Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Cha la Head Cha la

Is something wrong with me? I feel tears almost falling everytime I sing along with this Cha La Head Cha La video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmkMzAAfSvY

Monday, January 4, 2010

Google is also a math tool

 I know this one's old but not so many know or realize this yet. The Big G is also a good calculator and a math tool useful for a variety of numerical problem solving needs. Google's search capability does not end with just scouring the web for content but it also does basic and not so basic math computations. Google is a good converter capable of handling figures involving almost anything. Key in a number and calibration with another keyword for the converted figure you intend to get and voila, the answer pops up right on top of the search results. Try weight numbers like "178 lbs to kg" and there's definitely an accurate answer to find. You can also try solving light years equivalent in miles or kilometers. Also get square roots and solve long arithmetic problems with Google already remembering MDAS and DPMA rules for you.

Something to make you tremendously mad‽

I do believe in fairies. I do believe in witches, too.
And this witch right here...this witch right here...
is probably going to be a force most capable of uniting America or even the entire Christian world.







Friday, January 1, 2010

So-sosan Boyle?


Susan Boyle makes it to the news once again for having the YouTube video with the most views for 2009. Everybody knows her--well--almost. Her first audition clip for Britain's Got Talent has logged in over 84 million views. The woman has the pipes and give her all the commendation for the singing for that's all she has, she is, or she will ever be. Woman can't make it to covers of mags for the teen and tween market nor will she make a music video to go against the Lady Gaga (bizarre) theatrics or the Beyonce-Shakira range of hip throwing and booty shaking.A pleasant new force in pop though, Susan Boyle may just help bring back singing focus to the vocals, melody, and emotions.


So so? Not really. Her feat is enough to overwhelm stereotypes. Anyone can charge her success to luck but there's no denying she can sing -- can sing better than at least 89% of the global population. She can be annoying, she can be boring  but for someone so plain and out of the blue, reaping praises from ordinary YouTube-rs and even artists and music greats isn't something anybody can achieve. No ass-kissing here for the SuBo. She's good and she has enough of the story to provide that sentimental, charismatic backdrop in her performances. It's not too rare a thing though to find a voice like hers (or better) elsewhere.

One comment that surely tickles the imagination comes from "the diva" Barbra Streissand (oh did I spell that correctly?). For the similarly odd-faced singer (I'm sorry that's just how I see her), Susan Boyle is "like a poet singing." Good or bad comment? Really tricky. We know poets don't usually sing. They're the best with words or lyrics and there exists that box of common perception that draws the line between lyricists and real singers. Is Streissand just making some "out of the box" comment or does she really intend to be ambiguous for she herself couldn't utter a completely honest review of SuBo's craft. Can't say a word for Barbra. She must mean well and maybe she just wants people to think for a while. Hypes don't necessarily mean there's a stir because somebody somewhere is doing something really great.