course. :)


God Moves Through You

One Love

You Make Me High

Summer Breeze

Prettiest Friend - really like this one.

Rainbow Connection ( aka the Kermit The Frog theme ) - exquisite!

Blitzkrieg Bop - covering The Ramones. Jason can do no wrong. :)


And... a video of The Beauty In Ugly ( song featured on Ugly Betty ) and one of my absolute favourites, On Love, In Sadness ( he's 25 years old in this one, amazing how he can write such a complex piece ).

Ahh, I love it when I don't have to work. :)