David Cook: American Idol Season 7 Winner!

From the first ‘Hello’ to ‘I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing’, David Cook’s Light On did it again, topping the Billboard Hot 100 Adult Contemporary chart at Number 4. Like an alchemist, instead of turning metal into gold, in his audition he turned slow ballad into slow rock numbers, vowed many fans across the globe.

As an American Idol champion for the year 2008, viewers voted for him and he had made great promises to sing the song of his choice with his own style. Girls swoon for his voice and look.

But this guy is here to stay especially he has been working hard for the up-coming tour. Let alone for his support for Brain Cancer Charity. Maybe mistaken for following the foot-step of (Chris) Daughtry (Top 6 of American Idol Season 6), but with his prolong style and singing tactic...he sure to have his own!

Click the url below for David Cook's version of - Hello
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHo5I811n0k

Also, a video on my current favourite - Light On
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DS-movP04Lw

Review on PS I Love You

The first three chapters of each manuscript are important to determine of whether it’s fit to get published.

Whenever I get my hands on any novels, I have my personal three-point checklists to a good fiction:-

1. Captivating title - checked
2. Characters’ development - checked
3. The weight of plot - checked

Ahern’s ability to finish this debut of hers while pursuing her Degree in Journalism and Media Studies, can guaranteed a two thumbs up to her. On the other hand, first novel topped the international bestseller list, receiving praises from overseas magazines like Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Company and In Style. But then again, bearing in mind that this 2004 masterpiece had scripted into movie in 2006, which starred Hilary Swank and Gerald Butler received yet another acclaimed major box office.

And the daughter of former Ireland Prime Minister, her work has been criticised for being nepotistic. Well typically enough, it barely touches on the surface and the work structure is nothing much special but common knowledge of yet another sappy romantic love story of both from childhood sweetheart to now once a happy couple; until a beloved, close to perfect husband Gerry suffered with disease and then died, leaving the widow Holly behind, who then started to reminiscent all this deceased person have left and what she should be doing wasn’t enough.

Is that the reason I purchase this book?

In order to look at how she strives through.

But blame me for couldn’t control the passion of those beautiful notes that sweet Gerry wrote in each envelope that he labelled it according to month and each signed with PS, I Love You. Those notes were full of encouragement, leading and bold. The guidance he provided through expressing words, throughout the novel as if he’s the leading man that is still breathing in Holly’s chapters of journey. There’re bittersweet surprises as he kept in store for his wife whilst she opens the envelope when the clock hits twelve midnight sharp, like a child waiting for her favourite cartoon show to be aired or cotton candy in the process.

Truthfully, the first three chapters did, somehow caught my attention, disregard of the literary point of without much on description of picturesque and plain-pretty straightforward. It’s suitable for leisure reading, with a cuppa over rainy days that do not need to decipher what the author’s message is. It’s definitely a woman’s fictions so to speak. Expression of moans and groans of ‘oh’ or ‘oh, so sad’ can be heard, randomly. Tension may ceased, but the solemnity and melancholic feeling we feel with Holly, is what Ahern wants us to appreciate.

Forget all the scepticism, as another romantic fiction; it reflects a love and fate that how it reflects and effects one self. Stories of a lover dying is very common, but with writing love letters or recording messages by using a cam-recorder are even much to be expected. Here, the deceased is afraid of how the other party is going to live without them especially, Holly who depending so much on Gerry in almost everything. So, here come the notes – so that Holly could look forward to life after today.

With some heart-felt similarity with Nicholas Sparks' The Notebook, Ahern has done her debut well.

Let the Rumours Rest in Peace

I normally don't write a note to pay tribute to someone. I think when a life is gone. It's sadly wasted and wished that person have a good life on the other side. What more when a celebrity that so-called had been reported wasted his whole life on drugs. And please, people come and go every seconds. Life is like an atomic bomb.

Yesterday was marked as the first anniversary of Heath Ledger's death. The reports of media regarding his drugs abusing scandals and suicides still going on except it was more decorative. However, let's put it this way, a year later, I still feel this guy's legacy live on.

On 22/01/2008 was the most shocking day for the film industry for losing one of the brightest stars. It shocked me as well when I log into Yahoo! and saw this. Pictures of him were everywhere, fans displaying candles and hand-made cards outside his apartment, tributes, rumours of his death and also a rather solemn and yet lay-low funeral in Perth.

We may only know this person superficially based on the media reports. He has basically everything - stardom, talent, young and handsome. Perhaps, behind the scene, there were more unscene footages of this fragile being.

Watching E! True Hollywood Story the other day, once again was taken by his charisma. I still remember the first time I went to cinema to watch his movie - A Knight's Tale with a friend of mine. My friend told me the main character is so cute and he is an Australian named Heath Ledger. A Knight's Tale was one of the tales in Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. After that, '10 Things I Hate About You' and 'Four Feathers' had earned him praises throughout. I watched basically most of his movies and I love his acting.

He took many challenging roles to prove his ability especially he was going to the extreme in 'Dark Knight' and he didn't feel comfortable when he was nominated in 'Brokeback Mountain', what more if he would to win. Many may think he had weird character of rather shy away from the nomination and the winning title. But hey, that is what he is. He, who only want to show his talent in work professionally and did not want to face the spotlight for he thought it is necessary especially when it comes to his private life. He went through interviews and...perchance, he need to work on how to handle the media's pressure.

As a common people like me, or you who would want our privacy being exposed. I don't know about you, but not me definately.

His death - stirred the world in total. So many speculations and unending rumours of him in suicide. In THS, there were some indirect reasons to reflect him in planning his 'ending journey' along the way. First, he went back to Perth for Christmas and then he called the Australian Media to thank them for supporting him. You may see it coming. You may think he had planned it. But taking into consideration he was shooting 'The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus' and planned for more movie roles.

Hence, one has to stop the speculation for this precious person will go on as a young legend. A person is now resting in peace. Definately it is way better to stop the gueesing and whatever it is, the truth behind the facade, let it dies...

Heath Andrew Ledger: 1978-2008

© Deborah Bie’s article – taken from Facebook’s Notes on 22/01/2009

Another Day...Another Story

Life goes on as usual, with a little change.

Should have said it’s the beginning of every great day. Let’s forget about what happened yesterday. I was too tired to remember. My mind tells me not to linger into unnecessary things and yet it should be deleted at the moment I wake.

Ones says – yesterday had passed; no point to turn back the clock; more things to come when you’re least expected. Just don’t lay your hands idle.

It’s damn true.

My day, like I’ve mentioned changed - due to Pouncer, the neighbour’s yellow tabby cat with crooked V-shaped tail visits the home with his loud ‘Miao’ for food and comfort. Having not so much fun in munching his daily supply of Ocean Fish flavoured Friskies like previously. All thanks to Friskies’ Feast Best, or whatever, you call it. It’s a sample product courtesy from Purina. It has turkey, beef, chicken, tuna, mackerel, and vegetables – all in one melting pot cooked and locked to its finest taste. The product has already hit the market with 400g selling at RM 9 plus.

Talking about marketing placement, even pet food has so many choices, free gifts like shampoos, fleece blankets, bathing towels to be given away with each stipulated purchase.

I wonder will it be proper for human too? Just pour out the food and chew it and then wash it down with drinking water. I’m sick of asking myself what to eat everyday. LOL! This came to me when Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson took a challenge by munching dog’s biscuits during one of the interviews, promoting their latest movie – Marley & Me.

You know having Pouncer coming over allows me to learn so much. First, I learn how to carry him (believe me he’ll make his body like a soft unleavened dough), his body language, each purr and every hissing makes a huge different especially the higher pitch or the lower pitch (cats with tenor and bass clef). Dad bought a book at Popular bookstore the other day in order to learn about the various breeds of the cats, their origin, lifestyle and many others.

Pouncer has a habit: he never likes me, or any of my family members reading newspaper (especially the flipping of newspaper causes annoyance to him). It’s confirmed when one night I caught him sleeping on the floor; I took my novel, starting to read. I keep the flipping of pages softly while my left foot was stroking his back, and another like pillow on his head. He woke up instantly, looked at me and peeped before intending to claw my novel.

Other habits: loves to relax with his folded paws (ever try to touch him, he’ll grumbles), resting by stretching his body similarly to a freshly roast pork, sometimes peeping at us walking by and listens to our conversations pretentiously.

Favorite foodie: Friskies, Kurma chicken and fried fish – limited yeah!

Cats love fresh raw food. Really. I’ve seen Pouncer and his pal; Columbus (black stray tabby that never wants to be touched and yet loves to flop on my legs) intruded into one of my neighbour’s kitchen savouring on fresh chicken drumsticks. Being in the feline family, domestic cats have been made to accompany humans and being around us constitutes into some tameness, at least. But do not give them fresh meat…

By the end of April, I’ll be finishing my Motor Insurance subject and I can’t wait to explore Kinokuniya once more. I haven’t been there for ages. There’re so many English novels I want to purchase, hanging out at the Chinese sections in a bit for their fashion magazines, stocking up a few of their cute greeting or friendship cards to be sent to my pen-pals and spending hours of unlimited times just me and myself.

I’m back to work on the love of my life – Fiction writing!!!

Random Q: Ever wonder lizards if they’re as huge enough like Komodo living in our household?