Monthly Archive for May, 2007

Heroes. Volume I

Published
by
theroo
on May 29, 2007
in Film and Rue
. 6 Comments

Where does it come from? This quest, this need to solve life’s mysteries when the simplest of questions can never be answered? Why are we here? What is the soul? Why do we dream? Perhaps we’d be better off not looking at all. Not delving, not yearning. But that’s not human nature. Not the human heart. That is not why we are here. Yet still we struggle to make a difference, to change the world, to dream of hope; never knowing for certain whom we will meet along the way. Who among the world of strangers will hold our hand, touch our hearts, and share the pain of trying. 

Heroes, Season 1. To be honest, it was great, right until the very end. The ‘idea’ of the ending was good, but it could have been wonderful, magnificent, and the build up seemed to justify such an ending. Instead, however, it was slightly anti climatic, and while partially conclusive, seemed rushed and disjointed. While emotional, it seemed strange, and illogical. It could’ve been great.

Anyway, I won’t reveal any spoilers. Just that Hiro is really so annoying.

Wild Burgers

Published
by
theroo
on May 25, 2007
in Food, Photography, Rue and Singapore
. 4 Comments


Meat patty with flour bun (aka burger!) at Wild Rocket

Mmmm.

There’s this quaint little restaurant at the top of Emily hill. Interestingly enough it was opened by an ex-lawyer who was disillusioned with the corporate world. Now, he feeds those who work in the corporate world, with food garnished with mint and basel grown from his own ‘erb garden outside the restaurant. How quaint.

The most interesting thing about this place is that it is located right behind Paradiz Centre, which is right next to Dhoby Ghaut. In theory, this would probably be the last place you would expect to find a quiet secluded area to host a restaurant that reminisce of places like P.S. Café at Dempsey, but the location actually works pretty well. Sure, the surrounding area is a little grotty and there is still a fair amount of construction going on nearby, but the ambience has been worked wonderfully such that once you’re inside, suffice to say you forget the circumstances by which you arrived. And the best thing is that it works beautifully as a brunch destination, bright, relaxed, informal, and is just as inviting as a dinner date, quiet, ambient and with food just as delightful.

The menu on first glance is the typical mix; usual pasta dishes as well as larger main courses. However, upon further inspection, the palette is one that is quite unique, with most of the dishes served with a bit of a twist.  I’m hardly a food critique to explain why, all I can say is that it looks fusion, but actually lives up to the distinctiveness that I believe fusion should be, and so it is not just interesting, but actually tastes good too. The photo is of the burger they serve only at lunch. And yes, it tastes pretty much as good as it looks.

Check the place out, Wild Rocket, Emily Hill. The bar opposite is pretty cool too, owned by the same establishment - aptly dubbed ‘Wild Oats’.

http://www.wildrocket.com.sg/

Pretension and Photography

Published
by
theroo
on May 23, 2007
in Inane, Photography and Rue
. 8 Comments

Everyone loves pictures, I guess. You see it everywhere. Even freaking Xiaxue loves to take photos, so perhaps that doesn’t give the act much credibility.

However, I must admit, what I once thought to be a pretty easy, anybody-can-do-this, activity has turned out to be something that can be quite humbling. But at the same time, has made me into a pretentious ******d. (leotard).

Nevertheless, as with any trade, one’s depth of field increases as your exposure increases, and as a result enables one to focus more on the subject at hand.

Okay, sorry, I just had to put that in. (See what I mean by pretension? For added pretension, the statement is actually totally untrue, while depth of field conventionally should really decrease to enable one to focus on one subject and exposure really has nothing to do with it).

Anyway. The only problem with this ‘hobby’, is that it can get rather expensive. Point and shoot cameras already range from S$600 to S$900 dollars, depending on your preference, and the starting range consumer dSLRs start around S$1400 and go all the way up. Way up. I don’t even know how much, but some of the 1 series Canon bodies are about S$10k? (I think? – or more?). And we haven’t even gotten to buying the lens yet. [edit - though actually just found out the new 1 series is S$7kRRP, which is not too bad considering it's top of the range]

That’s why, in a sense, it’s very humbling coming into this particular field of interest. You suddenly realize that actually, you know nothing. I suppose it’s generic in life, that the more you know, the more you know you don’t know. Cliché, after cliché.

So, the point now is taking those little steps and, probably more practically, making those little purchases that help you. I must say, initially you think that buying a great lens means that you are able to take great pictures. In reality, though, it’s rather far from the truth. On top of that, you look pretty stupid if you can’t take a nice picture with that three thousand dollar lens of yours. It’s like when you see those aunties in the car parks with their big ass Mercedes S class and cannot reverse park for nuts. So. Little steps. Get a Toyota first.


Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 USM.

I wanted to buy a carry round lens that’s got a better range and sharper than my current 18-55mm kit lens (the lens that came with my camera), and I was looking at this in particular. It’s a Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 USM. It costs around S$300 and has a pretty good range.


Canon 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 EF IS USM AF

However, I have been informed that the Canon 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 EF IS USM AF lens is much better, has a longer range, larger aperture range, and also has an image stabilizer for those full zoom shots when the lighting isn’t so good. This one, second hand, costs about S$600.


Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM

Yet, and another however, as with all things, there’s that little problem about knowing what the best is. And for the range, I think the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM is pretty damn sweet. It’s an L lens, which literally is L for Luxury. It costs about S$1600.

Sigh.

Anyone feeling rich?

And generous…?

Gone

Published
by
theroo
on May 17, 2007
in Inane, Lit and Rue
. 5 Comments

我一生在紙上被風吹亂

When years pass and tears are gone.
When denial is all you have left.
What more can you say.
What more can I do.

If bereft is all I feel
And torn in more than two
Then regret and pain are all that is left
To adorn the door, which I push close. Behind.

Schooh.

Published
by
theroo
on May 14, 2007
in Inane, Photography, Rue and Sartorial
. 22 Comments

tedbakershoes01.jpg

I bought a pair of Ted Baker shoes over the weekend. As with most of my Ted Baker belongings, they are rather outrageous, but in a subtle sort of way. (Read ‘metrosexual’ for ‘outrageous’).

(Actually, read ‘gay’ for ‘metrosexual’).

When I say subtle, I mean, well, you just have to look past the surface, and the superficial price tag, to realise what I mean.

tedbakershoes02.jpg

Anyway, check out the insoles. They are so gay that I just have to say, well, they are so gay. But oh so pretty. Turquoise lining with a touch of pink stripes on a black background. Lovely.

This is for my two ice cream buddies on Saturday night. In defiance of all things airy and fairy (though this is quite fairy).

They came at 50% discount, by the way. Mmmm.

Fly to a land far away

Published
by
theroo
on May 7, 2007
in Inane, Music, Photography and Rue
. 6 Comments

pigeons.jpg

Goodness gracious… it’s May already???

Leave me out with the waste
This is not what I do
It’s the wrong kind of place
To be thinking of you
It’s the wrong time
For somebody new
It’s a small crime
And I’ve got no excuse

Is that alright?
Give my gun away when it’s loaded
Is that alright?
If u don’t shoot it how am I supposed to hold it
Is that alright?
Give my gun away when it’s loaded
Is that alright
With you?

Leave me out with the waste
This is not what I do
It’s the wrong kind of place
To be cheating on you
It’s the wrong time
She’s pulling me through
It’s a small crime
And I’ve got no excuse

Is that alright?
I give my gun away when it’s loaded
Is that alright?
If you dont shoot it, how am I supposed to hold it
Is that alright?
I give my gun away when it’s loaded
Is that alright
Is that alright with you?

Is that alright?
Is that alright?
Is that alright with you?
Is that alright?
Is that alright?
Is that alright with you?

No…

9 Crimes - Damien Rice