Happiness

Happiness

Originally uploaded by akioelian

Seeing you in the arms of a wonderful man, in the seams of a wonderful dress, we wept silently in happiness. There is nothing more fulfilling than seeing the teacher you love realising her dream, and starting what is to be a happy every after.

We love you, Ms. Wong.

Best of 2007

Got my New Music Tuesday Best of 2007, and thought I’d do my own version.

1. MUSIC

Struggled hard between Jay Chou’s “On the Run” and Rilo Kiley’s “Under the Blacklight”. The former is classic Taiwanese pop, not only because he basically single handedly created classic Taiwanese pop, but also because he is the epitome of classic Taiwanese pop. But I’m obviously biased, having developed an undeniable crush on him. I know, just because I have him stuck on my door/ wardrobe/ bookcase/ bedside table, doesn’t mean everyone run/ does yoga/ does sit-ups/ does Christmas parties to his music (not saying they shouldn’t, of course). Rilo Kiley, however, happens to be my happiest Indie discovery of the year. Jenny Lewis’s voice is definitely a singer’s pride, the riffs are orgasmic and lyrics excellent. Though their live sessions seem only to be a bunch of guys playing what’s on the CDs, whatever, I’m glad their CDs existed at the first place.

2. BOOK

No, I haven’t been reading much. What with the public exams (read: excuse) and the lack of cash (read: lie), I haven’t even been going to book stores much. The only 2007 book everyone seemed to remember is HP7 which by the way sucked a lot. Okay, maybe that was a bit on the harsh side, but coming back to life in a weird way is so much less than that I expected of JKR. Thus number 2 of my Best of 2007 list remains, forever, unoccupied. While we mourn for the ridiculous lack of good literature, let’s just hope they reprint Catch in the Rye or its Cliffsnotes complementary in time for New Year’s Eve.

3. MOVIE

You know, I’m pretty sure 1408 is on this list and has its ass firmly locked on the throne of best movie of 2007 IF ONLY I SAW IT. Dammit, tickets are so expensive here in HK (read: more excuses) and the 1408 trailer made me loss-of-words horrified, one can’t expect me to be motivated enough to watch it, even though it’s Stephen King, even though it will probably be the best film I’ll ever see. However, spoilt with home movie sound systems and an HMV just round the corner, obviously the VCD/ DVD is going to be in my disc drive in absolutely no time (read: a few weeks/ months). Meanwhile, Homer Simpson will take John Cusack’s place as best leading actor of 2007. While most small screen long running animations moved to the big screen turn out to be utter failures (Garfield… that’s the only one I remember, which probably mean the others are all crap), The Simpsons Movie (in 2-D) is even funnier than its Treehouse of Horror episodes. It even has a brilliant soundtrack (Close to You by the Carpenters, man), amazing sound effects (Bart’s voice) and a classic, but funny, romance sub-plot. I mean, look at what Al Gore did to global-warming and then look at what Matt Groening did. ‘Nuff said.

4. WEBSITE

Allow me to cheat a bit here. I have no idea when NOTCOT. is set up, but I’m pretty sure it’s before 2007. But since I discovered it only beginning of this year, I’ll count it in the list. Save the “you’ve wasted 15 years of your life not knowing NOTCOT.!” comments. I know it, and I’m sincerely sorry to myself. NOTCOT is actually just a website that gathers design fanatics who likes pretty things, or intriguing things, or delicious things (which is in TasteSpotting, sister site of NOTCOT), or clothes, jewellery (NotCouture) etc. Obviously I have really done much site digging, but NOTCOT. is enough for a procrastinator’s daily needs.

5. EVENT

I would have put the Burmese protests, but then I remember all those who have been killed and the fact that it happened at the first place defied “best”. I guess the best event of 2007 would be the end of 2007. VTech, forest fires, floods, hurricanes, avian flu, crocodiles eating people for no reason at all, etc. Not a good year at all. Go on CNN or MSNBC, read their year in review and you’ll know why.

Happy new year everyone. I’m sorry the list can’t be longer. I haven’t paying much attention to life or what not. The 2008 would be better and longer, I promise.