Clazziquai

Now that the exams are over, I can finally post this. A few nights ago, while randomly link-hopping on Wikipedia, I stumbled across a music group called Clazziquai. Little did I know that the simple event of clicking the link would cause me to sleep at 3am. After reading about them, I went to YouTube and all it took was a single video to cause me YouTube-ing and imeem-ing for more of their songs. I have a soft spot for good music - I go ga-ga when I find them. 

Clazziquai is a Korean music group which plays songs ranging from acid jazz, bossa nova, electronica and dance to pop. Their name is supposed to be a mix of Classic, Jazz and Groove (the 'quai' from Jamiroquai I suppose) and they comprise of 3 main members: DJ Clazzi, Alex and Horan. The latter two are the lead singers. Being a jazz-lover (especially when it's bossa nova) I easily got hooked onto their music. Their style of music fused with elements of electronica was a fresh change and the outstanding voices and clarity of the lead singers was also aurally pleasing. They also have a certain aura of class, which is evident from their music style and videos. I don't know how to describe it, so I'll show you one of their music videos instead. The song is titled 'Dance' and the video is really very beautiful. The music is simply... WOW.

If you liked that, here's another music video (actually more of a slideshow) to satiate your appetite. The song is titled 'Romeo N Juliet'.

If you really loved those two videos, be sure to check out more of their stylo-milo songs. As for me, this is a mai tu liao situation - I am getting all their albums.

mai tu liao situation [my-too-lee-ow]

-noun Hokkien

The overwhelming positive effect of an activity/product/event which causes it to be carried out/bought/participated as soon as possible, if not immediately, due to the resulting high level of desire or obvious beneficial effect. Also known as don't-waste-time situation, no-need-to-think-one situation.

Akiko - Águas de Março (Waters of March)

Here's one of my favourite bossa nova songs, Waters of March performed by Akiko featuring Corinne Drewery from Swing Out Sister.

Some interesting background, the song was composed by the father of bossa nova, Antonio Carlos Jobim (he is da man) and it symbolizes the monsoon month of March in Brazil, when it experiences the heaviest rainfall. If you listen carefully, the song has a constant descending melody which is supposed to depict rain falling down. The lyrics albeit very simple, have an artistic meaning as they actually reflect images of everyday life.

I thought this song would fit nicely since it's the monsoon season. If you listen to this song while its raining, it has this 'happy' effect which takes all the gloominess away and lifts up the mood. I'm serious, try it out one of these days.

May this song bring some much needed sunshine.

Enjoy~

Extraction!

Today, I extracted my pre-molar (that's the third tooth from the back) as part of my plan to get braces. I can happily say that the extraction was a totally painless experience. The post-extraction on the other hand, was not. Let's start from the beginning.

It started this morning at the National Dental Centre (NDC) . I first went to see my braces dentist to get some plastic 'doughnuts' slotted in between my teeth. According to my friend, they were supposed to make way for the braces which would come in later. Following that, it was time to see another dentist for the extraction.

After getting comfortable in my chair, the dentist once again analyzed the tooth and told me that in the event that it chipped during the extraction, he may have to carry out some minor surgery to remove the chipped portion. Since there were no two ways about it, I gave him the green light and added, "It's going to be totally painless right?" in which he jokingly replied, "Oh no, it's going to be very painful - I don't like to use anaesthetic." What a way to start it off. He then proceeded to get the menacing, all-metal syringe to administer the anaesthetic. From my point of view, he inserted it into the side of my mouth at an angle and then halfway through, shifted the syringe upright before going all the way through. Whoa. Freaky? Yes. Painful? No. He gave me another shot and shot some to my gums as well. It took about about 5 to 10 minutes for the anaesthetic to take full effect. 

It was finally time to perform the extraction so the dentist grabbed his ToothExtractor Pro5000 with built-in high-luminescence halogen light, GPS grid pinpointer, Class 3 laser dot targeter, Titanium alloy extractor arms and FM radio with soothing music. Ok, it was really just a large plier-like vice tool which he fixed around my tooth and started shaking it up and down and up and down and... My tooth seemed to be pretty dug in so he called for the nurse to grip my head and stop it from shaking. After about 5 or 10 mins of Yes and No head motions, the tooth finally popped out painlessly. The dentist, panting for a moment, passed me a mirror and introduced me to the wound and gave some instructions on its treatment before placing a gauze over it. He also pointed out that while most teeth (at the back) had two roots, mine apparently had three. Interesting. 

Da tooth with da third (chipped) root

The whole thing ended off with payment and collection of some painkillers, ulcer cream and an interdental toothbrush. I made my way to school to meet a friend and pass up an assignment and upon reaching the Yusof Ishak House (YIH), the effects of the anaesthetic made me totally oblivious to a stream of bloody saliva that was trickling down the side of my mouth. Luckily, I was on my way to the nearest toilet to change my blood-soaked gauze before being mistaken for some hungry vampire.  I happened to be bleeding quite a lot and was running out of gauze so my friend went to the University Health & Wellness Centre (UHWC) and managed to get me a fresh new pack. Thanks dude, you really prevented me from getting into a bloody mess. 

I decided to make my way back soon after and realized that the effects of the anaesthetic was wearing off and the pain was starting to kick in. Great, it comes now. I took a bus home but the throbbing pain combined with the go-stop motion and bus vibrations caused me to get off and grab a taxi instead. Besides, my gauze was starting to soak up again and I needed to change it quick. I got home and the throbbing pain was in full effect and my wound was still bleeding. It was very agonizing. I kept changing gauzes at 10 minute intervals, took a nap and finally managed to stop the bleeding another 3 hours later, just in time for dinner and some much needed painkillers.

The Little Gun that Could

I happened to be looking through my pics and noticed this particular one which brought back some memories:

This pic was taken many months ago when me and two other buddies went down to a LAN shop to have a game of Company of Heroes, a World War II strategy game. What makes this pic worth mentioning is that it shows an artillery gun (a M2A1 105mm Howitzer Artillery to be exact) manned by 3 crew members, located in the middle of a very open and barren plot of grassless land. Cute. But that's not all...

In the game, when your soldiers, tanks, artillery guns and other stuff take out enemy forces, they gain experience points. Upon reaching a certain amount of points, they gain a veterency level (i.e. 1 chevron stripe for the first level, 3 stripes for the maximum) meaning that they are now more 'experienced' and hence, for example, able to survive better, hit enemies more accurately or move faster. Although it isn't clear in the pic, there are actually 3 chevron stripes above the artillery gun meaning that it has obtained maximum veterency level. Or simply in Hokkien, si bei lao jiao.

When I took this pic, it dawned on me that while we were all struggling to push our forces north to the enemy's base - coupled with the numerous tank and vehicle losses, infantry squads getting annihilited and the constant tug-of-war battle for that damn hill in the middle of the map - my friend's sole artillery gun was firing away all the time, helping the war effort either by clearing some road or pounding a concentration of enemy troops or shelling a defensive position. And it did it so well that it ended up earning 3 stripes. All by itself.

Lifesaving at Da Beach

Today, as part of a Beach Introduction Course by the NUS Lifeguard Corps, I was at Sentosa for an eye-opening, sun-scorching, action-packed day. To those who aren't aware, there are two areas of lifesaving - the tame side in the pool, and the wild side at DA BEACH! 

Pool lifesaving involves skills and techniques which include simple line throws, rescue and recovery of different types of victims in the pool, various types of tows (which sometimes involve manikins which are orange-coloured humanoid deadweights that simulate victims), first aid treatment and Emergency Air Resuscitation and its brother, Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation. All this is done in pool conditions, meaning that as long as the swim team isn't in the neighbouring lanes creating an aquatic ruckus, you'll almost always get calm waters. 

Beach - or Surf - lifesaving on the other hand, has its own share of skills and techniques of which many are, simply put, fun. They include activities such as board racing, beach flags (a.k.a. dog and bone in the sand), beach sprints and rescue techniques involving fins, torpedo rescue tubes and the above-mentioned boards. The major difference from pool lifesaving? The Sun, Sea and Sand. While pool conditions are mostly 'calm', sea conditions are not. Waves, current, seaweed, poor underwater visibility, the salty sea, the blistering sun and that shark following you provide for a different experience. I was kidding about the shark. Not being able to see underwater will mean that you'll have to take a peek in front once in a while to prevent yourself from ending up at that other island across the sea. Wearing fins in the pool will make you a Michael Phelps but in the sea, you'll need them to aid you against the waves and current which are there to hinder and drain you out. Also, the occasional cold undercurrents provide cooling respite when swimming under those sunny warm conditions.

Other than being a real eye-opener,  the Beach Introduction Course, as mentioned by my seniors, showed that lifesaving wasn't just limited to the pool. Our coach, Mr Sim, also added, "I don't want you all to know how to rescue in the pool and then on the beach, you tell me you don't know how to rescue..." The real deal is really out there in the deep blue sea (watch The Guardian and you'll know what I mean). Today was a great day, and the beginning of possible future trainings at Sentosa. I just need to remember one thing: IF YOU DON'T LOOK LIKE A GEISHA, YOU HAVEN'T PUT ON ENOUGH SUNBLOCK.

Joe Hisaishi - Tunnel of Wind and A Chinese Tall Story

Here are two concert videos featuring one of my favourite composers, Joe Hisaishi, the guy responsible for the music from animations such as My Neighbour Totoro and the Oscar-winning Spirited Away. Really beautiful music. Enjoy. (Joe is the pianist in both videos)

Tunnel of Wind

A Chinese Tall Story

F1

Over the past 3 days, me and some friends helped out at the Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix. Our job: Ice Boys. Our mission: Deliver ice to the various vendors around the Marina Bay Circuit Park. With ice packs weighing 18kg each and vendors asking for 30 (or more) packs at once plus my fingers getting frosted numb now and then, I wouldn't say it was a very cool job (pardon the pun). But on the bright side, it also gave us a chance to experience the world's first Formula 1 night race up close. 

The first day was the most shit. Rain + Mud + Ice Packs x 100 (at least) = I should not have taken this job. The Formula BMW, Aston Martin and Porsche Carrera practice sessions in the afternoon however, helped to bring back some job motivation. It was interesting to note how different each car sounded - the Aston Martin having a low sounding pitch and crude engine roar, the Porsche Carrera having a higher sounding pitch with a more refined roar compared to the Aston Martin, and finally the Formula BMW having a higher sounding pitch and deafening roar. It was only until the Formula 1 practice session later that night that I realized the vast aural difference. Compared to the above cars, the Formula 1 cars had an even higher sounding pitch infused with pure raw power. And when I say raw, I mean raw (like sashimi). As they raced along the track, they screamed like banshees and I revelled at how awesome they sounded as their engine roars crescendoed as they passed by. EEEEEEEEEYEEEAAAHHHHHH!!!!!! 

Grandstands at the Start/Finish Point

The second day was mostly the same except that it turned out to be a really hot sunny day. That's when I started being thankful for carrying ice packs. There were qualifying races for the various categories throughout the day but the highlight was the Formula 1 qualifying race which would determine the starting line-up on the race day. The qualifying race wasn't so much of a race - each driver was racing to clock the fastest time to secure the top spots in the starting line-up. There were a number of engine stalls, spins and skids (especially at Turn 7) which brought 'wow's' and 'oh's' from the crowd and spectators flocking to snap photos of the stunned vehicle and its driver. It was quite a satisfying night but little did I know that the following race day would provide even more 'wow's' and 'oh's'...

Spectators gather near Turn 14 at the Esplanade

Race day. Da big day. This was it. Massive crowds. Double the ice required as compared to the previous two days. The day was occupied with the races for the various categories and finally when it was time for the Formula 1 race, me and my friends hurriedly finished our ice deliveries to catch the action. I didn't mention it earlier on, but with all the buildings in the CBD lighted up, it was really a picturesque backdrop complementing such a grand event. I had never seen City Hall bathed in light and looking so regal. The race soon started and the non-stop roars of the F1 cars as they raced by one after another really hyped up the atmosphere. Things were constantly being hyped up throughout the two-hour race with events such as Piquet's early spin-and-crash, Massa's fuel tube blunder at the pit stop, crashes at Turn 13 and Raikkonen's fateful skid-and-crash at Turn 10. Hamilton made some daring moves and was pretty constant while Alonso was just brilliant. 

After the race, I concluded that all the mental-cursing, ice-lugging, sun-burning and finger-numbing was really worth it. I seriously enjoyed the race that night. Hey, we got 4 more years right?

P.S. I know the photos really suck. I didn't have my camera on hand throughout the 3 days so I had to use my crappy 2.0 megapixel handphone camera (which also sucks at night shots so no night shot pics). Pity.