Sing It To Me Baby

Music accompanies me everyday. It fills the void in my quiet home with fetching voices, layered notes and dreamy lullabies. The empty corner in my brain is now occupied with sounds and the voices can’t get to me anymore. 

YAY!

But when I’m trying to write, I switch to instrumentals (I just switched from Bastille to The Ventures) otherwise there’d be a collision of words and I’d be mentally hitting a texty, brick wall, repeatedly. And ever since Spotify came into my life, the world has been a better, happier place to live in! 

I love it so much I even draw what I hear.

FUUUUUUN!

I also enjoy covers a lot. It’s interesting to see how one song can be interpreted in so many ways by various amazing talents. So for Thursday’s tunes, I’m sharing some of my favourite covers with you guys!

Daniela Andrade sings Death Cab For Cutie’s I Will Follow You Into The Dark. She’s so adorable and her voice is super sweet! I get diabetic just by listening to her.

 Kina Grannis passionately covers Passenger’s Let Her Go. 

Arden Cho goes back to her roots with a melodic cover of Beautiful Night by BEAST.

I, somehow, derailed and came across this dude “covering” Ylvis’ The Fox. In Cantonese. Besides thinking CHEE SIN!, I’m not quite sure how to react though I might have enjoyed it slightly (oh the ironic annoyance!). What say you?

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Technology and the Social Media Revolution

“Geocities me!” It’s not a phrase that rolls easily off the tongue, like “Tweet me!” is it? Maybe that’s why (a) nobody in the history of the universe has ever said it, and (b) why Geocities doesn’t exist anymore (except in Japan, for some reason). And yet Geocities was the great-grand-daddy of all the social media we use today, launching way back in the Stone Age of the internet, 1994.

The Technology of Social Media

The social media revolution has been enabled by two main developments – the spread of wi-fi, and the development of portable devices. The first internet-enabled phones weren’t a lot of fun to use, with nasty monochrome screens and slow connections – and we’re not really talking about that long ago.

Look where we are now though – smartphones and tablets with amazing HD screens, super-fast connections, and every kind of social media you could want; from tweets to pics and entire life histories, available 24/7, on something that fits in your pocket. But don’t forget, in 10 years time it’ll all seem clunky and boring, as we’ll all have 3D IMAX implants in our eyeballs.

Twitter

People either love Twitter or hate it. It usually takes a while for people to start following you at first, and many new Tweeters give up in frustration. But stick with it, start following interesting people, and you may eventually find it pretty rewarding. You’ll soon learn to avoid the people who are using the site for marketing purposes. It’s even been involved in real social change in some countries.

Facebook

Facebook is probably the king of social media right now, having kicked MySpace off its perch a while ago. By September last year there were more than a billion active Facebook users worldwide. So what keeps the site expanding? There’s the social aspect of course; simply keeping in contact with friends and family. But that social theme is continued in other ways as well, like gaming. Games are massively popular on Facebook and other sites, and people looking for farming simulators, puzzles, casino games like poker and blackjack or even baccarat rebates from various sites can find the stuff they need easily and quickly.

Photo Sharing

Instagram is the leader in photo sites for now, and its free image filters and sharing abilities allow users to link up nicely with Twitter and Facebook. Pinterest launched around the same time, and exploits a slightly different niche, offering a virtual pin-board for users to display images and other themed content.

As the technology gets better and faster, social media is bound to keep growing. Just be careful what you post – the internet is full of examples of things people have shared and then wished they hadn’t!

(Images courtesy of cultofmac.com, theguardian.com, wallnest.com)

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I was on Tao Bao, but not for sale.

For those who haven't heard about it. Tao Bao is now "in" Singapore. They now have a SEA version. The major difference is that they have direct shipping to SG! Of course it's not direct by Tao Bao but it's tied down as a 3rd party provider on the page itself like a selected partner. So convenient!

Anyway, before you give me the "aiya, so many Chinese charters.. I cannot read lah.", there IS translation lah dey!

Happy now? 

Before I get too excited about my purchase and all on Tao Bao, I would like to share with you that I was on Tao Bao. Not under the article of "20 Weird Things You Could Buy on Tao Bao" though.

Good News! I was actually featured on their Facebook page!

Bad news was I was there for less than 8hrs. Apparently my item got "cracked" too quickly. Basically the reason why I was there was because of this challenge they are having call the #TaoBaoThrowdown. All you have to do is simply find the item that i wanted and if you are the 1st, you will get rewarded. And there are more weeks to come, so please go their FB and watch out for the other challenges!

In case you are really curious about this item, it's actually the "Shoe Wings" aka Shwings.

So that was my hours of fame on Taobao FB page. Anyway if you are a great fan of Taobao or someone who really wish to try it out, pelase do stay tuned to this space as I will be having another blog post for Taobao and this time you will get to participate and win some Taobao credits!

And if you can't wait, please check out their Facebook page and try your luck with Clara('s question).

Mr.Smith, Was on Taobao and Sold.




                    

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[Guest Post] SOYATO: A healthier choice for ice cream lover!

So months ago I was looking for a new minion aka The intern and I was lucky enough to find one who is very hardworking and eager to learn. I believe that as much I am lucky to have her, she is very lucky to have me cause working with me is more than educational and fun. It's simply awesomeness at it's best - #TrueStory. 

So the Emily is very helpful and she also get to benefit the once in awhile surprise packages that comes through the door for Smithankyou.com. So you know the say "there is no free ice-cream in this world" so Emily had to do this post for me after eating my ice-creams. (and also because I hate writing about food. All i care is eating them. It gets too boring and I have this code of writing only interesting things.) LOL.

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Hello! Before I start writing the “task” that Smith gave me, let me introduce myself! I’m Emily, which some of you might have seen Smith tweet, yes, I’m the #TheIntern. I do blog too! You can check out my blog at http://emilyohlm.blogspot.com and I tweet at @emilyolm. J

Alright, so in one fine afternoon, SOYATO ice cream is delivered to our office for Smith!

So what’s the difference between SOYATO and other ice cream in the market?

So we get to try two flavor! The Wickedly Chocolate and Mint Chip!

Smith Note: This is THE Intern.

Emily: “I love the Wickedly Chocolate best ‘cause I am Chocolate person. Hehehe. The ice cream doesn’t have taste of Soya though! “

Smith note: Here, eye candy for you all.

Xinyi: “When can we get the next delivery?”

Smith Note: This is the French man and he is doing his part for Movember.

Charles: “Frankly, I wouldn't have picked it up from the store cause it's Soy but it's really good!”

Smith Note: My favourite Minah in da house. @Waddafad

Fadilah: “Love the mint!”

Here’s more benefit of having SOYATO!

Good news for those who are vegans, vegetarian and lactose intolerant! SOYATO uses Soy milk as base and it does not contain any dairy products!

For now as opening special, SOYATO are selling at $9.95 per pint at various NTUC Supermarket. So what are you waiting for?

SOYATO’s Facebook: : https://www.facebook.com/soyato

Signing off,

#TheIntern.

http://emilyohlm.blogspot.com

@emilyolm

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Top 5 Players in the NBA

Who is the best of our time?

To make it into the NBA draft is to set yourself apart as a truly exceptional basketball player, the pride of your home-town, your state and your family. To be counted as one of the very best players in the NBA is to stand as one of the very greatest basketball players on the face of the Earth. The five men who have made this list are true giants of the game, with talent, skill and athleticism that set them apart from the highly competitive field in one of the world’s most popular sports. Without further ado, here are our top five players currently competing in the NBA:

5. Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs

Superstar point guard Tony Parker has it all, with a potent mix of red hot talent and ever increasing experience. He helped the Spurs to three NBA titles in 2003, 2005 and 2007, and continues to utilise his pace and impressive field goal percentage to the significant benefit of his team.

4. Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder

Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook is a three time All Star with a level of athleticism that continually confounds fans, team-mates, commentators and opponents alike. No one in the NBA attacks the basket as doggedly as Westbrook, and it shows - over his first five seasons he contributed an average of 19.9 points per game.

3. Chris Paul, Los Angeles Clippers

Six-times All-Star and two-times Olympic Gold medallist Chris Paul is a giant force in world basketball. Having achieved the honour of being NBA steals leader on five separate occasions, this player can completely change the flow of a game like no other. Perhaps the most likely player in The NBA to mess up your dafabet sports predictions with one clever sweep of his arm.

2. Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder

Rangy Oklahoma forward Kevin Durant represents the perfect combination of physical stats and incredible skill. A four time All Star and three time NBA scoring champion, they don’t come very much better than Durant...

1. LeBron James, Miami Heat

One player who just might have the beating of Durant is The King of the NBA LeBron James. A worldwide sporting superstar, James has spear-headed the past two championship triumphs of the Miami Heat. At the moment, this player is quite simply the leader of the pack.

Want more articles? Click here.

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My 1st Abstrim Men Experience.

One of my most read post on this blog is actually about boyzilian waxing and since I've already "show" the world my ding ding dong and it's status, there should be no shame in doing a review for Abstrim isn't it?

Bump into my idol Chen Han Wei

I was wrong. In fact I am very wrong that it is going to be easy. It's interesting how the experience of me walking into a "slimming facility" gave me more shame inside myself as compared to going to a waxing parlour.

Fear

"Are people going to judge me that I'm a gay?"
"Are people going to laugh at me that a fat boy trying too hard to be skinny?"
"Are people going to say that I am lazy cause I could have just run it off the organic way?"
"So gullible this man. This kinda thing where will work.." 
"Will they make me strip naked and will they laugh at me for being so fat and out of shape?"

I think all these fears really applies only to man at a beauty parlour cause ladies and things like these are like a match made in heaven.

Don't be silly...

Frankly, nobody cares and in fact nobody even put their eyes on me but I was still feeling rather uneasy until the very nice people at Abstrim greeted me at the front desk and shortly i was brought into this waiting area for my consultant.

Abstrim Men at Orchard Central

So the 1st instruction I got was for me to take off my.... 

Shoes and stand onto this machine. This machine is the machine that served me reality on a nice sliver platter. 

This machine tracks your weight, your fats level, water level, muscles level, metabolism rate and also if you have any overdue credit card bill. You know i'm kidding right? LOL. Anyway yes, before anything goes, there's a nice session of them explaining to us what is this about, what is the technology and why we are we doing this. (Because I am fat. LOL). 

And interesting fact is that even very fit body trainers come for this fat freezing service cause lower abs fats are very hard to lose. So no shame for fat boy Smith right? LOL. 

Freezing the fats!

And here is my report. 

So it's really cool I find. It's not like something you pay money go in and not knowing what is happening. Abstrim actually educate you about what is this all about as well. This is not blogger special okay? It's the same process for everyone.

And after that they bring me into this nice and cosy room and this time round I had to strip and change into a boxer. I would love to take some pics but i shyyyyyyyy. And also the room is too dark. So I found a Youtube video off the internet which is pretty similiar.

*Disclaimer: This Youtube is not provided by Abstrim. This video is not a direct representation of the service at Abstrim Men.



So how I feel? 

It's not painful, it's not ticklish, in fact you don't feel anything. I lay down and I kinda fall asleep for awhile. It's actually quite a relax session. The pain might come after in a day or two but it's not very very pain. It's just like a little bit of "orh ceh" (blue black) kinda sensation.

It's about a change of lifestyle

To be very honest, Abstrim Men is not magic. It will not show result within the day or immediately. It helps to freeze the fats internally and slow it down but end of the day you have to watch your diet as well as maintaining a healthy lifestyle. It will help to make things easier but it is no miracle. So some choose to say things like how they select Romeo who is already skinny to begin with is a "scam" or simply just advertising. True but not entirely true. Maybe Romeo was skinny and lean but can't get the abs out and that is the result of Abstrim Men?  Did I become like or Romeo overnight?

So here is my review and I hope it gives you some insights. Do also follow them on Facebook and if you are interested in the service, please check it out. There is nothing to be scared about! And apparently now is the best time to go because they are having special promotions!

(a) Promotion for Bioskin: 1X Skin Rebirth + Cryo Splash @ $98 (Incl GST $104.86)
(b) Promotion for AbsTrim: RoboTrim 3-in-1 + Trim & Tone + 5 Days System Diet Pack @ $128 (Incl GST $136.96)
**No promotion running for LipoFreeze treatment.

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Were You On My Train Ride?

How often do you observe people on the train? When an eye candy walks in, do you perk up? Ok maybe not during peak periods when all you can see is another person's nape or someone's earlobe.

But when you're out and the cabin's relatively empty, who do you notice?

I was on the train one day when this really pretty girl walked in. Her skin was a healthy orange and her dark hair was complemented with soft curls. Her almond eyes were made up with eyeliner and lush lashes, almost pin up. She had a nose as cute as a button and boasted small, pouty lips. Her clothes were casual chic - a white tank top and pink shorts that accentuated her tush.

I might have just described an imaginary girl but no, that was how she looked. I noticed her because she's everything I'm not. I admired how confidently she carried herself as she strolled into the cabin and sat next to me.

That's the problem - she sat next to me. How am I supposed to continue ogling when a babe positions herself at a un-oglable angle?!

This would have been the situation if she had set within my line of vision:

But nooooo, it went down like this:

Mehhh.

Anyway, do you know what I really miss seeing in trains? A person reading an actual book. E-books do not count. Eye candy is doubly sweet when a guy has something thick in his hands – more specifically, a novel.

He's not watching a movie, he's not stuck on unlocking achievements and neither is he bent on moving on to the next level. Dude's a cracking bookworm and that's something refreshing.

So yeah, these are the two kinds of people I notice on my train rides – the unconventionally attractive girls and cute boys with books. What about you?

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[Guest Post] Get "Frozen" with Disney this holiday season!

I don't want to sound all lazy but I managed to get 2 guest posts back to back but hey, I am still here to insert my foreword before the post! :D

Anyway, the holidays are here and even for a "not-a-parent-yet" person, I am always thinking about bringing my nieces and nephews out too. I guess it's a work hazard for a media, advertising,events person cause such festive seasons always means more activities! It's a shame I can't make it to Disney's new show - Frozen but what are friends for! I managed to get Ruo Xuan from Xuan-World to share with us more about the show!

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Invaded Mr Smith blog !!

HELLO!!!

I am Ruo Xuan

Frozen

An animated cartoon musical-fantasy-comedy movie by Walt Disney.

Cast: Starring voices of  Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff and Josh Gad.

Plot: When a prophecy traps a kingdom in eternal winter, Anna, a fearless optimist, teams up with extreme mountain man Kristoff and his sidekick reindeer Sven on an epic journey to find Anna's sister Elsa, the Snow Queen, and put an end to her icy spell. Encountering mystical trolls, a funny snowman named Olaf, Everest-like extremes and magic at every turn, Anna and Kristoff battle the elements in a race to save the kingdom from destruction. 

(Cr: Disney)

Review: Fantasy, Castle, Princesses, Prince, Love, Magic.

The must have elements in a Disney movie.

If you are fan of Disney movie, you wouldn't be disappointed.

Witty, funny, touching movie that keeps me entertained and laughing out loud.

I love the songs written and composed by the husband-and-wife songwriting team of Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez in Frozen.

You can hear the “Disney magic” in those songs.

One of my favourite will be “Let it go” sang by Demi Lovato. (Definitely not a stranger to people who watch Disney channel)

My favourite scene would be when Elsa uses her powers to build an amazing castle from snow and made a beautiful gown for herself. 

 The WOW factor is definitely there which sets you dreaming of how wonderful it will be to live in such castle and to own such a pretty gown. 

I have to say, the ending caught me by surprise as it was not your typical Disney movie where the Prince kisses the Princess to free her and they live happily ever after.

 Anna was hit by her sister with ice that freezes her heart. 

She can only be saved by an act of true love kiss.

I thought to myself “Confirm is Anna thought that Prince (Hans) is her true love. They kissed but nothing happened then she realized actually Kristoff is her true love. She went to Kristoff and they kissed and TADA unfreeze the ice in her heart.”

But no!

I thought it was quite refreshing to have a not-so-Disney-on-who-will-kiss-the-princess.

In short I would say Frozen is a Cartoon version high school musical in winter and Princesses edition. 

I went to read on 50 things that you may not know about Disney's frozen and I was stunned that “depending on the shot, it can take up to 4,000 computers and 30 hours just to complete one frame.”

DO YOU KNOW Filmmakers invited a real-life reindeer into the Walt Disney Animation Studios, observing the animal’s physical makeup and mannerisms, which were later caricatured in the making of Kristoff’s reindeer buddy Sven in “Frozen.”

AND.. Several members of the production team traveled to Quebec to experience the Ice Hotel as inspiration for Elsa’s ice palace featured in “Frozen.”

You just can’t imagine the hard work that the team have gone through to produce a 2-hour animated movie.

I love movies that have meaningful quotes that you just want to post it up on FB, Twitter and Tumblr.

So here is my best Quote award from Olaf (snowman): "Some people are worth melting for." (I looked at the boy when I heard this. heehee)

Last but not least, Thank you Walt Disney and Smith 

Freezing local cinemas in 28 Nov!

Remember to catch it and have a great time laughing at Olaf.

Written by: RX

Edited by: WJ

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[Guest Post] How I Met Smith

Who has a last name for a first name?! I thought to myself when I first read of Smith Leong, the online persona I came to associate as the man with 2 last names.

This is the tale of how I met Smith. Where else to meet Smith other than on the web? His online presence wasn't one to be ignored, like virtually in your face. For someone like me who wasn't exceptionally savvy with the web in the past, I can't say I was interested to know more about Smith online. He followed me (it was probably at night, in the dark, when I wasn't looking) on Twitter and liked any girl shouldn't do, I followed a stranger back.

End of story.

Well technically it was because I don't recall us communicating much. Until one day he tweeted that Marshall went missing and that triggered that ignorant in me to transform into OMGSOMEONENEEDSTOFINDHISPUSSY mode. Retweets started and I began to follow the episode of Missing Marshall. Needless to say that I was happy and relived when Marshall returned home!

And they lived happily ever after.

Because we never contacted again. But the following continued on Facebook and Instagram. Mama said I shouldn't talk to strangers but she didn't mention anything about following.

So this year, Smith answered an SOS tweet of mine regarding social media and the need to understand its chaotic ways. We finally met in person at a very memorable location - Coffee Bean. There's a couple of CBs where we were and apparently we were at different ones. Note: CBs may look different but hey deep down, the serve the same purpose - to feed and satisfy.

Anyway, we conversed over food and coffee Smith taught me a lot. About social media. Till today I still am very grateful!

Some time later we met again at a lingerie boutique.

It's the best meeting point because you can't miss La Senza. Then pink, the black, the tiny fabrics! But it was all business at Ambush, where we had dinner. We don't beat around the mulberry bush here. Conversation was trim and we didn't stray. Smith and I adjourned for some fun soon after - visiting the toy shop! Seriously, I never knew how huge certain toys can get, so many shapes and sizes, oh and the games people play! Toy Outpost and Simply Toys blew me away.

Months later we had lunch at a happy place - Le Cafe! Any cafe with free wi-fi is good in my books. Such a cute cafe too! And this is where I'm writing this post. Smith has just returned to work and I sit on my own in this now empty cafe to pen my thoughts. Le Cafe seems to be an appropriate place to write this because meeting Smith was truly a happy event. I'm very thankful for his friendship!

So this is how I met Smith. Hey kids, thank you for being my audience. I don't take 9 seasons, but I did take 9 paragraphs. Until next time!

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Who is Axixe? If you guys have been following my doodle, you will notice the slight resemblance. Of course, she is better at it cause she is the person who poisoned me to do it and of course gave me some tips as well. And why is she writing here? Cause I like her writing and stuff (and her pretty face) and I want her to be part of this too. Anyway, my blog is like a messy table, nothing can make a messy table messier unless you clean it up. 

Find out more about Axixe here.

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