Phones Way Too Cool For This Age

Read more and see more futuristic phones at: http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/30-futuristic-phones-we-wish-were-real/

Angry Bird

Well if you pardon the language, it's quite a funny parody of a very fun and popular game.

AWAY FROM 30th Nov to 7th Dec.

See above.

Going to be frolicking in Australia's beaches, screaming atop roller coasters, marveling at the Opera House, and trying to maintain family sanity at the same time.

Down Under, here I come.

The New Phone

I have gotten my new phone. In fact I am typing on it. It's black, bold and it's not an iPhone.

An iPhone 4 is no longer cool.

I was looking for a mobile phone to purchase, since I have been working quite hard with my unofficial full time job- refereeing. Every piece of the moolah has been earned with blood and sweat, not so much blood, but believe me, a lot of sweat has been involved. Just ask my mum who has to wash my uniform and pants.

So, basically, in this era where Steve Jobs is literally the iKing of coolness and turtlenecks, of course my first option will be an iPhone 4. But, a few weeks back, a referee who is around 50ish was spotted carrying the phone. No offence, but you know how the older folks look when they try to use their fingers to swipe the phone, pausing in between swipes so they can lower their eyes on their spectacles to get a good look on the words.

It was a minor setback. Many other people still use it, right? Like University students, like teenagers, like kids.

But today, oh boy, today, I have come to the conclusion that it is no longer cool. My own Dad whipped out his shiny new phone, and just by looking at the contours, I hyperventilated and screamed "YOU HAVE AN IPHONE 4?".

(The hyperventilation is an exaggeration.)

"Ya." He answered. "Even Uncle Sim have wad. Raja (the Indian national working at his company) also have."

Nooooo. No. No. No.

The definition of coolness lies in its exclusivity, in how it oozes uniqueness. When I saw my Dad's iPhone, there were 3 other iPhone 4s around, and one other iPhone 3Gs which looked sad and out of place. When there was a ringtone (somehow all their ringtones are the same- did Steve Jobs have anything to do with it?), everyone young and old reached out for their phone. The young felt for the vibration, the old put the phone to their ear to make sure it was theirs. It was an iPhone party. (I wanted to say orgy but old folks and orgy don't go well together I'm sure)

And it led me to think immediately, "Now how about a Blackberry? Or a HTC?"

The Japan Diaries- To Cycle at Mount Fuji

Not literally cycling up in the mountain, as the title might suggest, but rather, at the lake near the majestic ice-capped mountain.

After departing from Hammamatsu, we took the Yokohama metro line to a station near Mt. Fuji, and changed trains, after some confusion. We squeezed into the Fuji Express, a short train with vivid paintings of Mt Fuji as a caricature, with a lovely smile and two button eyes, with other tourists (mostly Caucasians). 10 minutes into the ride, we saw the real McCoy in the distance, standing there tall, bathed in a dreamy white top.

When we reached the train station, we could see the entire mountain in its glory. Some people had told us that being able to see the mountain is a matter of luck. The very next day, when we returned to take the train to Tokyo, the place was shrouded in such thick fog that the huge mountain was wiped out from the sky. It looked as if it was never there.

Since it was nearly Summer and the ice was melting, it was considered unsafe to climb the mountain, or rather a dormant volcano. So we didn’t. Instead, we embarked on a stress-free cycling trip round one of the five lakes near the mountain for that day. No hassle, no city sights, no rushing. It was just us, the rental bikes, and a large volcano in the background.

In the evening, we went to the Onsen (hot spring) near our hostel, K House Mt Fuji. Having spent 10 days with each other already, we were quite comfy at the Onsen, even if it means having to see everybody (by everybody I mean females) naked.

Yes you read it right. But don't get any funny or dirty ideas. It's really liberating. After you've seen the 10th, 20th, 30th naked girl around, you're so used to it that you'll probably find it strange if someone walks in with clothes on. It makes me wonder how Singapore might have been if there is ever an "onsen" here. Maybe censorship laws will relax. Maybe everyone will relax.

We spotted the most famed Japanese volcano in the train. So pretty.

And we reached Mt Fuji Station. See cute train behind.

This is K's House Mt Fuji. A very, very nice hostel. This is the common area.

We went cycling!

And threw rocks. So happy.

Next up, look out for our Tokyo Hostel Horror. Ok, it wasn't much of a horror, but it is a traveler's top nightmare. Choosing a WRONG hostel.

My ride is back.

Jughead: Hey Arch, I noticed your car has no windshield wiper. How come?

Archie: Simple Jug, no windshield.

Oldies, goodies.

Chris Taylor (Charlie Sheen): [narrating] Maybe I finally found it, way down here in the mud. Maybe from down here I can start up again, be something I can be proud of, without having to fake it, be a fake human being.

That was the last line in the 1986 movie, Platoon, by Oliver Stone. Refreshing to see a really young Charlie Sheen and William Defoe.

Oldies are indeed goodies.

Lazy Sunday

After a bangin' Saturday night where I accidentally damaged the Rush's rear window and spent 15 minutes literally picking up the pieces, the glass pieces, that is, I woke up late on Sunday and missed morning service.

But I resolved to go to church, and went for evening service in a bus. Now I know church is 1 hour away. Anyway since almost everyone in cell attends morning service, I thought that I'll probably only see Yunhui. To my pleasant surprise though, Lea, Sheila, Lu Jia came for evening service as well! Praise the Lord for a wonderful evening. Shannon, Ruth and Roman, as well as Geri (wonder if I spelt it right) were also there and we went for a nice dinner at the kopitiam before I went home. Plus Roman made a dessert from goat's milk which he let everyone try, and Yunhui also let us try cookies that her school kids made for a fundraising event.

With all that (free) food, I wonder if I should switch to evening service... hmm...

Haha! Just kidding.

Why I love to play taboo so much.

Sean: You pass it in the toilet!
Everybody: Motion!

Me: You play it using your body!! Your body!!
Everybody: ??? Harp?
Answer: Violin.

Grace: (after hearing my above description, in another round) You play it using your body!!
August: Harp!
Correct.

Felily: If you leave me now... you'll take away a part of me.. woohooohoo.. who sang it?
Sam: Chicago!
Correct.

Me: What Ji Sung?
Sam: Park!
Correct.

Sean: The white white one! Round round one! Can eat!
Evan: Lychee?
Wrong.

Felily: I do this every night in Shanghai!
Joyce: Mop!
Wrong.

Felily: I what the windows?
Joyce: Mop!
Wrong.

Amanda: Dee, you have a what in between your teeth?
Me: Gap!
Correct.
Me: Eh, I don't have a gap in between my teeth leh.

And the best one.

Sean: I want to be a what when I grow up?
Everyone: Teacher! Doctor! Successful!
August: Adult!
Sean: The answer is career.
August: Huh? I don't want to be a career when I grow up...

Sesame Street has changed. Really changed.

I haven't watched a single episode of Sesame Street in years! So imagine my pleasant surprise when I went to youtube just to search for some celebrity music video and found....

ALL OF THESE AMAZING and HILARIOUS CLIPS!

Katy Perry sings "Hot and Cold" with Elmo!



Ben Stiller is a cheese in Sesame Street



Norah Jones "Don't Know Y". Yes the letter Y.



Sheryl Crow soaks up the sun with "i"



"I is gonna soak up the sun." I have so many thoughts about that in Sesame Street.


Jason Mraz sings "I.... can't wait to go outdoors".



And just to go back to the past, live from Sesame Street, it's.... NSYNC!