The One on Stoner79

Mention Stoner, anyone in Blowing Wind can't help but think about the pre-cum inducing, God-like sexual encounters that he has shared with us. Sotongball embarks on a journey to discover: how much more there is to this Flexi sex symbol of Blowing Wind.

Sotongball: So tell me, what are the three things in life that you are good at?

Stoner79: That will be Mahjong, Singing and Sex.

STB: Let's start with Mahjong then, how often do you play?

S79: I love Mahjong, usually play it when I'm facing emotional stress. I'm a control freak towards myself, so whenever my emotions reach bottleneck I would play mahjong to de-stress. I will call my kakis and just concentrate on the games itself. Like few weeks ago I just "broke" with someone at 6pm, by 9pm i'm already playing MJ

STB: So people say the time to get over someone is half the time you spend with him, for you I guess it's just a game of MJ?
S79: I allow myself 24 hours to get over someone, after that, a new day awaits. Anything more than 24 hours is considered a crime for me.

STB: So, do you expect your date to play MJ as well as you?
S79: It's easier to get me to a MJ table than to a bed.

STB: So those who can get you to both MJ table and bed must be really good. Anyway you won last year's singing competition right? So when did you reailze that you can actually sing?
S79: It was back in primary school, me and my cousin used to go KTV, at that point of time, everyone thought I sound like Jacky Cheung until I started smoking, then I became Ah Du.

STB: Any tips for KTV queens-wannabe?
S79: I always tell people to stand up when they sing, it opens up their diaphragm and let them hit higher notes

STB: So how is it possible that our Angelic looking, innocent cutie has so much of mating experience under his belt?
S79: Based on my look, if you never heard it from me, you'll never know what kind of things I have done. I was single then so I could try everything before settling down, I'm just being frank about my sexual encounters. Others might even have more encounters than me, just that they are keeping mum about it.

STB: So, anything that you haven't told anyone about?
S79: I can only say that those experiences are just a significant small amount of what I have done.

STB: When did you start?
S79:  I'm a very curious person by nature, my motto is to "try everything once". When I was 18, there was this spa called Spartacus. I was there most days of the week. Went there once with a very chub friend, the place was OK. But my friend was trying to do something, and i was not very interested. So I left early without doing anything. but went back the following day, and the rest is history.

STB: That mean you dun really like chub?
S79: I'm a face person, I dated chubs before, the only thing I don't like is skinny.

STB: Other than face, you also look at thighs and butts?
S79: I'm attracted to thighs, I like it fair, sometimes I do look at people's butt first before I look at the face. Having said that, I don't only date people with good thighs or good buns. Did I mention I like people with good complexion?

STB: Define "smooth complexion"

S79: Smooth, fair, non-blemished skin. I once dumped someone who was very very very nice because of his obvious blemishes, when I kissed I like to kiss the forehead and everything. So can you imagine somewhere at the back of my mind I was like praying that the pimples won't burst as I was kissing him?

STB: So describe to me, your ideal date.

S79: Around my height, not sknny, fair, smart, short hair cut, decent and straight acting. There's actuallly a group of people who capture my attention: People who are well dress, especially in office wear, I do tend to look at people who wear glasses more. I think I like fair people with smooth complexion, sometimes I do like some hairy guys. Of course it's not only all bout the outlooks, I don't like Ah Bengs, I don't like people with long hair. At the end of the day they must be smart.

STB: Ever thought of settling down?
S79: I did, I was attached for 6 years. It was quite good, not messy. Like I told others, I'm quite capable of both open or monogamy. Apart from the type of person that I am, I can actually settle down. The person I was attached with, I didn't even like him to begin with, but he stayed quite near me, he asked me out for dinners, his sincerity touched me.

STB: Any current target in mind?

S79: I don't chase people anymore, I rather choose out of people whom I know that they like me. I don't want to waste my time, it's always better to be chased than to chase. Just for the record, when I  was 19, I was dating this guy who was 24. During the night we would talk on the phone, in the morning I would accompany him to work and loiter around there till his lunchtime, had lunch and waited for him to knock off. In other words, I CAN be very lovey dovey. 

Sotongball: So, what do you want to say to those who likes you?
Stoner79: First of all, tell me that you like me through yourself.

To catch more of Stoner, do visit the #blowingwind chatroom in Galaxynet. Or even better come out for future Blowing Wind outings and you might have a chance to meet him face to face! I'm sure you'll be able to unlock more of him if you first open up yourself to him.

The One on "Love, so Simple"

當我走在寂寞的人生低潮時，您卻如久旱逢甘霖般出現在我眼前。您所帶來的愛是如此純真、簡單，讓我想起初戀的感覺，毫無浧意。

一個星期過了，我只能感謝您對我的真誠，以及願意和我分享生活的誠懇。雖然那三个字還沒出口，我們的舉動已是非常明顯的表達。可能這就是我夢寐以求，非常簡單的愛。

只想對您說：希望我們永遠不會放棄，這愛彼此的權利。

愛,很簡單 － 陶喆 

Verse

忘了是怎么开始  也许就是对你
有一种感觉

忽然间发现自己  已深深爱上你

真的很简单
爱得地暗天黑都已无所谓
是是非非无法决择
没有后悔为爱日夜去跟随
那个疯狂的人是我
喔......

Chorus
i love you
无法不爱着你
说你也爱我
i love you
永远不愿意baby
失去你

Verse 2
不可能更快乐  只要能在一起
做什么都可以

虽然世界变个不停  用最真诚的心
让爱变得简单
爱得地暗天黑都已无所谓
是是非非无法决择
没有后悔为爱日夜去跟随
那个疯狂的人是我
喔......

Chorus
i love you
我一直在这里
一直在爱你
i love you
永远都不放弃
这爱你的权利

Bridge
如果你还有一些困惑
请贴着我的心倾听
听我说着爱你
yes i do

Chorus

i love you
我一直在这里
一直在爱你
i love you
永远都不放弃
这爱你的权利

[English Translation]

You appeared when I least expected anyone to share my life with, almost like the light at the end of the tunnel. And the love you brought was so simple and pure that it reminds me of the feeling of first love, without any excessive hint of lust.

Throughout the first week, I thank you for your sincerity, and your willingness to share your life with me. Although the cliched three words have not been muttered, but your actions and mine speak much louder than that. Maybe this is what I've been searching for all these while, love that's very simple.

To You, to us. Hope we will never, ever give up the rights to love each other.

The One on The Dark Knight

Second installment in Director Christopher Nolan's new take in the Batman series, The Dark Knight is one of the highly anticipated movie in the year 2008, even more so after the mysterious death of Brokeback Mountain's Academy Awards Nominee for Best Actor - Heath Ledger.

I went into the theatre filled with much anticipation and excitement, only to find my satisfaction level bested by so much more the movie had to offer. The Dark Knight has a pitch black dark tone, many of the regular casual movie goers may not like it, but those who come into terms with it will be in for a treat of that kind of escapism the movie relays.

Christian Bale is as charming as ever, sporting more control in his life this time round than in Batman Begins. Batman has came affirmed his responsibility as the condemned protector of the Gotham and has a whole new lot of gadgets under his belt, especially the Sonar Goggle which allows him to use ultrasound to scan an entire building or even city of Gotham for enemies, making him more Bat-like.

The Dark Knight will feel like - to many whether sub-consciously or not - a movie that put more emphasis on The Joker, played by Heath Ledger (though it might be possible too that it's because we paid more attention to The Joker.)

The truth is, whether he is still alive or not, Heath Ledger did play a fantastic Joker in the movie, from the way of speech right down to the sinister laughter. Forget about the critics' crap about the movie being overhyped, just put yourself in the shoe's of Heath Ledger's Joker, and you will understand what commitment to the role is all about, so much so that it may be driving force behind the reason why Ledger died.

Movie goers will have a love-hate tendencies towards The Joker, making him probably one of the most likable villain in recent times. The Joker commits crime and create chaos which people detest, but he does it in a manner that you can't help but even clap for his feat.

Overall, the movie is well paced and filled with perhaps too much adult dialogues, not the typical light-hearted action hero movie that you have been familiar with (read: Ironman). Coupled with the amount of disturbing scenes that made a couple of us cringe, think twice before you bring your nephews and niece there.

The Dark Knight has overtaken Spiderman 3's record of the highest revenue in its first weekend of the US Box Office, grossing $158.3 million as compared to Spidey's $151.1 million. Yes partly thanks to the hype, do consider too the fact that Sotongball had watched it twice.

The One on BW3AP

It stands for The One on Blowing Wind 3rd Anniversary Party

Forget about the cramped karaoke lounge, forget about the bar which only holds you for few hours. This year's Blowing Wind Anniversary Party brought us to the peaceful, tucked-faraway-from-the-city-bustles, countryside-ish chalet bungalow in Changi. Of course with the arrival on the Blowing Wind members, how can any place on earth stays in peace for long?

On friday, after a victorious poke-ball (no Pikachu inside) session with Seekstock, we headed to the chalet only to be greeted by NFB's potato+sausage+broccoli stew fragrance and that did make our stomach grumble! Not to forget visually we are also greeted by the prominent lantern looking flag with 7 tails each of color in the rainbow.

Without much delay, we converted the thank-God-it's-there perfect squarish table into a makeshift mahjong table and clack-clack away. As more people came another table opens, by 6pm the whole house is filled with TV noise, MJ tiles shuffling and more shuffling, and more, and more, and more. Few of us went to watch The Dark Knight in Downtown East and the review had already been actually written, but will only be up on Tube Thursday.

The notti fun started when the drinking session began, actually STB was playing MJ in the other room so he couldn't really confirm the account on what happened. So here's what STB thinks he know: A and B got drunk, C, D, E followed suit, E came to the MJ room to visit once a while, each time with a more high less sober face, B, C and D went out to smoke once in many whiles, F woke up and joined the drinking, A got so high that his usual slutty attribute got amplified ten folds. A started to take of his shirt, got his tofu eaten for countless times, tried to even tease us by unzipping his pants and finally got into his birthday suit for few seconds. D puked. A and B got hitched together and the rest is history... By 6am when STB went to spot check room by room, he found 3 pairs interlocking each other in bed.

To discourage the bad habit of kiss and tell, anyone mentioned above have the right to tell me to remove the paragraph above.

More MJ on the next day leading to the official party...

By 6pm, we saw a whole lot of more familiar faces with a few fresher ones coming in: Only Me, Kai, Obiyan, Oscad, Geroge, Richard, Chubbyboy and Big Chub. Hope it's not the last time we see their faces.

Right before dinner, we drew lots to separate the crowd into two teams: Team Top with orange stickers and Team Btm with blue stickers. Team Top was led by ExecQT and Team Btm is led by none other than our favorite Chat! By the way, Team Top does not mean it's all comprised of tops and vice versa.

We started dinner at 7pm, everyone was restricted to the perimeter of the chalet but luckily there was enough space to accommodate more than 40 of us. The food was really good especially the desserts and cakes sponsored by our ever generous sponsors.

After dinner, everyone is ushered into the dining hall area for games. 4 games were played including Nickname Bingo, Guess Who?, Guess the Number and The Most... As much as it is designed for entertainment, the games are meant more to get the members to know one another better, inside out.

In Nickname Bingo, we found out that no one in the house has his ear punched a hole, who goes to Ford Road, who has pseudo six abs, and who has the bubble butt that never fails to catch any horny tops' attention.

Then in Guess Who?, the two teams were separated from each other with a big drape in between covering them. Then the drape is dropped and representatives from each team is supposed to shout out the other's name/nick before he does. You'll be surprised how some old birds can't even remember each other's name...

The third game has been explained before in my previous post. Basically we had the very very very sporting members stripping, demonstrating karmasutra positions and reacting their first sexual encounters.

The last game revealed to everyone who has the longest hair, biggest biceps to the most no. of pushups in 30 seconds and lightest nipple color.

The Btms did themselves proud in the bonus round by having the person with the lightest nipple color, toppling the Tops by barely 1 point and emerged as winners for the evening.

The night was rounded off with nothing less than lucky draw. The lucky draw has been THE most anticipated program of all time in any BW event, thanks to the many kind sponsors who has been providing us with many desirable gift items over the past few events. We have practical products like Wireless Router, IP cameras, $50 Harvey Norman Vouchers down to the quirky and practical things like Tenga, Sexy Panties and Shogun Passes.

With Blowing Wind celebrating its 3rd year since the team of current moderators took over, we have seen many new faces then becoming more and more active in their contribution to the forum. Let's look forward to the next 3 years to come.

Sotongball would like to personally thank the following:

NFB - He has practically coordinated the whole event by himself, from registration, to collection of sponsored gifts, to even providing props for the games. Hats off to NFB, and he has barely joined the group for more than a year.

OralB - While busy shuttling between countries, OB has devoted his time during the party to provide support and make sure everything run smoothly. Thanks for keeping scores during the games too.

Gachi - Of course we have the sponsors to thank, but how do we get the sponsors in the first place? It's none other Gachi with so many connections to get the so many attractive gifts.

Asura - Being in-charge of food, Asu has made sure that everyone is well-fed during the party.

LupCheong - Thanks for taking the trouble to bring the big mahjong table, and also for the many gifts that you sponsored!

Rusty - For booking the chalet

All the sponsors which are listed here and more.

Everyone who made time to attend the party and made it possible!

The One on Gourmet Coffee (Part 2)

Stoner pointed out I should spell out the difference between espresso, latte and cappuccino. So I'm gonna do just that. Thanks Stoner!

Espresso

Comes in shots (sounds like something notti), this is not for the faint hearted. Served usually in a petite cups, it is much stronger and definitely more potent than your regular black coffee. Good for a quickie drink, that is when you find your date boring and just want to finish the drink, and perhaps have the alertness to look for another one in the IRC later that night :p

Latte

Steam your milk till it's frothy and let it settle first, then fill your latte glass till the level of the upper handle, add a dash of foam, and lastly a shot of espresso. Voila! You made your first glass of latte, congratulations. Latte basically means "milk" in Italian, which makes sense because you're adding more volume of milk than coffee into your glass. More suited for people who wants to drink milk, or just a tinge of coffee in their drinks. It is really too weak for STB's taste.

Cappuccino

To make a good cappuccino, you need to be very skilled in steaming your milk. Refrigerated cold pasteurized full cream milk will be the best as it can be frothed more easily. Once you get your foam up and milk settled, fill your cappuccino cup with one shot of espresso, cover the cup with foam till its flat. Next, pour a bit of milk at the center of the cup till the foam is about half an inch above the brim, giving the "cap" in cappuccino. Lastly, sprinkle a generous layer of cocoa powder on the cap, and give yourself a pat at the back. It is up to you to determine how "dry" you want your cappuccino to be, dry will mean less milk and thus stronger coffee. Oh, and remember to ask your date "Is there something you wanna tell me?" after drinking your cap.

There you have it, three basic gourmet coffees, of course then you can exercise your creativity and add your own customization to the coffee, very much Starbucks-style, some of the tips:

1. Additional shot of espresso, less milk will obviously make the coffee stronger
2. Use soy milk or low-fat (skimmed) milk to make your coffee healthy
3. Decaf if you want to enjoy the taste of coffee and yet want to sleep at night, you can't really taste the different (trust me even STB has been fooled by his ex by taking in a cup of decaf instead of regular)
4. Add ice to make it iced latte or iced cappuccino of course, always add ice into the cup first before anything!
5. Add different flavored syrup to your latter or cappuccino, there are a lot of possibilities out there: from the time-tested chocolate syrup to hazelnut to even ceylon tea. Recommended brand of syrup is Da Vinci and Monin, bartender's favorite.
6. Add whipped cream instead of foam, always STB's preferred choice!

Ok, hope you're inspired enough to start your own cafe now, or at least buy a new full fledged coffee machine for your house. Go ahead, pamper yourself, you deserve it. Any more enquiries like milk steaming techniques, please feel free to direct them to me. 

Sotongball hopes to conduct classes on coffee tasting and making to promote the awareness and goodness of the caffeinated drink that is the most popular beverage around the world sometime after he retires...

The One on Akated and ExecQT

This week's Menday is a couple special. They are the testament that love is not entirely an overrated myth, and also love removes any hurdle of physical preferences, more importantly love can blossom between two BWers. Which couple can display love that's so affectionate even in public other than Akated and ExecQT?

Sotongball: How long have you two been together officially?

Akated: Exactly 1 year as of 14 July 2008 (Today)
ExecQT: One year of agony...

STB: Wow congrats! Care to describe to me how did you guys meet?
Aka: In the #BlowingWind chatroom.
Exec: Oct 2006 that's when I found out about this slut and his auto-cum experience with a Masseur

STB: Was it love or lust at first sight?
A&E: Pure lust, at Ritz Carlton during CNY Feb 2007 period
Aka: he was in the hotel room, logged into the chatroom, and invited me over.
Exec: I was dumped by someone else, after he came over and checked me out.

STB: When did the feeling start to develop?
Exec: Its a gradual process.
Aka: Up till somewhere in July, one week before we became official, I was still not very sure. Just wanted to be friends. We were both btms at that time, and there's only so much two btms can do. The first time i topped him was in HK, that weekend before we became official.
Exec: Prior to that, I had alot of feelings to him. Was abit painful, having to listen to all his encounters in the chatroom, forum.

STB: Wait wait, who chased who?
Exec: Obviously I chased him, with a lot of encouragements and advices from Engineer, to quote him, "to be persistent", and let him know how I felt, not to be discouraged by his responses.

STB: So Akated, when did you give in?
Aka: One week after the HK trip, we were having dinner on a Friday night, very late. Both dar and another BWer stay in the east. So I sent him and dar home, and when I reached dar's place, I slept over at his place. we decided to kiss, that's when I realized I wanna spend the rest of my life with him
Exec: He said something like "I'm ready"

STB: Awww, so sweet. "And they lived happily ever after..."
Exec: So there's hope for people over 40.
Aka: I didn't really think that I'll go for anyone above 40
Exec: Same as me, dar was physically not my type at all.

STB: So what changed?
Aka: Its comfortable in a good way. I wanted go out with someone who's muscular, sometimes you dun realise there's someone waiting for you
Exec: I told him, " dun chase after wind"
Aka: Dar was always there when i got turned down by a few.

STB: So what do you guys enjoy doing together?

Exec: Sex, wine and dine, movies, working out, traveling... Did I mention sex?

Aka: We're pretty open to experiment still, no food sex though. Always don't mind a third participant in our love-making sessions.

Sotongball: Oooooh, any particular candidate in mind?

ExecQT and Akated: Sotongball! *wink*wink*

To prevent the interview session from turning into a totally unintended session, Sotongball decided just to snap a shot of them two and round it off. Aka and Exec organize the official fortnightly dinner for Blowing Wind forum and have been traveling to Tokyo, Paris, Sydney, Macau Hong Kong and still counting...

The One on Lagging

Love sometimes still needs a reboot. let the "lagging" (read: tiresome) feeling have a chance of fresh start.

「累格」-" lag" in English. Originally means trailing behind, dilly-dally and slowing down etc. In the internet age, the word has found a new definition in the form of screen freezing.

Netizens in Taiwan translates "lag" directly into 「累格」(lei4 ge2), because of the similarity in phonetics and meaning. It is widely used and accepted, thus became a common lingo in the chinese side of inter web.

In computing term, during the heat of a online gaming, if the screen freezes, lagging occurs; While loading a web page on the browser with the hourglass (or rainbow beach ball for that matter...) spinning non-stop and finally comes to a failed to load page, lagging occurs; while streaming or downloading a movie or MP3, and it comes to a halt, again lagging occurs.

In the land of Love, lagging happens too. When two lovers are completely not in the same tune, frequency thought and feeling, or sometimes even in conversation, that's lagging for you.

The cause of lagging comes from a million sources, more often than not due to human cause, the most important key lies on the "communication" between two person. Maintaining a relationship requires effort from the heart, although one is not judge on how much effort he pours in, but often from the behavior we can determine one's motive and thoughts.

In a relationship that ages multiple years, it often comes to a point when a situation of lagging must be faced, with the main culprit of the "take it for granted" attitude. "I thought he would understand..." is an age old excuse used too many times to explain one's ignorance. Just because of "I thought", therefore we take for granted and assume that the other party would understand.

Communications between a couple is not limited to only speech, but the connection between the minds and the bodies are no less important too. When two persons are living in the same place (in this context: country), although there's still concern for each other, but there's a lack of attention to each other when meeting face to face, the bodily contact is also sorely missing, lest the lack of common interests and topics. When each prefers to find his own thing or man to do, no doubt this is already Lagging.

If two were in a long distance relationship or one party is posted to a foreign land, with them under a different sky, breathing a different air, experiencing a different life or in a totally different environment, all these hinders the acceleration of the relationship. Just with the few factors mentioned above, it is enough to make two drift apart and cause lagging.

Assuming the environment set above, the most obvious omen to the occurrence of lagging can be seen when two are talking over the phone, two are trying to squeeze their brain dry to think of topics to talk about, or the moment of silences is awkward more than talking, listening to each other's breathe of the phone, this is obviously a sign of Lagging.

The occurrence of lagging hurts, but it is unlike a stab in the heart or slicing apart of intestines. The pain is more subtle, it strikes in the dark, without a chance to prevent, eating your heart away silently...

Whenever a relationship comes to a lagging it usually means an off-key season, doesn't necessarily spell the situation of parting and bidding good-byes. If something can be done at appropriate times, such as increasing the frequency of communication and ways to understand each other better, it will absolutely rekindle the dying flame in a lagging relationship. Love, like a long lasting draught, being inject its well-deserved water and nutrients into its dire phase.

Every relationship has its ups and downs, the key is to have a compromising mindset and an alert awareness, do not dwell and linger in the nostalgic, comfort zone feeling that is long lost after the honeymoon period. If you want to keep your relationship fresh, both parties would have to contribute to the relationship, a one-sided effort won't do.

Just like a lagging computer, give your relationship a reboot once in a while, let the lagging relationship an opportunity of second. third... fifteen wind.

Of course the most important thing is, as long as your heart (feelings) hasn't died.

Lagging is written by one of our writer friends in Blowing Wind, Sotongball was just merely providing the translation for our English readers according to his interpretation, without the original writer's permission still though... The original text is found here.

The One on Redemption (Part 2)

When Sylvester finally opened his eyes slowly, he could not make out where he was.

He saw figures in white, hollering over him. He felt a sharp pain in his stomach but he was too weak to move.

He felt helpless, the same kind of feeling he felt when his granny passed away. He tried to talk but could not, and fell back to sleep again.

When he woke up again and slowly took a look around the room, there were other people lying on the beds besides him.

They were wearing green robes and he realized he was in a hospital, he tried to get up when a gentle yet manly voice stopped him, “Don’t move. You won’t want to move too much after all the pumping of drug residue from your stomach.”

Sylvester looked at the guy with weary eyes and saw a good looking guy in his 30s. The guy has a sharp face with bright eyes, broad smile, tanned and seemed to have a fit nice build.

He introduced himself, “I am Julian, your counselor. You are Sylvester, right?” Julian broad sunny smile immediately relaxed Sylvester.

“Yeah, I am him. Why am I here?” Sylvester said breathlessly.

“You were sent in by your friend. He found you spasming in the room when he returned home. You had a drug overdose and the doctors just pumped your stomach. You must rest well to recover.”

Julian placed his big palms on Sylvester shoulders and Sylvester felt a sense of warmth and security that he had not felt before.

He asked anxiously, “Will I be charged? Or will I be send to rehabilitation?”

Julian, with the same smile, replied, “Let’s not worry too much about that. Focus on getting well and we will talk about that in due course.”

“No, you don’t understand. I don’t want to be sent to rehabilitation or be sent to jail. I can’t be a jail bird, I already have no future, I can’t have a record, please help me Julian!” Sylvester was agitated.

“Hey, don’t worry too much, ok? I will do my best to help you. But let’s focus to get you well first, ok? I promise to give my all to help you. Don’t think too much, just rest more. Can I have your family contact? I can contact them for you.” Julian said smilingly.

“I don’t have family. I am all alone.” Sylvester lied.

Julian looked at Sylvester sympathetically and tapping his shoulders, Julian smiled again, “It’s ok. Then let me take care of you for the time being. Get some sleep, I will be here.”

Sylvester nodded and closed his eyes, he slept soundly and had a sweet dream which had not happened for a long time.

Sylvester was woken up by a nurse to take his medication in the middle of the night, he called out Julian name and realized his folly when he saw the female nurse looking at him puzzled.

He took his pills and asked for the time. It was 2am in the morning and the whole ward was dead quiet.

Sylvester felt peaceful, something he had not felt more than 10 years. He sat up on his bed slowly and peered out of the window.

He felt that he had lived again, he was not sure if it was a good thing but he knew he was given another chance to live again. He went back to sleep after a while and dreamed about Julian.

The next day, Sylvester woke up early and managed to get off the bed and walked around.

He met Julian at the corridor and was mesmerized by his handsome good looks after taking a good look.

Julian, flashing his sunny smile, supported Sylvester with a firm grip when Sylvester almost slipped on the way back to his ward.

Sylvester felt a rush of adrenalin when he felt the strong hands supporting him, his face blushed unwillingly and he dared not look at the handsome Julian.

“Be careful, don’t fall. You looked so much better today. You sure recover fast!” Julian spoke gently.

Sylvester nodded and said softly, “I am glad to be back from hell.”

Julian helped Sylvester to his bed and said encouragingly, “Sylvester, you are a strong man. You are a good looking dude. Don’t throw your life away like you did. You must learn to embrace life and grow with it. It is a waste to lose such a young handsome man like you.”

Sylvester has always been confident about his looks, he knows he is a good looker, tanned and fit built with a bad boy image.

But to hear such compliments from another handsome man he hardly knows, he felt shy suddenly.

Julian looked at Sylvester and was puzzled by his silence and he patted on Sylvester’s shoulders and continued, “Young man! You hear me? Don’t worry too much. I am going to write a good report on you and hopefully we can get you out of jail term and go for rehabilitation sentencing. But I need you to be honest with me and we will see how well the counseling session progress, ok?”

Sylvester looked at Julian pleadingly, “Please Julian, I really do not want to go to jail. You must do your best to help me, ok?”

Julian nodded smilingly and they talked like old friends that day.

Sylvester bared his soul to Julian and told him everything from his childhood days to the very day he was out from drug overdose.

Tears were swelling in Julian’s bright eyes when Sylvester finished his story.

He smiled at Sylvester and said softly, “It must be hard on you. Do not give up your life. There are much more unfortunate people who are braver than you. If they can survive, so can you. I will work on your self esteem and drug addiction, it will not be easy but I need you to put in your faith and work with me. I know you can brave through this obstacle and we can do it!”

Sylvester looked at Julian gratefully, the first person to show genuine care without asking anything in return.

He felt that Julian was like a family to him, something he never had.

Julian listened to him, encouraged him, believed him and supported him.

He felt an instant inclination towards Julian and poured all his troubles and hatred for his parents to Julian.

They talked more than 5 hours that day, and when Julian had to leave, Sylvester can’t help but felt downcast and lost that his confidante was leaving.

Julian seemed to know what Sylvester was thinking and reassured him, “Sylvester, it’s ok. You don’t have to tell me everything today. We still have a long way to go, you can tell me everything slowly. We can take things one step at a time. I will be here and not going anywhere soon. And now, you should take a good rest and get well. This counseling session is gonna be much longer term than you think.”

Sylvester smiled at Julian, his eyes brightened with expectation for the first time, asked, “You will be here for me? You really will? You will not leave without any indication?”

Julian placed his strong arms on Sylvester’s shoulders and assured, “Yes. I will be here. Don’t worry too much. I will do my best to help you.”

to be continued....

Redemption is written by Covantai, who enjoys writing short stories yet having difficulties finding an avenue to post his entries. For more of Covantai, please visit http://covantai.blogspot.com/

The One on "Season of Loneliness"

今天的歌，是陶喆2004年《樂之路》的一首主打歌。也不算是主打歌因為專輯裡頭的每首歌都是陶喆的金曲專選，《寂寞的季節》可是比較好聽的新歌吧。

喜歡陶喆的歌迷，往往去唱K的時候會感到煩惱。因為陶喆非常喜歡唱高音假音，大家都可能會走音。好消息是《寂寞》曲調不太一般陶喆高，而且旋律也非常得靈活，曲子要拉要收隨你。歌詞一點也不單調，十分有意思。

想要點唱這首歌需要注意一下：你應該點現場LIVE版本(以下），會比較容易唱。

寂寞的季節 － 陶喆

Verse 1

风吹落最后一片叶　
我的心也飘着雪
爱只能往回忆裡堆叠　
oh~　给下个季节
忽然间树梢冒花蕊　
我怎么会都没有感觉
oh~　整条街　都是恋爱的人
我独自走在暖风的夜

Chorus
多想要向过去告别　
当季节不停更迭　oh~
却还是少一点坚决　
在这寂寞的季节

Verse 2
艷阳高照在那海边　
爱情盛开的世界
远远看著热闹一切　
oh~　我记得那狂烈
窗外是快枯黄的叶　
感伤在心中有一些　oh~
我瞭解　那些爱过的人　
心是如何慢慢在凋谢

Chorus
多想要向过去告别　
当季节不停更迭　oh~
却永远少一点坚决　
在这寂寞的季节

Verse 3
又走过风吹的冷冽　
最后一盏灯熄灭
从回忆我慢慢穿越　
在这寂寞的季节
还是寂寞的季节　
一样寂寞的季节

[English Translation]

Today's song, is from David Tao's Ultrasound album in 2004. The album consists of David Tao's popular hits over the earlier years of his career. And Season of Loneliness is one of the new songs that are more appealing to Sotongball's ears.

I'm sure David Tao's fans always find it hard to find one of his songs to sing in KTV lounge. Because of his preference for insanely high pitched tune and more often than not falsettos, most of us will become strangling chicken trying to sing his songs. Well, the good new is that this Season of Loneliness is not too high keyed, and the rhythm and tune is rather flexible such that you can achieve a certain degree of improvisation. Furthermore, the lyrics are colourful and meaningful.

For people who would like to attempt to sing this in KTV, I would recommend the live concert version.

The One on Gourmet Coffee

The day/night you see Sotongball not functioning normally, he probably hasn't consumed his first cup of coffee, or simply because he might be too sexed up. Jokes aside, if you know STB well enough, you would know that his favourite drink is no doubt iced coffee, as long as there's coffee, sugar and milk in the mixture. Slit STB's throat and he can literally bleed coffee.

I wouldn't have the balls to admit that I'm the coffee connoisseur. But having gone out for so many dates and outings, more often than not we'll sum up the night in a coffee place, topped up with my experience of having worked as a barista, I would say I have enough credibility to recommend some good gourmet coffee.

Gourmet coffee in STB's terms, refers to coffee prepared from coffee machines and syphons rather than your socks coffee in the neighbourhood kopitiams. That means your espressos, lattes, cappuccino, frappe and what-nots.

Just like how different people has different preference of saunas, it works the same for coffee places. Sotongball aims to provide a review of coffee places not based on their espresso quality, but based on the differentiation they offer. In no order of preference:

1. The Coffee Connoisseur

Intro: Well well, who would have expected this to appear first on the list? I think the BWers have chalked up enough spendings (SGD88 subtotal each) in TCC to get every regular a TCC card each. Easily the BWers' favourite after-dinner haunt (or only STB's for that matter)...

Selling point: TCC is the only chain that offers service in terms of Service Crew doing the whole SOP, from taking orders to billing), of course that incurs. They have a full menu, which includes food, desserts, non-coffee drinks and of course, coffees.

2. Starbucks

Intro: This one needs no introduction, Starbucks is probably the first that comes to anyone's mind when you talk about gourmet coffee. You'll find a lot of students hanging out in Starbucks outlets because the staffs will never come and bother you as long as you buy a cup of drinks. Frequent travelers will never go wrong with Starbucks because they're just everywhere.

Selling point: STB is still in love the Christmas drink, Mocha Praline (not in the menu but you can call for Mocha with Hazelnut syrup. I believe with UOB Visa Signature card, you'll be able to get a complimentary one-for-one latte.

3. Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf

Intro: Coffee Bean is not unlike Starbucks, with maybe some food menu but STB has never really fancied their food. The Coffee Bean Card offers member discounts in form of SGD22 credit for every SGD20 top up, and on top of that redemption points. Also drinks of the month gets a free upsize for Coffee Bean Card holders.

Selling point: There are quite impressive spread of cakes in Coffee Bean, the management probably spend more time churning out recipes for cakes of the month rather than drinks of the month. 

4. Mc Cafe

Intro: McDonald's does not only want to conquer the fast food market, you can see there are a lot of McCafes sprouting out either within or next to the McDonald's outlet.

Selling point: Cheap coffee of comparable quality, you can almost buy 2 McCafe iced lattes for the price of 1 Starbucks iced latte (sans the Visa Signature promotion). A good place to hang out too if you're on a budget and need a place to sit long long.

There you have it, so don't complain there's no place to bring your date to after dinner because these outlets mentioned are just almost every where.

STB's tips to drinking espresso:

• Standing time of espresso is about 30 seconds, meaning if you don't finish it ASAP from the moment it is dispense from the coffee machine, it might turn sour.
• Do not sip it bit by bit, it's meant to be drank in one shot, that's why it's call single or double shot.
• Don't worry about making noise, in fact the louder the slurp the better. Making the espresso reach the bitter taste bud of your tongue (where it's closest to the throat) will allow you to taste the richness of espresso without compromise (or any coffee for that matter)

Sotongball always dreams of having his first full-fledge coffee machine at home, complete with milk steamer to make the perfect cappuccino with his own hand-picked blend of beans from Nepal, Jamaica, Java and whichever third world countries...

The One on Mr KK (Part 2)

The night prior to the thanksgiving ceremony, KK invited me to stay over at his place as both of us were trying to add the final touch-up to the photos and video. KK stayed with a housemate, who was not in town so we were sleeping in the living room.

We shared just about everything in our lives, like me being alone in Singapore and my issues with my father back then, also about his college life in the US and his work. We were lying on a make shift double bed on the floor, made from two single mattresses, our body facing each other with an arm's length distance between us.

Suddenly, I got a flashback of him again and decided to tell him what was on my mind.

STB: You know, exactly one year ago, I could have gotten to know you during a healing session. But you were taking too long with someone else so I had to go to another person.

KK: Oh is it? It's OK I guess, maybe the timing and place was not right.

KK excused himself to the toilet. And when he was back, he lied down closer to me and said.

KK: Let me offer you a hug, an apology for getting to know you one year later.

I was already very sleepy then, half awake I extended my arms wide and rolled to his side of the bed. Coming from a conservative chinese family, it was the first time STB ever hugged anyone, the feeling was foreign yet welcoming. I felt liberated of all my burdens, it was as if the world population was narrowed down to only me and him.

I lied comfortably in the warm embrace of KK's arms, sometimes tightening my arms as if I did not want to let him go. There was very little movement from KK, my head was rested upon his broad right shoulder while he was pecking my right forehead, temple and ear gently. Heck, STB did not even know how to kiss mouth to mouth back then although he had a strong urge to do that with KK.

We hugged each other into slumber and woke up at eleven the next day, still in tact together. The hug was more overwhelming than any body contact that STB has experienced before, or even after. As STB had probably done all sorts of possible body contact with men over the years, nothing came close to the hug he had with KK for the fateful evening. The hug was filled with no lust, but love, warmth and sincerity, it really felt longer than it had lasted.

I guess I woke up first in the morning, couldn't move much as I was still in the bear hug of KK. Somehow my left hand wondered around and stroke his body over the thin layer of cotton T-Shirt he was wearing, and it chanced upon a hump which STB had been able to feel with his thigh the whole morning, it was the first hard-on that STB touched other than his own, and it was as good as the Nescafe can that he liked to drink from.

Honestly, by then STB's mind was filled with guilt more than anything. It was unnatural and sinful if you play by the rules like STB then. After some internal struggle between the head and the head, STB put his hand back around KK's waist.

Almost as if KK didn't wanted me to stop, he greeted me good morning with a smile and caught me by surprise. In return I tighten my grasp of him and my left collar was feeling his five-o-clock shadow, I didn't know back then the difference between love and lust, but thinking back I felt a good mixture of both.

We started making small talks, think it's been twelve hours that we were in each other's embrace. Somehow, KK let his hand wander off my waist too, it went past my hips, thigh and ended up at the same spot where I made a pit stop at his just now. After which we just stared at each other eye to eye for a fair bit, and my hand too was back at the checkpoint.

No matter how strong the will is, the flesh is weak. In no time we were trying to take off each other's clothes while still remaining under the blanket. 

The body contact between two naked bodies felt at least 10 times better if not more. With the restrictions of where-can-I-touch lifted, it was as if I was given an All-You-Can-Ride free pass to Disneyland.

In the end, I was lying in a missionary position while KK stroked my hard dick. It didn't take me too long to cum and that was the second orgasm in my life, first being the wet dream few weeks before that which my mum refused to tell me more details. It was surprising how some white substance can splatter everywhere from my didi instead of pee.

KK then asked "You want me to cum too?" 

And the rest is history...

I wasn't able to join them the following year as I became more involved with my own congregation in Singapore. Neither did I seek to fulfill the need of my flesh either by myself or with others as I was... let's just say in denial. I'm sure it was the same for KK and I have not contacted him much since, just birthday greetings every year.

Thinking back, now that I am out of the closet. All the body contacts that I had with other guys couldn't even compare with the feel that I had with KK.

Sotongball hopes by sharing this will liberate him from the guilt and bittersweet memory that words cannot express, which has been haunting me on and off for many years.

The One on Blog Creation

After reading Sotongball - whatever and whatever for almost a month, I'm sure some of you are inspired to start up a new blog too. But you might be afraid to take the first step, or worse still don't even know how to begin with. Fret not, STB has put up a simple guide of how to set up your spanking new blog.

1. Go to http://www.blogger.com
2. Press on "CREATE YOUR BLOG NOW"
3. Get ready your preferred email. Can be Hotmail, Yahoo, Gmail and etc. Fill up all the blanks
4. I suggest you create your blog as early as possible to secure an URL. http://sotongball.blogspot.com was taken so I had to make do with rawsotongball (which turned out to be more saucy). Don't try to be funny and use some long URL like http://rawsotongballcrispyandcrunchy.blogspot.com, it's really a chore for people to access your blog.
5. Choose a template, I straight away fell in love with the pink one :p If you're good, you should be able to figure out how to use an external template for your blog.
6. That's it, easier than shoving a dildo up your arse for some of you, or getting some of you guys to bed for that matter.
7. Your very first virgin post: Of course you must the courtesy to introduce yourself to the rest - age, height, weight, race and t/b? Oops wait this's not #sgboy. Just something you want to tell others about yourself. STB gave an opening theme to his blog, what can you do?

8. Click on the Layout, it's good to customize your blog especially on the layout and sidebar. You can easily a new page element to the sidebar like a chatterbox, a poll, links to blogs that you read and etc.

Things to note when you get yourself into blogging:

• Font size and color coordination - You won't want your readers to strain their eyes while reading your blog entries.
• Originality - Copy and paste from others' works is just so cheap, try to take time and come out with your own content.
• Value adding - Be it arousing, entertaining, touching, educating or even boring. Do make every visitor's time reading your blog worth while.
• Privacy - Unless you're out and loud and proud, try not to reveal too much of sensitive information like where you stay or shit.
• Sensitivity - If you want to write about others in your blog, consult them first before making them special guest in your blog.

That's all, good luck at your virgin blog entry. Do feel free to consult STB if you ever need any help in setting up your virgin blog. Happy Blogging.

Oops, Sotongball might be adding numbers to the already over-populated blogosphere. Hope to see some interesting posts sprouting out.

The One on Gay Fathers

They are among us. Some of us like them because they are exotic and usually provide no string attached fun filled with pure lust; rest of us avoid them because the morality in us thinks that we are helping them to commit literal adultery. But, what is it like to be a father and husband, yet having preference for the taste of cocks? Sotongball sets out to find out more from the perspective of a married man.

Sotongball: Tell me more about being gay and having a child.
Married Man: Having your own flesh and blood, is nothing like adopting one, or taking up pets, he's someone that grows in you. You have to go through the whole process: the trisemester, the birth. Sure, your dog will run to you and wag its tails at you, but it's not the same.

STB: Why do you compare the difference between having a child to a pet?
MM: Gay people, pple who dun get married, they can only relate to having an adopted child and pets being the closest experience. But I can tell you having a your own child is totally different. Life is so much easier if I wasn't married, but I love my kid. Every night when I see him, awake or asleep, it never fails to warm my heart, totally.

STB: Does that mean you get married just to have a baby?
MM: Ya. Wanted to have a few children actually, the horrible discovery is that the cost and the effort to raise a child is not that affordable in the current societal form.

STB: If you would have known that the cost is so expensive?
MM: Yes I'll still have at least one kid. Being a selfish bastard that i am, its a balance between work, family, and extra sex.

STB: Let's not talk about whether it is fair to your other half or not, but did you ever think about what if...?
MM: It's not so simple. The reconciliation part is, it will come when it come. But I do not sacrifice my family time to live my other life. Tat's one of the reason why i thought I should not have a long term relationship. I always come clear with people that I'm married and have kids before we even touch each other.

STB: Do you think that any 100% gay person will share the same sentiment as you?
MM: I don't think my ideas are unique, I have chatted with alot of people in the IRC who are married too. They only meet for pure sex. There are many in IRC who are BLB (bi-married looking for bi-married).

STB: By 100% gay I mean people like me, who do not even want to see a cunt.
MM: Also a possiblity for the pure gays, that is why in the bigger world, there are those who are trying to adopt kids. BUT, its still not the same as having your own flesh and blood. Gays may or may not have craving for off-spring, Maybe they dislike kids, and that's why they are gays? In any case, I don't care to speculate what others think. Why should I worried about whether others have paternal instinct or not? Most of the readers are generally mixed. Those mature readers may have the yearning, but they might not want to try because they're probably already too old. Those young ones should not have

STB: What do you have to say to those critics of your seemingly "selfish" behaviour?
MM: I'll stop comment about you, if you stop commenting about me. You're entitled to your view, I'm entitled to mine. To quote QAF, "everything is about sex". The gays are themselves already being discriminated against at large, yet you want to comment on those who are even more "freakish" in the society. Hypocritical isn't it?

STB: Maybe they think they are not "cheating" on anyone?
MM: What if I out myself to my wife, and child. And they accept it, and they even allow this relationship and allowed to carried on? would that be convincing enough? Anyway, no place in heaven for us, I kinda forgot what the bible wrote... But who cares, as long as you don't steal, kill or rape. My take is that as long as you do not pass on any STD's to your wife,

Sotongball: Any last words?
Married Man: Respect others' privacy and background. You may be loud and proud and have nothing to worry about, but what about the rest? The bottom line is: mind your own business.

To protect the privacy of just any discrete man, Sotongball seeks everyone's cooperation NOT to speculate the identity of Married Man. Just treat it as a generic married man, because who knows STB could have interviewed a few of them. Thank you

The One on Redemption (Part 1)

The bright lights in the operating room were blinding Sylvester and he had flashbacks of his moments from the past. 

Sylvester was four when his parents divorced, he was entrusted to his granny as both parents felt that his presence would be a burden to their social life.

He was very inclined to his granny who took good care of him, but she could never replace the kind of motherly love that Sylvester yearned for.

He was an independent child since then, never caused a worry to his granny.

He had a defiant and stubborn look which alienated him from other kids. He grew up as a loner and mixed with the bad company when he enrolled in a notorious secondary school.

Sylvester started smoking, swearing and cursing every single moment. He felt angry with everyone during his puberty age and fucked his first girl at age 13, who was 3 years older than him.

He also dabbled in drugs at the age of 13 and had his virgin tattoo at 15. He joined gang at the same time and his future seemed destined for doom.

He knew that fact himself too, he hated his parents for forsaking him and when his granny passed away when he was 15, none of his parents were keen to have him with them.

He was put up at a relative’s home after his granny’s death and he could not get along with the relative and ran away from home, slept on the streets and bathed at his gangster friends’ place.

When his relative reported his missing to the police and he was escorted back to them, his relative called his mother and demanded she bring him home.

Sylvester finally followed his mother to her place for the first time in 15 years, excited and worried at the same time.

He got a rude shock when he followed his mother into the one room flat and saw a tall dark man in his 30s, sitting at the sofa.

The man ignored Sylvester and his mother, Sylvester put his belongings on the floor when the man shouted at him, “Don’t put your things here! Put them in the kitchen!”

Sylvester stared at him and turned to look at his mother who was getting impatient and said, “Do what you are told. You will sleep in the hall.”

Sylvester put his bag in the kitchen and wanted to take a shower when the man shouted at him, “Don’t waste water! You can only bathe once a day, think carefully when you want to take your bath!”

Sylvester mother argued back, “Just shut up! Don’t keep shouting! I am going for my mahjong later! You better stop shouting or my money god will be scared off by your shouts!”

Sylvester took a deep breathe and sat at a corner in the kitchen, looking hopeless and glum.

Sylvester started working as a part time waiter in a disco and continued his studies in the day.

He would always dozed off in class and got huge scolding from the teachers who caught him dozing.

His GCE O levels were approaching and he had no intention to study.

But as a brooding good looking guy, Sylvester was the kind of fatal attraction that pubescent girls like.

Because of his good looks and street wise attitude, female classmates would always passed him school notes to read and catch up.

He would either put them aside or at times, flirt with the cute classmates.

He changed 8 girlfriends in that year and flunked his O levels. He decided not to continue his studies and worked in the disco full time till he was called up for national service.

Being combat fit, he was posted to an active unit as a combat driver.
The kind of company he mixed with, were either AWOLees or drug addicts who got in and out of detention barracks like a second home.

He AWOLed twice during his service and was sent to detention barracks and when he finally ORDed more than 2 years later, he again came to a crossroad as what he can contribute to the society.

His mother had left that man and married another man and they had children of their own.

Sylvester’s mother refused to take him in, fearing that he might be a bad influence to her kids.

With no choice, Sylvester went to his father, who had also remarried and was a total stranger to him.

His step mother objected vehemently to him staying with them, in front of him that day when he was at their door steps.

But he was relieved when his father insisted that he stayed with them.

He slept in the hall but his freedom was controlled by his step mother, especially he had decided to go back to the night spots to work.

At times, he just did not want to go home to face the fierce stares from his step mother and would bunk in with his colleagues.

Then one day, he decided to move out from his father and rent a room with a colleague.

They were enjoying themselves tremendously, drinking at their own pleasure after work, slept through the day and took drugs together.

Sylvester got addicted to hardcore drugs and would always craved for more regardless if he could afford them.

He started stealing at the workplace and was found out. The manager threatened to report him to the police but a female patron intercepted for Sylvester and offered to pay back all stolen money.

Sylvester was grateful to the girl and promised her to turn over a new leaf and they stayed together.

The girl was 5 years older than Sylvester and worked as a hostess in a nightclub.

She was supporting Sylvester for a year when both of them started quarrelling over the nature of her job and her on Sylvester not willing to go look for jobs.

She would slap Sylvester when the argument got heated, and there were scars left on Sylvester rugged manly face.

They broke off when Sylvester turned 21 and Sylvester felt lost without the financial support.

He got back to his wayward friends and started working as a runner for a bookie.

The aunties always loved talking to him and get fresh with him, Sylvester would never reject their advances and at times requested for cash in return for his “hard work”.

He got back to his old habits and started gambling and taking drugs.

He started to have gay sex when he didn’t have money to pay for his drug and gamble debts and had to use his muscular body for payment in return.

He did not get too used to the penetration at the very beginning but soon got used to it under the influence of drugs.

He made use of his own body to satisfy his urge for drugs. He also sold his body to both genders to earn more money.

At age 22, he was diagnosed to have contacted sexual diseases and was put under medication to control his condition.

He was approaching for self destruction but continued to live with sex and drugs.

Then one day, he passed out from drug overdose and was sent to hospital by his room mate.

To be continued...

Redemption is written by Covantai, who enjoys writing short stories yet having difficulties finding an avenue to post his entries. For more of Covantai, please visit http://covantai.blogspot.com/

The One on Buckaroo

If you're wondering: who goes all the way to Sembawang for fine dining kind of Western Food? Yes, you're not alone. Sotongball shared the same sentiment when he sat in NFB's car, driving past Punggol, Yishun, Mandai and so on... and finally arriving at our destination, Buckaroo. No no, it's not a Japanese vulgar language. Sotongball is testing today whether does a picture really say a thousand words:

With this kind of deco in an otherwise quiet private housing estate, who wouldn't spot the restaurant?

First up: Onion Rings...

It's crispy and crunchy, not unlike Sotongball. More importantly the playful presentation of this dish suggests that, to be able to poke through so many holes, you need a really loooooong tool to help.

Next: the Buffalo Wings...

Come in half or a dozen, this is not your typical BBQ chicken wings. It's slightly wet and the zesty and tangy marinate might not appeal to everyone's taste bud. Nonetheless the meat is so tender that you can even break the drumstick from the wings by just using your fork and knife. Good for people who do not want to dirty their jade hands while eating.

Third: Deep Fried Button Mushrooms...

More like GIANT button mushrooms, one can only wish that he can encounter such a big mushroom head in his whole life.

"Try to finish me in one mouthful... Aaaaaaahhhhhhhhh"

Last but not least: Spaghetti Ola Ola with Seafood...

This is yummy. Mussels, prawns and fish, stir-fried with spaghetti in olive oil and garlic. The base of the plate is at least half a cm thick of oil. But everyone around the table was trying to console themselves by saying that it's olive oil so it's healthy. Tsk tsk tsk...

That said, Buckaroo also serves your other Western staples: Ribs, Steak, Fish & Chips and so on. Four of us spent around SG$95 on the four items above plus Ribs. If you are bored of the food in town, and have all the time in the world to travel up to Sembawang for some good food and ambience. Do give Buckaroo a try, details are as below:

Buckaroo

12B Andrews Avenue

+65 67542621 OR 64814986

Wednesdays to Mondays

4pm-10.30pm

The One on Heroes

Yes, yes. There is no gay couple shown in the TV series so far, and no prominent sashaying sluts either. But Heroes deserves to be mentioned simply because of the craze over it since the end of 2007, Sotongball thinks it should be due to the eye candies in the show.

By now everyone should have been able to catch Season One on Channel 5 especially those who do not know how to use bit-torrent, or not resourceful enough for that matter. Heroes reminds us of superheroes TV Series like Spiderman or Superman, multiply the spotlight by 10 or so, we have a myriad of characters with special abilities. Also, instead of wearing funky costumes like underwear outside or over their heads. Heroes features "ordinary people with extraordinary abilities".

The storyline of Season One surely wowed a lot of audiences, initially we see a bunch of ordinary people, going about their ordinary lives, and surely we can identify with at least one of them: geeky office boy, struggling policeman, junkie artist, executive high-flyer, male nurse and etc. Overnight they discovered their special abilities like mind-reading, time manipulating, flight, prophecy and what not. And STB shall not spoil the rest of the story for you.

What makes Heroes so addictive from STB's point of view are the characters in the series. Most of them are not out to abuse their abilities for their own good, but to make a difference to the world. Or as cliched and corny as it sounds, to "save the world". A very bad attempt in trying to make it relevant to us will be the inference that initially some of the character struggled with them being different, or freaks in the society, eventually how they came to accept it and do good to the world at large.

The scriptwriters and director did a good job in delivering the story. Like any good entertainment, nothing is given out blatantly at your face kind of style. The story of Heroes unfolds layer by layer, throw in a few plot twists here and there and voila, you'll be teased to watch the next episode as soon as you have the means to get your hands on it. If only STB can get a man like that...

It's really hard for STB to ramble on and on about the show without showing you guys some substance, here's some sample:

For those who yearn for more, Heroes Season Three will be aired in the US on September 22, 2008. Other than that, you can always fill in the gaps in the plots of the Series, with the side stories in the form of graphic novels over here (I suggest you start from chapter 1). Always good for those of you whose company has blocked out Youtube.

All in all, for those of you who haven't got a chance to catch Heroes. I'm sure you can get the DVDs very easily now off the shelves in HMV, or better still ask around your cliques, there's bound to be someone who has them in his hard disk.

The One on Mr KK (Part 1)

When anyone asks me about my first gay encounter, I would have told them about the one during my secondary school days with my classmate. Well the truth is that there was someone else...

It was a chilling yet refreshing early Genting morning (about 6.30am), the leaves on the tree had visible dews which was a rare sight for those living in Singapore. A few of us were gathering in a waiting to start our morning prayer session, we were talking to one another about last night's sermon while waiting for the cell group leader to arrive.

Just as we were getting engrossed talking about the upcoming video game that's gonna be release by Christmas, someone arrived at the room. His presence was unmistakable, almost as tall as the door, KK spots a face so handsome and gentlemanly with a thin metal framed spectacles, his build is huggably burly, just like a gigantic Pooh bear which I soon realized it was his favorite cartoon character.

I instantly recognized him - exactly one year ago at the same event I almost had the chance to know him but instead I was shy and stranger to the whole contingent, I was still a stranger one year later. But this time round I got to know a friend (T) who happened to be my brother's schoolmate, so in some ways I was eased into the group.

T: KK, this's STB from Singapore, his brother was my schoolmate. 

KK: Nice to meet you STB, I'm KK.

STB almost fainted at that point, luckily he could muster all his courage to mutter back some greeting to KK to make himself seem less anxious.

STB: Oh I remember you: last year you were giving a talk on Creation vs Evolution.

The group of us spent the whole morning in prayer and worship. I couldn't help but noticed that KK had a husky voice that some aspiring male DJ would dream of, every word was pronounced with diction, without any hint of his nationality and most importantly it was natural and deep. So far he sounded as good as he looked.

When we were back to our hometown, feeling empowered and refreshed. The group invited me to join them in their regular soccer and makan session. I thought to myself why not since I do not have much friends in my hometown and as birds of the same feather flock together, at that point of time I liked to hang out with them just as much as I like to hang out with my PLU friends currently.

As Christmas drew near, the festive mood was felt for the first time by STB as prior to that he was not exposed to the joy of Christmas parties. His family did not celebrate it and to him it was not even a holiday since the whole of November and December was holiday for him anyway.

STB followed his new-found friends for Christmas shoppings and late night suppers, as these guys were "cultivated" to make strangers feel welcomed, STB did not feel left out at all though he barely knew them for over a month. Occasionally, KK would appear for dinner or supper after he knocked off, and over time STB got the chance to talk to him more and more. KK was easily the most lovable character in the group and everybody sort of looked up to him.

As the group went for a mission trip few weeks back, they were busy coming up with a presentation video for the mission trip thanksgiving ceremony. STB was somehow enrolled into the production team due to his knowledge in IT skills. KK was also involved so all the more STB did not decline the invitation.

to be continued...