Hallowe'en

laurie strode without her botox

ALL ABOUT AH-LONG

5On your mark: Ah-Long getting set to go for one final round of glory (even if everything ends up in flames).

One of Johnnie To's primordial offerings pairs Hong Kong superstar Chow Yun-Fat with Taiwanese actress Sylvia Chang - both rather young then - in an affecting and ultimately heartbreaking (melo)drama about familial bonds, redemption and second chances in life. Oh, and motorcycle racing. That morose and melancholic Lo Ta-yu number, for the record, still lingers in my mind.

A Breezy Ride

Say, anybody else feels this 'connector' section of the 'am-arty' train's as chilly as a Greenland glacier?

Cannonball Run (AKA Wewease the Secwet Weapon!)

Don't dub me a 'dua pao sian' when I declare we have enough fire power in our armory to singularly engage and entrap a succession of hostile forces from the north, south, east and west. Can't you see? These big guns speak for themselves! (Photos collectively taken at Istana Singapore, Fort Canning and Fort Siloso.)

TRIPLE NINE

I'm not joking or being sarcastic here when I say TRIPLE NINE (starring James 'Mr. Diana Ser' Lye, Wong 'Mrs. Allan Wu' Li-Lin, Lim 'Mr. Tan Kheng Hua' Yu-Beng and later Mark 'Mr. Beatrice Chia' Richmond) was one of my favorite local TV series. I thought the teleplay of this police procedural drama ("Fwah! What the hell happened to this guy, man?") was pretty well written. Come on, what's wrong with these detractors?

Mini Toons

One of Lee Tai Toon's kids donning that ominous raincoat from DARK WATER.

Malay Heritage Centre

Present within the bounds of Istana Kampong Glam @ Sultan Gate are a heritage museum (with creaky wooden floors), Gelam trees, a Bugis prahu, and a host of hungry mosquitoes. Mr. Eddy Mohd Hassan should do something about it.

Godfrey's Girl

Dishy Derm trying her hands on a Honda in ภูเก็ต. Rev that up, baby!

Spanking New Car

It was reported in the noose earlier this evening that public transport users have distanced themselves from bumpy buses and 'tracky' trains (no, those weren't the exact words used), whereas private car owners have risen in numbers from 2004. Auto dealers in Queenstown and Commonwealth must be smiling from ear to ear, then ^_^

The French Stall

5Chicken Leg with Trompette Mushroom Sauce

~ BON APETIT ~

6Pan-Fried John Dory Fillet with Mashed Potatoes

Ezann Lee

Is it considered a compliment or insult if we conclude that Ericia's sister is a cross between Maggie Cheung and JJ Lin?

Dragon's Breath

In spite of stiffer sanctions imposed by the United Nations on Indonesia, inconsiderate Sumatran pillagers continue to torch forests (and mess up our PSI) with the scorching flames of this Fort Canning dragon. Shame on them! But what do they feed it?

When the Door Swings

Stuck-up snobs with their noses in the air or simply peeps with aquiline sniffers (literally) face the danger of being 'flat-featured' if they don't pay enough attention. How's that for a 'facial rearrangement'?

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY is, without a shadow of doubt, this year's scariest movie. In fact, it's the scariest movie (by Hollywood standards) in ten years - since 1999's THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT, which was similarly shot on a shoestring budget using a hand-held camera.

Without giving away too much of the plot, let's just say this mockumentary introduces some new (disturbing) elements to the conventional 'home haunting' scenarios. Moreover, you'll see things here that you've never seen in other horror movies (Asian or Hollywood) - things that'll unsettle you for a long, long time.

Zubir Said

He composed our national anthem Majulah Singapura, but it doesn't necessarily mean that Singapore Idol Taufik Batisah can sing it right.

It's a Steal!

These women's raiment are lelonged at such reduced prices - forasmuch as this is a storefront in overpriced Orchard - that you gotta invoke your inner skeptic. The $4.00 piece probably falls apart at the seams. Anyone game for a little wardrobe malfunction? :-P

The Wine Kone

He had me at "don't worry" when I stumbled upon his Hotness Prevails video more than a couple of years ago.

One of the most subscribed YouTubers in Canada, Tony Huynh showcases his characteristic brand of comedy that's at once smart, knowing and self-deprecating (although TWK himself described it as "unintelligible, unintelligent, and the ever familiar WTF").

Lotus 1-2-3

mangrove & wetland wildlife only a stone's throw away from rocky master

Jungle Fever

Get a feel of safari by stepping into this ambience-filled expo booth courtesy of Solutions17, operator and holding company of 3-Monkeys (among others). But don't expect anything more than a packet of peanuts from Samy's Curry.

Reanimation

Q: What do Michael Jackson, Stephen King and George A. Romero have in common? A: They'd all dabbled in the un-dead. Jackson in Thriller, King in Pet Sematary, and Romero in the DEAD series. While bringing a corpse back to life per se requires a stretch of the imagination (and abandonment of disbelief), it's known that Haitian voodooists can turn humans into 'zombies' by means of poisons and live burials (ref: THE SERPENT AND THE RAINBOW).

Car Troubles

My, I say it's so ma fan to own a car (not that I can drive, anyways - hehe). No wonder they say cars are a liability, not an asset.

Imagine not being able to wash your car (is that a venom spitting anaconda?!) after a long drive to and back from Malacca. Or, not being allowed to park right in your own garage (did they forget to revise GST from 5%?).

Centrifugal

everything in life comes full circle

Nan Chiau Boys

Boy 1: Do you think Mr. Sufi will be mad at us for skipping his PE lesson to play with toys here?
Boy 2: No, lah. It's pilates, okay. So lame. I don't wanna be laughed at for being a sissy, lor.
Boy 1: But what if he reports us to the new discipline master? I heard he's very strict.
Boy 2: Like that, at most see our parents or kena public caning, lor.

Istana

At yesterday's Open House, there were locals and foreigners from China, India, the Philippines, et al. But His Excellency President S. R. Nathan himself was nowhere to be sighted in the once nutmeg plantation.

Pangolin

It says (on the nameplate below, for your benefit) "pangolins are native to Singapore..." Hey, I never knew we had such animals roaming around here? Where? And I bet you thought this was an armadillo, huh?

दीपावली, दिवाली

Happy holidays to all Hindus!

Curb Your Laughter

Even though Reggie's fat momma jokes are really off the chain.

A Battle Lost

So what if you've lost your bid for Barclays EPL broadcast rights to SingTel's mio TV? Big deal. You still got your live telecasts of cricket and polo, right?

Passport to the World

For some of us who don't go on holiday much (esp. not to places like Antarctica - h'lo?), here's a chance to get our filthy footprints all over the 'world'. Hey, it's (a) cheap (thrill)!

New Nightmare

25 years ago, Wes Craven and New Line Cinema introduced Freddy Krueger and A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET to the world of horror movies. Not only did resident haunters Jason and Michael find company-cum-credible-competition in this new boogeyman on the block, a neoteric breed of slasher film was also born. From his dirty red-and-green sweater to his dusty brown fedora to his trademark razor glove ("he had knives for fingers!"), Freddy was an instant classic. Fervent fans like yours truly, who has followed the series since his preteen years, know "the son of a hundred maniacs" to be undead and more unkillable ("I am eternal") than any screen villain they have ever seen. Indeed, for Michael Bay and Platinum Dunes (along with NLC) are bringing back the deranged and disfigured dream stalker (with Jackie Earle Haley taking over the iconic role from Robert Englund) for one more scare - at least.

Rooftop Pool

This rooftop garden and swimming pool at Pan Pacific Orchard provide for an afternoon of lounging and relaxation. Expatriates will dig the idea; locals, not so sure. Where am I getting with this?

Banana Split 2

At $7.80 per boat, I'm not sure if Cafe' Cartel's banana split costs more than Swensen's, but it sure tastes just as schmooth & schweet! (Didn't fancy the cherry, though.)

Is It Over?

Unless you've been living under a rock all this time, you would've heard/read about the Ris Low saga/scandal. To make a long story short, the former Miss Singapore World 2009 winner was publicly disgraced for her poor command of English (I doubt she could even speak proper Singlish) and previous conviction of credit card fraud, and subsequently dethroned from her pedestal. Since first runner-up Claire Lee's suffering from chronic back problems (and is also accused of backstabbing the kleptomanic klutz), second runner-up Pilar Arlando (pictured) has recently been chosen by pageant organizer ERM World to replace 'bipolaric' Ris and represent us at the South Africa finals in December. In her own words: "I do not have any convictions or criminal records. I enjoy traveling, baking and participating in various sports activities. I'm a good girl." Note to Ms. Arlando: No need to gloat or get big-headed. You're only third best.

Bo Hugh

Believe it or not, there's not one Playboy magazine to be found here5. NOT ONE. Hugh Hefner would be so damn disappointed.

Irish Dreads

dublin's only topless car wash

TunNEL Vision

Captured this (seldom-seem) shot - via night mode - whilst on an NEL (North-East Line) SBS Transit train en route from Sengkang to Outram Park. Now, what we don't wanna count on are some alien parasites (think CLOVERFIELD) catching up on us! Or another fallacious 'track fault'.

.: Photo Finish :. Turns Four!

How time flies, Teddy! If I had a kid when I started this blog, s/he would be in Nursery 2 (and have developed fine motor skills) by now :-O Speaking of which, anybody bothered to bethink my introductory post here? (Hint: 'Johnny Hates Mumps'.)

Sue Natural

Freshly scrubbed Miss Tey Sue Sue Surreality sans makeup and looking fine. Neutrogena endorsement, maybe?

Red Potatoes?

They're starchy and tuber-ous, and they make good (merah?) porridge, these sweet potatoes. Granny would know.

Vintage Posters

Two of a hundred-plus posters (just plain guess-timating) on display at National Archives of Singapore's The Second Decade - Nation Building in Progress: 1975 - 1985 traveling exhibition @ Iluma. Basically, they're telling us to save energy, because if we don't and the monthly utilities bill comes in we're going to have high blood pressure. Is that the message conveyed?

Scary Sharie

It's pretty unfathomable how pixie-faced Ann Kok lookalike Shareefah Daanish5, 27, can be transfigured into the Evil Mother in DARAH6.