In a Jaded World.

Burn Notice Medical Edition

2009-06-14T01:54:00.005+08:00

Royal Pains centers on a doctor who got fired from a hospital in New York for failing to prioritize the saving of a billionaire's life to attend to a dying teenager. The doctor gets depressed and loses everything he has until his brother encourages him to spend the weekend in The Hamptons where he gets a clientele that will help him rebuild his life.

Having watched the first two episodes, this show is very entertaining. Though the main character sounds too idealistic, the people around him and the situations that he found himself in made it very interesting. It also doesn't hurt that the show was filmed in a community for the filthy rich, showcasing the ridiculously grand mansions one could only dream of owning.

The US television shows that I am currently watching are Burn Notice, Weeds, and this show. That's time well spent.

The End of an Era

2009-06-11T23:05:00.007+08:00

Manchester United have received a world-record, unconditional offer of £80million for Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid.

At the request of Cristiano - who has again expressed his desire to leave - and after discussion with the player's representatives, United have agreed to give Real Madrid permission to talk to the player.

Matters are expected to be concluded by 30 June. The club will not comment until further notice.

So it's official. My bitter side would probably tell Ronaldo to go fuck himself but I won't. He was, after all, a great servant to Manchester United.

Six years, 292 appearances, 118 goals, one Club World Cup, one European Cup, three Premier League trophies, one FA Cup, two League Cups, and one Community Shield, as well as an abundance individual honors such as becoming the fourth player in club history to win the Ballon D'Or and the only United player to be crowned FIFA World Player of the Year.

It is disappointing to lose one of the best players in the club's history but money talks in this world. Good luck, Ronaldo. George Best, Eric Cantona, David Beckham, and now, Cristiano Ronaldo - the elite group of players who have proudly worn United's famous #7 shirt, all legends in their own right.

May Sir Alex spend his large transfer kitty wisely, and may the next #7 wear his shirt with the pride that befits the rich history that comes with it.

2009-05-27T22:06:00.003+08:00

FC Barcelona v. Manchester United FC
UEFA Champions League Final
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
27 May 2009 19:45 GMT

I am beyond thrilled. It's my beloved Manchester United - League Cup Champions, Champions of England, defending Champions of Europe, Champions of the World - against Barcelona, Champions of Spain. I cannot string the words to express how much I am looking forward to seeing United become the first side to successfully defend the European Cup since the inception of the Champions League format.

Last season, United won it after a nail-biting penalty shootout. I don't want a repeat of that. I want us to win by a couple of goals to shut the annoying media that has glorified Barcelona so much and expose them for the overrated team that they are.

I'm backing the underdog.

2009-05-14T11:02:00.007+08:00

(image from rickey.org)

It's the first time since Season 4 that I have truly followed American Idol. Back then, I strongly went for Bo Bice. Next week will be very interesting - it's Adam Lambert's juggernaut screams against Kris Allen's subtle, understated musicianship. I am going for the guy who picked the best songs and made the best arrangements, who was never given any publicity, was never acknowledged by the judges as a true contender, and was never given the praise and credit he truly deserves for stealing the show with numerous performances like Ain't No Sunshine, She Works Hard For the Money, and, my personal favorite, Falling Slowly. On the other end of the spectrum is Glambert, the man who failed trying to imitate Dilana's interpretation of Ring of Fire and murdered U2's One but brought us the masterclass that is The Tracks of My Tears.

I am so glad that the untalented karaoke singer, Gokey, is finally gone. He never even deserved to make the Top 13 but everyone fell for his exploitation of his wife's death.

Next week, the judges will repeat what they have done all season long: overpraise Adam and find fault in Kris. Their sickening manipulation will blow up in their faces. Everyone loves an infinitely talented underdog.

My favorites, Bo Bice, Chris Daughtry, Blake Lewis, and Jason Castro, have all failed to win the competition. I hope I'm right this time.

Finally, because it's so darn amazing:

@ Yahoo! Video

AI Top 3

2009-05-13T09:16:00.001+08:00

If Kris Allen is eliminated tomorrow, I will be very pissed. His rendition of Kanye's Heartless was not only the best performance of the night - it was the best performance of the season. That was stunning.

PUT THE GO IN GOKEY!

They did it again!

2009-05-06T04:53:00.004+08:00

also, screw you, ref.

i'm on twitter.

2009-04-29T09:34:00.000+08:00

http://twitter.com/fantasticano

Superlatives are not enough

2009-04-16T08:45:00.004+08:00

FIFA World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo's screamer against Porto.

39.6 yards, 64 mph.

Can someone give AI judges a dictionary and a thesaurus? (the first among the many that irk me this season)

2009-04-08T17:23:00.012+08:00

Thanks to this season's American Idol, indulgent and artistry are in my list of most hated words of 2009. I would understand if Randy Jackson is the only one who keeps using it - by his standards, it's a major improvement from "dawg," "that was hot," and "not feeling it, man." But when the other judges use the same bloody words over and over again, it becomes absolutely annoying.

It gets worse, especially with the Top 8 episode. When a song's arrangement swallows a contestant whole, the contestant was not being "self-indulgent" you morons. The bias against some contestants - most notably, Kris Allen - are disgusting. For instance, Allen's consistently good performances were given lukewarm praises. He killed Ain't No Sunshine but the judges grudgingly praised him. This week, he had one average performance and was butchered by everyone else.

Compare that to Danny Fucking Gokey. He was worse than Allen this and sounds the same every week. He's boring, obnoxious, tries too hard, has a very cheesy style - the very definition of, err, self-indulgence. Yet the judges fawns over him like he's the next best thing since the wheel was invented. Yes, I unconditionally hate Gokey and his vote-for-me-my-wife-is-dead mediocre ass. If there is one solid evidence that the show is fixed, it's him. Moreover, people compare him to Taylor Hicks. No way, because Hicks was very entertaining and likeable. The only thing about Gokey that is remotely entertaining is that he looks like a sloth (no disservice intended to such a fascinating creature).

Why is Lil Rounds still there? She would have been booted long ago if she was not the only black woman remaining. In the same way, Anoop is only there because people liked Slumdog Millionaire. I would discuss the blind guy, but I might be too harsh to the disabled.

Lastly, there's Adam Lambert. He's good but let's not kid ourselves. Tracks of My Tears was the standout performance of the season. Everything else he has done was good but could have been better without the shrieks and Lambert's tendency to overdo it.

My ideal top three would be Adam Lambert, Kris Allen, and Allison Iraheta. Lambert would run away with it. I wouldn't mind. As long as it's not Gokey.

HOLY FUCKING SHIT!

2009-04-06T01:05:00.005+08:00

Manchester United 3 - 2 Aston Villa

Best. Debut. Ever. My poor heart really took a beating with that one. United were 1-2 down but Cristiano Ronaldo and Federico Macheda produced goals from nowhere to get all three points. 17-year old Macheda, making his senior debut in front of 76,000 fans at Old Trafford, scored a brilliant winner that made me jump out of my seat and scream with joy. It was a brilliant goal and a much-needed win to regain top spot in the English Premier League and continue the push for a historic Quintuple. Now, time to breathe.

Fundies... haha!

2009-04-01T20:22:00.001+08:00

Until January 2010, Skins

2009-03-27T22:31:00.006+08:00

I wasn't wild about the Skins Series 3 finale because it ended on an anti-climactic atmosphere. It was nothing like the cliffhanger of a main character getting hit by a bus like Series 1 but it at least resolved some issues. However, I feel that the finale was a letdown considering the good build-up leading up to it. I just wish it was an "Everyone" episode like the Series 1 and 2 finales. Despite that, it was a good ten episodes overall. I like the character development in the new cast. They are more realistic and likeable. It's also the funniest Series of Skins thus far. There will be so much more for the writers to work on for Series 4 and the wait will be agonizing. No more love triangles, ok? They annoy the hell out of me.

There's good news, though: The Inbetweeners will be back next week! I love these Brits.

Kings

2009-03-19T14:14:00.004+08:00

This new show is an adaptation of the biblical story of King David (you know, that scrawny kid who slayed Goliath with a slingshot). What makes it interesting is that it is set in the modern era, in an entirely different world and a fictional country at war. There are parallels not just on the biblical myth but also with the world that we are living in right now.

The characters are also interesting. A god-preaching king who has his share of shady affairs, a gay crown prince, a princess who reminds me of Lady Diana, and a main protagonist who comes across as an ordinary soldier with extraordinary luck. There is so much politics in this show, it can't help but draw the audience to it.

The pilot episode was really, really good. It felt like watching a movie rather than a TV show. It has a massive budget and it shows in the costumes, effects, and set. It's a very promising show and I look forward to my weekly dose.

Time for the deciding leg

2009-03-11T23:12:00.008+08:00

Manchester United F.C. v. F.C. Internazionale Milano
UEFA Champions League Last 16 (Second Leg)
Old Trafford, Manchester
11th March 2009, 19:45 GMT
0-0 aggregate

My nerves have yet to be settled on this one. This is a massive match and a win would bring United one step closer to the Quintuple. I am really nervous.

eta:

The best defender in the world (Vidic) and the best player in the world (Ronaldo) scored to give us a 2-0 win and send that smug Mourinho's Inter packing. On to the quarters!

Skins 3X07: it just keeps getting better

2009-03-07T01:59:00.005+08:00

I can't see Watchmen yet because I am in a serious lack of time. However, I do have the time to watch football and some of my favorite foreign TV shows (local television is trash, as I may have repeatedly said in the past). There's Skins which, as far as my knowledge is concerned, is not watched by anyone I personally know. I blame the more mainstream and popular American shows and their mid-twenties-actors-playing-teenagers for that. You don't know what you're missing, people.

I may not have mentioned it before, so I'll say it now. Every Skins episode is character-centric, which gives the viewers time to appreciate everyone. Every character has a major role. Minor roles are thus reserved for guest stars of the show. I have my list of favorite episodes from the first two series - Cassie (S1), Chris (S1), Maxxie and Anwar (S1), The Last Episode (S1), Sid (S2), Chris (S2), Effy (S2), and Everyone (S2). For Series 3, my favorites so far are Thomas (3X03), Freddie (3X05), and this latest episode.

Episode 7: JJ is the best episode of Series 3 thus far. It has the usual mix of humor and seriousness that makes this the lightest of the 3 Series that the show has had. JJ is an autistic kid who wants to be normal like everyone else. He suffers a breakdown when his friends fight each other and he can't get them back together. He stops his medication and gets in trouble for trying too hard. the outpouring of secrets and twists throughout the entire episode was what made it for me. For some reason, the characters in this new cast are easier to like than the original. There are three episodes left in this series before it takes another 9-month break and it is peaking at a fantastic time.

Defenestration, I say

2009-02-28T22:03:00.005+08:00

I came across this news of a "superband" called Tinted Windows comprised ofTaylor Hanson, Bun E.Carlos of Cheap Trick , Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne, and James Iha of the Smashing Pumpkins. The name recognition proved to be quite a hype, but I never paid attention to it.

Now, after hearing their song Kind of a Girl, I can safely say that not only do I hate the song, I think that this is a joke. This song is devoid of imagination, severely lacks inspiration, and is so bad I would love to un-hear it if I had the chance. The lyrics make me want to choke the life out of the first living creature I come across with. However, if craptacular bands like Simple Plan, Sum 41, and the Jonas Brothers can make it, there's no reason why this "superband" can't.

The anticipation is killing me

2009-02-24T23:15:00.010+08:00

F.C. Internazionale Milano v. Manchester United F.C.
UEFA Champions League Last 16 (First Leg)
Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Milan
24th February 2009, 19:45 GMT

This is worth waking up a 3:30 in the morning and upsetting my body clock. My nerves are tingling. I am excited and nervous at the same time. Ah, the wonders of being a football fan!

By the way, look who dropped by to cheer for his boyhood club:

eta:
It was a bummer. United showed utter dominance and Inter never looked like the home side. Ronaldo ran rings around them while Giggs wasted two golden chances. Berbatov was indifferent. We should have won by 2 to 3 goals but it ended 0-0. We'll beat them at Old Trafford in a fortnight.

I can't wait for this album

2009-02-24T00:45:00.004+08:00

Pete Doherty (of The Libertines and Babyshambles, as well as the voice behind this fantastic song) will be releasing his debut solo album Grace/Wastelands on March 16. This is the music video for his single, Last of the English Roses. He's a genius as always.

Skins 3X03

2009-02-06T21:08:00.006+08:00

Now that is what a Skins episode looks like. Series 3 started roughly for me. Episode 1 was just ok but promising while Episode 2 was rubbish. My problem was more about the storyline than the actors. The actors in the new cast act better than the old. Their characters, however, have not been much likeable and they even had to settle for lame fart jokes. The guest characters were too uninteresting for me to care about. For instance, Mackenzie Crook's character, Johnny White is a poor man's Mad Twatter. There was too much cliché with references on the characters in the old cast.

Episode 3 was a turning point. It showed glimpses of the magic of Series 1 and revived my hopes of actually loving this new cast. It was a very good episode. It introduced a new character no one knows anything about and made him make a mark on the series. It also made me like Pandora, who in my opinion was the biggest waste of space in the show. The music tracks were also fantastic and worth downloading.

But don't get me wrong. At its worst, Skins is still edgier, braver, and more dynamic than shows like Gossip Girl.

They're getting there and I'm looking forward to it.

images grabbed from this site

50 Years Since The Day The Music Died

2009-02-03T00:01:00.004+08:00

Everyday is my favorite Buddy Holly song (a cover of which was masterfully made by Rogue Wave). Everyone knows about Ritchie Valens' classic La Bamba. Holly died at 22 while Valens was 17. One can only imagine how much they could have contributed to music if not for that plane crash.

PETA is stupid.

2009-02-01T15:23:00.007+08:00

When they're not advocating for the exaggerated protective treatment of cute animals while ignoring the ugly ones, PETA gives out ridiculous awards like the one above. How in the world is Twilight animal-friendly when they killed a deer in the beginning of the movie? Is it because the lead female character was a vegan? (Okay, I'm embarrassed to know that last part.)

Seriously, PETA. Review your so-called advocacy and standards to uphold. Maybe one day you'll no longer be a joke.

R&R for a Week

2009-01-29T19:01:00.009+08:00

I've finally been able to have some rest and recreation after my midterms. I've been catching up on all new Fringe, How I Met Your Mother, Scrubs, The Office, Legend of the Seeker, and Burn Notice. I have especially missed my regular fix of Fringe and Burn Notice. Skins is also back and the series 3 premiere was promising. I'm digging the new cast. Hustle is also really good, though the original crew was amazing. On the other hand, I'm trying to like Demons but so far it's just "meh."

I watched The Wrestler last night. Mickey Rourke was brilliant. Now that's a comeback! I'll be watching Milk and Frost/Nixon later. I'd like to see if Rourke could really win over Sean Penn at the Oscars. Doubt, The Reader, Vicky Christina Barcelona and Rachel Getting Married are also on my To Watch List. I also stand by my conviction that Slumdog Millionaire will win Best Picture at the Oscars. It appears to be inevitable, given the developments in the last few weeks.

There's also the Australian Open. I'm disappointed that my pre-tournament favorite Andy Murray showed his inconsistency again while Novak Djokovic wilted under the Melbourne heat. I will now be cheering for Nadal, the only one who can stop Federer from equalling Pistol Pete's record.

My beloved Manchester United (Champions of England, Europe and the World) are also top of the English Premier League table, ahead of Chelsea and Liverpool (take that, Rafa and Stevie Me). They're marching towards a third straight domestic title. They also have a marvelous chance at winning a Quadruple. That makes me very happy.

I also have to work on my case digests. It's a piece of cake so I'll do it in between movies, or maybe when I run out of things to watch.

Skins Series 3 Trailer (NSFW)

2009-01-04T01:01:00.001+08:00

Skins The New Series - extended trailer

song: Halfway Home by TV on the Radio

Because it has the guts that other shows only pretend to have.

Revolutionary Road

2009-01-03T00:17:00.007+08:00

Premised on the assumption that life is empty and hopeless, Revolutionary Road tells the story of a suburban couple living in the United States in the 1950s and their struggle in discovering how to really live their lives. It strikes me as something that a lot of people could relate to. The film shows people who do things that they hate for the sole reason that it helps them get by - those who work at jobs that they hate, who say and do things that they hate, who go home to houses that they hate, in a city or country that they hate, and feel like they have dug themselves a hole they can never escape from. The alternative, which is a willingness to risk losing everything just to find that something that gives true meaning in life, is viewed as immature, impractical, and unrealistic. Moreover, this alternative way is a chance that does not come often, maybe even just a one-time opportunity. It is up to the person to account for the consequences of that decision and whether such would kill him inside or make him alive for the first time in his life.

Personally, I hope that that chance has not passed me by. Or, that I am already in that alternative path and that I would soon find some sense in this existence, that I would know how it feels to really be alive.

2008-12-30T14:04:00.002+08:00

Skins series 3