Alright, enough of the depressing stuff. Meet Chiquita, my new (fluff)Pet I adopted on Facebook!

Her name's pronounced "chi-kee-ta".



http://chiquitameow.fluff-friends.com/

Heh, a very fun application up on Facebook, though it'll never replace my real-life Chiquitas :)

Are Orlando Bloom and Kirsten Dunst gonna kiss...???



Miki somehow gets hooked onto a chick-flick called Elizabethtown.

Hahaha... trust the Japanese to come up with such an act!



Save for the poor English diction, this was actually quite a nice impersonation! Particularly liked the guy who played Bruce Springsteen.

Anyone know Japanese? Was this a talent show or a variety show with actual singers playing the roles of Bruce Springsteen, Cyndi Lauper, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson and co.?

This is the original video - We Are The World. Another iconic song of the 80s. Very few come close to the impact this has made on many who grew up during the 80s.



Thanks to the guy (or gal) who added the singers' names to the video! I finally know who all these people were!

Think it takes too long to learn a new language?

This guy managed to squeeze one semester of Spanish into one catchy love song. Silly, definitely (just look at the translation), but funny and very easy to learn too. Heh...

Oh man, this guy has such a 'qian bian' (asking for a beating) face...



One word was wrong in the entire song though. I'll let you pick out which one :P

Translated lyrics:

Hi girl!
What's your name?
My name is Mike. My name is Mike.

Where's the bathroom?
Happy Birthday!
What time is it?
What time is it?

Ladadadada.

I like the library.
I live in a red house.
I have two bicycles.
Thank you and you're welcome.

How old are you?
One moment please.

It's the one semester of Spanish spanish love song.

My mom is pretty.
My cat is very white.
Excuse me, excuse me.

Ladadadada.

One, two, three, and four.
Five, six, seven, eight.
Nine, ten ... I don't remember how to say eleven.

Antonio Banderas.
Large nachos and cinnamon twists.

It's the one semester of Spanish spanish love song.

Goodbye.

No 'remembro' how to say 'eleven'? It's 'once' (pronounced: on-say).

This is a really cute and funny clip of Andrea Bocelli and Elmo, where Bocelli sings Elmo a goodnight song.



Time to... say goodnight...
Lie down, here is your bed...
You had such a wonderful day
Playing and counting to twenty...

What a change to the lyrics!

Bollywood movies certainly goes down in history as one of the most unique movie genres in the world. As a young kid I used to laugh at their singing and dancing around trees and bushes, moving from one place to another instantaneously while managing to keep to the song, and the melodrama of Romeo-Juliet-type storylines. But then it's been such a successful formula and still remains well-loved by people all around the world, so I mince my words. There certainly is magic in Bollywood movies.

Still, the unique singing and dancing styles of Bollywood movies still amazes and amuses many, including myself, which is the basis of this really hilarious parody of Bollywood by Winston Spears, a Canadian:



See the original song music video here:



Thanks to Funn's Point2e website for the link!

Now, I know computers have been around for a long long time. But my impressions of computers before the 90s were huge, bulky, as-tall-as-humans contraptions that were never really affordable to average people like what we have today.

I was born in the 80s, and I swear that I have only seen a personal computer for the first time in the early 1990s. And I only ever heard of a hacker in the late 1990s.

Apparently all these existed way back in the 1980s, or maybe even the late 70s, as shown in this movie called WarGames, released in 1983.

The premise really looked like it could come from the late 90s, apart from the Cold War references - An intelligent but underachieving computer whiz kid, Daivd, hacked into a system thinking it was one of the latest war computer games yet to be released by a computer company. An excited Davd proceeded to play the war game, taking on the role of the USSR and commanded submarines and fighter planes and even nuclear weapons to be released on parts of USA, the role with the computer took. Little did he know that he had actually hacked into the millitary's computer system called Joshua, and that he had in fact, unwittingly set the computer into preparing for an all out war with the USSR.

Here's an interesting part from the movie.

David discovers the code to break into what he thought was the gaming company's systems.


David realizes he had gotten himself into some really deep sh*t...


David gets caught, but manages to escape after he discovers something earth-shattering.


I believe this person had uploaded the whole movie onto Youtube, but you just gotta figure out the sequences of those clips cos they're not numbered. But from these few clips which I saw I think I've really gotten interested to watch the whole movie. Hacker from the 80s! I never knew these technologies were present by the 80s! I mean, there was even a part where David had changed his grades from the school's system - reminded me of the recent case where a JC student had hacked into the school's computer system just to find out what his friends' A Level grades were.

Man, my school was still using written report books and test papers in the 80s!

Ah... movies movies again. Here are some movies that are currently on my wish list...

Grace is Gone

John Cusack ditches his romantic lead role and plays a man who lost his wife who was fighting in Iraq, leaving him with the painful delimma of breaking the news to his young daughters.

Death at a Funeral

Sounds morbid but it really is a British comedy about a family's closet of skeletons. The trailer made me excited about this one. According to IMDB it was already shown on cinemas in Singapore. Must have missed it... Will wait for the DVD.

Love in theTime of Cholera

I'm ashamed that I still haven't gotten down to finishing the book, hailed as one of the greatest modern-day literature. Perhaps the film can be a cheap substitute :P

Penelope

A modern fairy-tale which looks interesting enough. Warped story but strangely charming. Good cast too.

Now, I can't help but talk about this Bee Movie since I see its posters and promotional pictures plastered everywhere...

Why can't Dreamworks come up with cuter, nicer animals??



I know it's produced and written and voiced by Jerry Seinfeld and all, but the sight of human faces on animal bodies are just such a huge turn-off, like what happened to Shark Tale for me. And I think it's just... well... pushing the envelope... when story-tellers try to put too much of human-things into the animal world. Which is why until now Finding Nemo remains a fond favourite. Over The Hedge was probably the only Dreamworks 3D animation picture which I enjoyed.

Now, this may sound lame or even offensive to some, but really, all you gals out there especially...

Have you ever wondered how did the sanitary napkin come about?

I mean, it's such an integral part of life that it's almost taken for granted. Yet it's such a wonderful invention that most gals cannot do without these days... What would we do if we hadn't had the luxury of such convenience??

Info from Wiki.

Info from the Museum of Menstruation

I'm sure it's just my ignorance of the language but I find this signature song from The Producers "We Can Do It" very funny when sung in Korean!

The Korean version


The English version from the movie (both parts were performed in the Korean clip). Couldn't find a clip of the orginal Broadway version and rightfully so.




That Korean "Leo Bloom" is actually very good-looking :P. As for the Korean "Max Bialystock"? I think I prefer Nathan's interpretation ;).

Last but not least, one very good parody of The Producers. You'll know what I mean if you grew up on The Smurfs.

Re my previous post on The Producers.

Since that featured Nathan Lane, I couldn't help but post one of my favourite scenes from the Birdcage (which was infamously banned in Singapore during its release).

With superb acting from Nathan Lane, Robin William and Hank Azaria (voice of Moe, Chief Wiggam, Apu etc from The Simpsons), this is a blast of a scene!



Nathan: I want a palimony agreement. And I want one now!
Robin: I don't have a palimony agreement on me right now. Is tomorrow alright?
Nathan: Don't use that tone to me!
Robin: What tone?
Nathan: That sarcastic, contemptous tone that means you know everything cos you're a man, and I know nothing, because I'm a woman.
Robin: You're not a woman.
Nathan: Oh, you bastard!!

I am always full of admiration for Western dubbing artistes, always filling thier voices so full of passion that you could almost remove the images and simply listen to visualize the story.

This clip shows the recording session of a song routine in The Producers, a musical taken straight from Broadway. Just watch how they are bringing their characters to life despite the fact that it's just a vocal recording session...

Stars Nathan Lane, Matthew Broderick and Gary Beach, who reprise their roles in the Broadway theatre version.



Then of course, you have to see the end result. A hilarious moment in the movie!

The Simpsons series are classic. I practically grew up with it and it's still a favourite, up until the 7th season, that is. But still love to take out the old episodes to watch.

Great to see the voices behind the characters :D

Part 1


Part 2


Part 3


Part 4


Part 5

"Chums" was one of the most popular and longest-running sketches that appeared on SM:TV Live - a children's program on British television that ran from 1998 to 2003.

SM:TV stands for Saturday Morning TV Live, and was headed by Ant and Dec and Cat Deeley from its beginnings in 1998. The trio were essentially the ones who drove the show to ratings championship for many years running. It's been credited as being one of only four British Saturday morning shows to run all year round, and was the first and longest running (as of October 2004) - from August 1998 until the show ended in December 2003.

SM:TV was similar to many children's programs, in that they had sketches, games, prizes, songs and kids as the audience. However, what made it stood apart from the rest at that time was that its content were more than sugar and spice and all things nice. Instead of being all nice and patronizing, the presenters turned into big brothers and sister who were at times nice but at times mean and at times gross. For example, Challenge Ant, one of the games which invited kids to ask Ant questions, had Ant taunting kids who lost to him at the end. Likewise, kids who won in the end were given the 'right' to taunt Ant. It was also common for the content to include some homosexual undertones (like in Captain Justice), rude and crude situations and even some really naughty ones. While that may not have sat well with the younger children, older children and teenagers and no doubt some adults took to this very well.

Ant and Dec left the show for greener pastures in 2001, while Cat Deeley left in a year later, and the show quickly went downhill with the loss of the original presenters.

"Chums" was a parody of America's "Friends", although apart from the similar opening titles and the fact that 3 friends are sharing a flat, there is nothing much in common in terms of the stories and plots. Every episode featured characters played by famous personalities as special guests such as Sting, Jerry Springer, Westlife, S Club 7, Mariah Carey, Atomic Kittens etc... Many recurring themes and plot lines appeared in Chums, such as the romance between Dec and Cat, and their kiss that was interrupted every episode (they did finally kiss in the last episode before Ant and Dec left the show). Every episode when Cat and Dec were about to kiss, Dec would say the phrase "Me and Cat, alone in the flat... I think I'm going to kiss her!" And episodes nearly always ended with the "freeze-frame", where everyone would freeze exactly where they were, a joke taken straight out of Police Squad.

Much of the jokes from "Chums" came from the fact that this was all live each week meaning that there were many chances for goofs and ad-libs, all of which the presenters usually were able to quickly come back into momentum and continue acting. There's also the characters hanging things on the wall and allowing them to fall off like nothing happened because the "hooks" and "cupboards" and other furnitures are actually painted onto the walls. Then there are the cliches, lame jokes and some over-dramatic situations like "cue the dramatic music!"

The stories usually are extremely light and to some extent even slapstick, but I do find them enjoyable especially on a stressful day. Childish they may be, but this is after all made for kids! It reminds me of a really good Chinese variety show and perhaps some of Stephen Chow's best comedies.

Below are some of my favourite clips...

"Ant Aid" (Part 1) was a parody of "Band Aid" that appeared on their 100th show special. "Band Aid" was a British and Irish charity group to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia. Starred tons of guest celebrities... That song was funny!

In the goof where Dec accidently blurts "Clare" before saying in a fluster "What's your name again...? Cat! Cat!", Clare Buckfeld actually was Dec's fiancée at the time when this was recorded. They have since seperated.

"He always buys us those 'magic eye' books! He can never take a hint!"
"I know! I know exactly what you mean! Every single birthday and Christmas I always get a PJ & Duncan CD. And you know what, it's always the same one because somehow I just manage to... errr... well, mislaid the one before..."
"And you'll continue to get that album, young lady. His bed is only 2 inches off the ceiling with unsold copies of that album under his mattress."


"Ant Aid" (Part 2)


"The One With The Prize Lemming 1", stars guest celebrity Amanda Holden (now judge in Britain's Got Talent) and Matthew Kelly in a two-parter.


"The One With The Prize Lemming 2"

"Declan, the cage is open but I can't see the little fella." (referring to the lemming)
"I do apologize" (turns round to zip his pants)


"The One With The Stag Do" (Part 1), starring puppets Sooty and Sweep from the British children's show Sooty. Can't believe this got past as a children's program, with a stripper, crude puppets and dysfunctional thoughts about marriage!! But it's another fun one.

"I'm off to organize re-shref-ments..."
"What are you organizing?"
"Refreshments!.... for my stag 'morning'!"
"Have you been drinking already?"


"The One With The Stag Do" (Part 2)

Towards the end of the clip is the beginning of another sketch called "Dec Says..." in which a narcisstic Dec would read out a problem by a viewer. Dec would then begin to describe how he was once in a similar situation but was able to get out of his because of his excellence. However Ant, who was always standing nearby, would remember things differently and then we would fade into a flashback of Dec's adolescence. The flashback would always show Dec as an obnoxious, inconsiderate, cheeky schoolboy who would always get himself into trouble, usually involving the show's guests playing a teacher, the police, etc. It also featured Cat Deeley as "Cat the Dog". Ant sometimes appeared in the sketch as well as an obese teenager called Gi-ant.

The continuation can be found here.


Much of the info from Wikipedia.

Teaching you to create your own toys from scratch.

http://www.craftzine.com/blog/archive/2007/08/safe_toys_you_can_make.html

I have always been interested in crafts but guess I'm just pure lazy so I have no skills to speak, just little bursts of creativity now and then but even so can't be bothered to really put into action...

The Harry Potter ones are cute thou!

If you were wondering just what on earth those two Geordie lads were singing in that American Idol audition in a previous post...

It is actually "Opposites Attract" by AI judge Paula Abdul! Which was why Paula had that "awwww..." sigh when Dec (the one who came in first) told her the title of the song they would be singing.



In the AI audition, Ant & Dec started with the rap from the beginning, then immediately started "singing" the second verse of the song (if you even consider that singing!).

On a sidenote, it's just sooo fun to see how Simon's face changed from skeptical, to disdain, to confused, to suspecting, to realization and finally to hysterical!

Actually, it's quite an odd video with Paula playing sexy with an animated cat. But must have been another technical breakthrough like Who Framed Roger Rabbit was. Just that a sexy lass and a hip animated cat? Hmmm...

And goodness! That hair and make-up!!

But really, very catchy song!

Is that Simon Cowell?????

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ld-a7DYz-cs

Oh man, I'll be damned!!!

This is soooo funny!!! I couldn't resist putting this up.



In fact, while people in Singapore have never had a chance to see Ant & Dec's shows at all, Youtube has a wide collection of some of their skits and hosting efforts which can be a real treat to watch on a boring day. Love especially their parody of Friends - called Chums, which unlike the original sitcom was actually a skit within a program for kids called SMtv. SMtv stars Cat Deeley as well with excellent chemistry with the 2.

But really, these skits are very funny no doubt, but they're really too outrageous for kids!!! This one below is just one of them.

Not the contestants this time though, but the hosts of Britain's Got Talent Ant & Dec.



Apart from the fact that these blokes really could sing and dance like the real Pussycat Dolls, reason why I liked this clip above was because of the very funny reactions of the hosts, whom I later found out was Ant & Dec.

Now, I haven't been really keeping up with British entertainment for, like, since I started listening to music. So I really didn't know who the duo are, except that they make interesting TV hosts. So I searched for their names on Wikipedia, which directed me to a page that talked about Ant & Dec.

The webpage on Wiki said that they used to be known as PJ & Duncan. Hmmm... very familiar name. So out of curiosity, I searched for some PJ & Duncan music videos and found this one below:



Goodness!! I remember this song!! It was sung by PJ & Duncan?? And they're now totally off from the music scene and simply basking in the TV entertainment scene!!

Very very strange but interesting. It's really odd to see a boy-band of the 90s move into hosting with such success. I mean, imagine members of Westlife or N'Sync becoming popular TV hosts and comedians.


A hilarious clip from one of Ant & Dec's shows where they play a prank on the 'nasty' Simon Cowell.

Even more interesting is that even after so many years, the duo still seem inseperable, just like twins!! Again, imagine Westlife or N'Sync sticking together hosting a string of major TV shows 10 years down the road.

Just fascinating...

Trivia (from Wikipedia):

They have achieved such popularity as a duo that they are hardly ever seen apart on screen. This has led to them receiving joint nominations for many awards. It is a running joke that many people do not know which of them is Ant, and which Dec. To assist with identification, they follow the 180 degree rule; almost all their TV appearances and publicity photos have Ant on the left and Dec on the right (hence, that in-joke in that American Idol clip above, when Ant, while moving over to the left, said "would we at least become presenters if we stood like this?").

In fact, one funny moment was in the movie Love Actually, when Bill Nighly's character while at an interview with the duo, referred to them as "Ant or Dec".

Because they appear inseperable, it is reported that they are each insured against the other's death, although the amount is unknown!