Fabulista Adores: A Valediction Forbidding Mourning

AS virtuous men pass mildly away,
And whisper to their souls to go,
Whilst some of their sad friends do say,
"Now his breath goes," and some say, "No."

So let us melt, and make no noise,
No tear-floods, nor sigh-tempests move ;
'Twere profanation of our joys
To tell the laity our love.

Moving of th' earth brings harms and fears ;
Men reckon what it did, and meant ;
But trepidation of the spheres,
Though greater far, is innocent.

Dull sublunary lovers' love
—Whose soul is sense—cannot admit
Of absence, 'cause it doth remove
The thing which elemented it.

But we by a love so much refined,
That ourselves know not what it is,
Inter-assurèd of the mind,
Care less, eyes, lips and hands to miss.

Our two souls therefore, which are one,
Though I must go, endure not yet
A breach, but an expansion,
Like gold to aery thinness beat.

If they be two, they are two so
As stiff twin compasses are two ;
Thy soul, the fix'd foot, makes no show
To move, but doth, if th' other do.

And though it in the centre sit,
Yet, when the other far doth roam,
It leans, and hearkens after it,
And grows erect, as that comes home.

Such wilt thou be to me, who must,
Like th' other foot, obliquely run ;
Thy firmness makes my circle just,
And makes me end where I begun.

Fabulista Has: So Much to Say...

 
So much
Lying out there
Lying in the wind
Lying in the dessert, barren land
Tried to reach out
Swept and scorched by the merciless sun
Eyes seared by the brightness
Blinded by the light
With too much to see

Absence of light
Tried to say
How much is appreciated
But the wind swept it away
Buried in the dessert, blizzard snow
Tried to stay
Frozen and lost in the unending cold
Mouth bitten and numb
With nothing left to say

- fabulista

Fabulista Wishes: The Newly Weds Well

for the beautiful couple

turning to a new page

stepping into a new chapter

for a beautiful journey ahead

congratulations...!

Fabulista Cannot: Sleep

Can't sleep. Am totally freaking out. Is now 1:30 in the morning and am supposed to get up at 6:30. Is no joke going to a new place of work. Experts have claimed is absolutely one of most stressful event in person's life - second only to death of a close one and moving house. So am totally entitled to be in freak mode.

Am suppose to wake up in 5 hours time... but am too nervous even to shut my eyes. Am so totally unsure of what is going to happen next... aurgh... what can't everyone be clairvoyant or whatever ability it is that allows one to peer into the future...

Right, am being paranoid, but it doesn't mean I am wrong... maybe everything will turn out fine... maybe... fingers crossed.

Fabulista : The ACM Wallet

Finally, a wallet to help those who perennially overstuff their wallets into a chiropractor's nightmare...

 

 

Fabulista Discusses: Layering

As promised in a previous post, this is a discussion with tips on how to layer scents. Why do we need to layer our scents? Layering, as the term suggests, reveals the subtle but important layers of a fragrance. It is what separates the sophisticated urban fragrance user to the generic one who simply splashes on the aftershave or cologne that’s on the bathroom shelf. More importantly, layering a scent extends the tenacity of a fragrance, reducing the need to lug a glass bottle around even when one is on a half-day-about-town trip.

First, we start with clean skin. In the shower, preferably warm, as it opens the pores for better infusion of scents, use a fragrance-neutral shower gel or perfumed shower gel to gently exfoliate with a buff or sponge. Dead skin cells hinder the infusion of the actual EDT and should be eradicated as much as possible. Also, if one is using a perfumed shower product, it should be the same as the EDT. Complementary scented showers are for the experts only. You don’t want to risk the possibility of smelling like a hospital – imagine pine soap with sweet geranium notes. Not a good thing.

Next, moisturise thyself. Fragrance products adhere best and last longest on hydrated skin. In fact, there are oil based perfumes available for people with severe dry skin. For the rest of us who stick to alcohol based products, keep the body moisturised with unscented or same-line perfumed body lotion. As with before, complementary scented lotions are for experts only.

Finally, your body is ready to wear the fragrance. Remember, you are supposed to wear the scent, NOT the other way around. It is not ideal when people know you are in the midst... from a mile away. To make sure the latter does not occur, use this two-step method:

1. Cloud: produce a fragrance cloud with three to four spritz of the EDT into air and walk into it, allowing the vapours to douse itself on your body.
2. Pulse points: spritz on ONE of these two areas, neck OR wrist.

Resist the urge to spritz fragrance on clothes. Perfume evaporates quickly from fabric and without any skin chemistry reaction, the resulting sillage can be a dull, one-dimension fragrance. Besides, some fabric reacts with the alcohol carrying the fragrance to leave an ugly stain – not desirable.

Here’s a final tip. Most fragrances fade and do not last a whole day. Recharge if necessary after every 6 – 8 hours depending on tenacity of fragrance. Do this well (it really is simpler than it sounds) and you’d have people turning heads as you walk; the greatest compliment is when some stranger comes up to you and asks, “You smell great! What are you wearing…?” without a hint or sarcasm.

Fabulista On: The Rise of the A-Gay

They're smarter, sexier, and far more successful than you'll ever be. And they definitely don't speak with a lisp. Meet America's new ruling class—the Alpha Gays.

by Mike Albo
(abstract from Details)

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Last month, sailing off the southern tip of Capri, a group of men including a prominent Manhattan gallerist and a former pro soccer player made for quite the postcard. In fact, the scene was more like a glossy advertisement for an expensive chronographic timepiece: As the 42-foot Norwegian yacht tacked into the wind, the rugged master-of-the-universe types scrambled to adjust the jib. To the casual observer, they appeared to be active men of means on some kind of luxury bonding excursion. And they were. But they also happened to be homosexual.

Make way for the A-gays. Moneyed, successful, educated, and comfortable in their own skin, they're fast becoming the new archetype of cosmopolitan masculinity. The urban man's man. They don't own yappy miniature dogs or time-shares in Fort Lauderdale; they own Labradors and four-bedroom summer homes in Sag Harbor. Instead of cruising in gay clubs, they jet to Gstaad or the TED conference, and party at Sundance with Zooey Deschanel. They don't want to be part of any kind of closeted group or velvet mafia. Their Savile Row suits are impeccable (A-gays tend to go custom rather than buying off the rack), and they furnish their homes with collectible pieces by designers like Claude Lalanne. They drive to Krav Maga class in Lexus hybrids and read four newspapers a day, including the Wall Street Journal, because they're bosses and entrepreneurs, not employees. Often athletic, they're never steroid queens. And they can pull off having much-younger boyfriends without looking creepy. Artists and photographers approach them with new works. Charity committees beg them to cohost their benefits and sit on their boards—and they have portfolios of philanthropic interests that aren't just gay- or AIDS-related. Some, like one couple in New York City, a lawyer and a chef, aren't just avid operagoers, they're benefactors. Others travel in Wasp circles.

What they're not are the guys running around in torn jeans and leopard-print tops telling women what not to wear. "They have actual power that even straights can't deny," says one veteran of the New York-Los Angeles power-gay media scene, "and usually an imposing sense of style and grooming." A-gays supplant the prevailing media cliché: those irrepressible reality makeover icons, style experts, and fashion minions who have thrived throughout the naughts. They are the antitheses of the Carson Kressleys and Steven "Kojo" Cojocarus—they don't want to talk about how to hide your chunky sister's hips or brighten up a bedroom with colorful pillows. They will never say "Just wear it with a belt!" They own the company that manufactures the belts.

Even those A-gays with kids are able to find the time to perfect themselves, becoming the healthier, more stylish, more popular version of you that might have been. The cultural barriers that once held them back have largely eroded, but instead of waving rainbow flags, they maintain a subtle privacy about their sexuality. Out but not loud, proud but discreet, they transcend gayness in much the same way that Barack Obama is said to have transcended race.

"A-gays mark measurable societal progress," says Laura Gilbert, editor of the pop-culture website lemondrop.com. "People can now be out without being expected to swish. It's the Neil Patrick Harris/Portia de Rossi brand of gay."

Those of a certain pedigree have a tendency to stick together, and A-gays are no different. While they don't shun B-gays or C-gays, they tend to move in rarefied circles, and are apt to be found at upscale restaurants among their straight peers—not at bars with names like Rawhide. For the most part, they have opted out of the gay scene and its social networks and eschew the theme parties and bathhouses of the lower castes. They also steer clear of the typical pink vacation destinations; you will not catch an A-gay shirtless in South Beach or at a foam party in Mykonos.

"My favorite A-gay has to be dragged to gay bars," says Gilbert, adding that she sees the breed as a unique torment to straight women: "At first when we meet one, we feel a glimmer of hope for the existence of funny, charming, debonair, clean-shaven men. Soon, though, the reality sinks in."

But for straight men, the A-gay is even more confusing. The average guy might have a gay friend or two, but they rarely represent a challenge to his heterosexuality. The A-gay's success—with personal style, in business, with friends—has a gravitational pull. Often straight guys hope that some of that A-gayness will rub off on them and, before you know it, they've developed a man crush. And that's when their wives start giving them looks.

Fabulista Gets: Insomnia

Craig's latest single Insomnia receives a wonderful production with an updated sound. Although, I have to admitted it does sound a lot like Ne-Yo's Closer (especially at the chorus). Nevertheless, a thoroughly enjoyable song...

Fabulista Thinks: She's None the Wiser...

Fabulista Yays: McAvoy, Blunt Are Gnomeo & Juliet

As my regular readers know from my previous posts here and there, I am such a fan of James McAvoy! With The Last Station in post-production, read on to find out what the beautiful actor is up to these days...

---

E! Online - What's in a name? Well, James McAvoy and Emily Blunt are about find out, as they're in talks to lend their voices to the title roles of Gnomeo and Juliet, a 'tooned-up version of the Bard's tragedy from Miramax and Elton John's Rocket Pictures.

Even with its comic, computer-generated spin, Gnomeo is a garden-variety adaptation of Shakespeare...sort of.

McAvoy and Blunt will play two star-crossed gnomes, whose love for each other is complicated by the fact that they're from opposite sides of the veggie patch.

Kate Winslet was tapped two years ago to voice Juliet, but she was forced to drop out due to scheduling conflicts.

Producers originally hoped to secure Oscar-winning lyricist Tim Rice, who teamed with Sir Elton on the score for The Lion King, to write original tunes for Gnomeo. But now, per the Hollywood Reporter, it looks like the film will mainly feature a number of John's classic tunes ("Don't Go Breaking My Heart," "Sad Songs" or "I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues," perhaps?). John might still write a couple of new tracks for the flick.

The Rocket Man will also coproduce the film, which his company originally pitched to Walt Disney Feature Animation and later Pixar, both of which passed. Disney chairman Dick Cook saved the day, however, resurrecting Gnomeo for the studio's Miramax specialty division last year. It's now slated for a 2010 release.

Fabulista Hisses: About 'The Hobbit' postponed until 2012.

Digital Spy - Lord Of The Rings prequel The Hobbit has been postponed until 2012, WENN has claimed.

The movie, to be released in two parts, was due to shoot in New Zealand this winter but has reportedly had its start date shifted to 2010, resulting in the release being pushed back to 2012.

Guillermo del Toro will direct the fantasy epic, with Lord Of The Rings trilogy helmer Peter Jackson serving as producer.

Sir Ian McKellen and Andy Serkis are expected to reprise their roles as Gandalf and Gollum respectively.

---

Fabulista is thinking, "what!? no pretty gay elves...?!" *exasperated, indignant...*

Fabulista Wonders: What on Earth...?

I know the Japanese are avant garde and all that, but the description of this product is just BEYOND me...

What on earth are you suppose to make of this...

"It's a cupping in the anxious part. Let's beautifully tighten the body."

 

 

I don't know about  you, but I do not want to cup anything, anywhere on my body... ESPECIALLY when it is or I am anxious, no matter how beautiful the results promise to be... eee...

Fabulista Considers: About Dreams and Reality...

At the WTS, I was once asked, "You are so fabulous...". My trainees understand that a flattery is mandatory before I even consider acceding to their request. It's terrible when it falls flat; I can sense insincerity from a mile away. In this case, it's true, I am fabulous beyond words... mortal ones anyway.

"You must know what it's like to be in love." I glared at the enquirer, incensed at the possible  insinuations, daring an exposition before I decide on a suitable death ray.

"I mean... how do you know when you are...?".

Tchee! Such trivia, such... silliness!

But on reflection, there is some validity to the question even if it is trivial. Indeed, how does one know...? So many people go through life without ever searching for it. Some try to philosophise about it. Others write songs about it.

I know of some who hope to find it, thinking about how it could be, should be or even might be for them. Some of them end up spending their lives ever thinking, dreaming about it. Perhaps then, for these thinkers and dreamers, the answer to knowing when they find it, lies within their search for it.

In their ever searching and ever dreaming, perhaps they know that they have found their love when they find it difficult to fall asleep, or even unwilling to fall asleep.

They feel so because for the first time, their reality is much better than what they've been dreaming about...

---

Beautiful dreamer, wake unto me,
Starlight and dewdrops are waiting for thee;
Sounds of the rude world heard in the day,
Lull'd by the moonlight have all pass'd a way!

Beautifil dreamer, queen of my song,
List while I woo thee with soft melody;
Gone are the cares of life's busy throng,
Beautiful dreamer awake unto me!

Beautiful dreamer, out on the sea
Mermaids are chaunting the wild lorelie;
Over the streamlet vapors are borne,
Waiting to fade at the bright coming morn.

Beautiful dreamer, beam of my heart,
E'en as the morn on the streamlet and sea;
Then will all clouds of sorrow depart,
Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me!

Stephen Foster (1826-64)

Fabulista Refuses: Her Mess...

I have often stressed to my circle of fabulous friends, how important it is to speak properly. This is especially so if you represent a particular organisation. What's worse than an inability to communicate fluently in the service (or indeed, any) line? In my opinion , it's actually mispronouncing that particular organisation's name...

As mentioned in an earlier blog, I have fallen in love with Hermes fragrances. Terre d'Hermes is one of them and Orange Verte being the other. After shopping around town for the product, I thought I'd see if I can get it at a shop, famous for selling discounted toiletries. For ease of reference, let's call it Zaza.

"My I hep chew..."

I ducked, thinking that someone was going to sneeze into my face. Instead, what I saw was an earnest, albeit heavily made up visage in front of me. Talk about a rude shock! Isn't there a convention or guideline on how much makeup a person can put on before it hits the legal limit? If there is, I am sure it is way before the product starts to cake.

"Oh... erm... do you have Hermes fragrances...?"

Blank stare from the promoter...

"Hermes...?"

"Huh...?". Pause. "Oh, you mean her mess...?

My turn to get wide eyes.

"No sorry, we don't carry her mess..."

Faster than you can make up a toilet joke, I was out of the shop, stifling an all out laugh fest.

Fabulista Inspired: By Dr Seuss...

A person’s a person

No matter how small

A person’s a person

No matter how tall

A person’s a person

No matter what they do

A person’s a person

Even when they’re not like you!

Fabulista Awed: Not Sure How to React... *snigger snigger*

Here's the raw footage of the incident (AP)

Here's Bush trying to give it a spin...

Oh please! Georgie, give it a rest already, YOU are the one getting dizzy trying to make a positive spin out of that one. The world on the other hand is sniggering...

But honestly, I think it is waste of a pair of good shoe... I certainly hope it wasn't a pair of Ferragamo or Tod's... the cow would have died in vain...

Fabulista Enjoys: A Good Laugh...

Here's Justin and Beyonce hamming it up on SNL... farh-nee...!

Fabulista Loves: People who Makes Scents...

Ever since I discovered Terre d'Hermès, I have fallen in love with it. Then I discovered the creator of the scent is behind the exclusive range of fragrances in Hermès - the Hermessences as well as the garden series "Un Jardin".

I have always loved Hermès newer fragrances. A whiff of it and you can immediately tell; they are quiet sophistication bottled. It is subtle yet present, beautiful and elegant, minimalist but rich. In a word - marvelous.

You know the fragrances, now meet the man; or as they are known in the industry, le nez, Monsieur Jean Claude Ellena...

Fabulista Congratulates: The Fabulous Couple

It's the culmination of one chapter of their lives and the beginning of another.

All the best dah-links! Even if the road ahead is a roller coaster ride, remember the ups will always be worth it while the downs make the journey a thrill!

Congratulations!!

Fabulista Forgot: To Ask...

It was wonderful - the fun, the laughter, the joy and everything else. But in the midst of all the jollity, something slipped all our minds - what happens when the laughter stops and we run out of jokes and the lights go out when the party's over?

We should've asked those questions, we should have considered them. Now that the lights are out and the fun is over, there is nothing to say and do. Nothing more to say to each other.

We forgot to ask...and now it's too late.

Even for goodbye...

Fabulista Loves: Phonography.

Not gonna mince my words. I love phonography, the technology that sends vibrations up and down my spine. I love the heat, I love the buzz of the fabulous fax, the tweeter of senseless violins and gratuitous sax. I love it on a platter, spinning round and round and round.

Not gonna apologise for my fetish, obsession, addiction; whatever you may call it. I love the different intensity, vibrate mode, jingle mode, extended *69. Whatever it is, just gimme a buzz.

Fabulista Zones: At Kwala...

Breeze. Light. Friends. Laughter.

Fabulista Says: It All Came True with You

"I wish you a happy birthday, baby", Yan said.

"Thanks, baby..." Bren replied and turned towards Yan.

They held each other, foreheads touching and under a midnight sky, accompanied by a million sparkling celestial diamonds.

"Make a wish!" Yan encouraged and continued chirpily "It's customary...!"

Bren looked up at Yan and recounted a memory from childhood, "I've always had a list of ten wishes I carried with me while growing up..."

Bren unfolds a yellowed piece of paper from his jacket. On the paper, was a list in handwriting that ranged from childish to mature script:

1. always be happy;
2. always choose wisdom;
   
3. have something to look forward to every new day;
4. have something to look forward to every night;
5. hold something pure at least once;
6. behold the most breathtaking view in the world;
7. to know what's real and what's not;
8. always be able to tell the difference;
   
9. find contentment in life;
10. find the love of a lifetime.
    

"Then I found you..."

"You are my number ten that helps me find all my other nine..."

Yan understood.

They held each other tight, embrace by the night, warm with the radiance of streetlights, cloaked by a sky with a million sparkling delight.

Their lips found each other as their hearts found each other.

Fabulista Adores: Terre d'Hermès for Men

I can tell you about the component fragrance of Hermès' latest eau de toilette for men - vegetable and mineral juice, orange (specifically for Hermès by Albert Vieille), grapefruit, flint, pepper, bay rose, geranium, patchouli, benzoin and vetiver with Atlas cedar as its central note.

But that is underselling this fine product.

Each breath of Terre is pure terracotta - the colour and the element. Layers of fruity spicy and woody scents reveal themselves progressively and simultaneously to create the ultimate fragrance that is at once clean and crisp as it is enveloping and sophisticated.

It transports you to an orchard of Seville oranges with cedar wood smoldering in the background. It is as delicious as it is smoky. The scent is a wonderfully earthy masculine concoction for the modern, urban male - sexy; sensual; confident.

Terre d'Hermès televsion campaign

Fabulista Feels: Confused.

Went down to a private preview of Zegna sale in town today in the shopping heart of the sunny island set in the sea.

There was a massive, if short lived jam, caused by a ridiculously proportioned limousine, which raised both temperatures and cab fares. I was told by my driver that the king of the state up north is paying the mall a visit. Apparently, he is being driven in that aforementioned crazy vehicle.

Strange... I thought.

If your kingdom is "Truly Asia" and "bagus" (bahasa for 'good' or 'excellent') as you put it, why come down here for your shopping? I am sure the small island is grateful to you for stimulating its economy, but shouldn't you be helping yours first (Fabulista in an altruistic mode)?

Unless, hmm, dare I venture, being truly Asia means there are no western designer goods available (except Jim Thompson and Jimmy Choo?) or perhaps being 'bagus' does not include descent shopping places?

But I am just truly guessing, of course...

Fabulista Discusses: Fragrancing

Do not ignore this. It is a vital part of refine grooming. Fragrance may be the last bit of accessory one puts on before meeting the world at large, but it is the world's first impression of you. And this happens on a daily basis.

Therefore, the point that is being driven here is; one does not want to the world to meet you gushing with the redolence of antiseptic pine soap. Not that there is anything wrong with pine as an aroma; apart from the friendly GP a the family clinic down the street, one does want to layer that singularly astringent note (perhaps with cedar and a touch of bergamot and geranium).

Selecting a fragrance suitable for the self is not rocket science. However, it is critical to choose the right one; also remember this - every individual skin chemistry is unique. What smells like the air of spring after a shower on your best mate might be the pong of dead rat on you. Fragrances are highly personal, so DO NOT buy one without trying it on your skin or worse, because someone tells you to do so (girlfriend, boyfriend, promoter at the mall, mum, dad... you get the picture).

An artist always start on a clean canvas in a room with good light; one should begin one's selection in the day, preferably morning, when your olfactory senses are at its sensitive and selective peak. Do so only after a good (non-fragranced) shower. You do not want any residual smell on your skin that may affect the ACTUAL smell of the fragrance on you.

Decide on the mood/impression/feeling you want the fragrance to speak about you. That is usually the impression you want to deliver about yourself. Communicate this with the sales person where necessary and possible.

Patience is a virtue. Smell the one's that appeal to you; either by name, design of bottle, description of fragrance etc, etc. Pick up the cap and have a whiff. DO NOT spray first. Chances are, if you do like the scent as it is on the cap, you would not like the fragrance. Period. Spraying the perfume then would affect the rest of the choices one may sample later and it is wise to minimise that.

When you come across a particular concoction that stands a chance ask for a sprayed sample on a stick of paper. They are readily available at the counter. If they do not even stock that, walk away immediately, do not look back. However, if you like what you smell on the sample blotter, it is still important to have it on your skin and see how the fragrance reacts to your skin chemistry - remember the unique skin chemistry theory? Your skin is DEFINITELY different to the paper.

Let the fragrance have a chance to work with you. This is a good time to talk about the layers of a fragrance. A typical fragrance begins with the head note; this is what you smell the first thing the fragrance is released. It is usually the lightest and lasts the shortest time.

As it warms to your skin, the heart note is released. Depending on your skin chemistry, temperature and metabolism, this might take 10 to 15 minutes to develop.

Finally, when all the layers have been exposed and revealed, we are left with the base notes; this is the layer that reveals itself last and will be the one that stays with you throughout the rest of the day. So it is important that one is REALLY comfortable with it.

From the head note to the base, it may a couple of hours, factor dependent (skin temperature, ambient temperature, metabolic rate, etc) for the fragrance to fully develop and bloom on you, so in reiteration, patience is a virtue.

Greed, on the other hand, is not. As mentioned earlier, our impression of a fragrance is influenced by the ones we experienced earlier. So, less is more - do not try more than two at once (three if you have no choice). Also, do not be shy to ask for coffee grounds to help you neutralise your olfactory senses - you breathe (not drink) in the coffee aroma. This has a cleansing effect on your nasal palate.

Finally, you've made you choice. Next comes the dilemma of purchasing. Should we go for bulk order or retail portions? Fragrances, preserved in alcohol will lose its potency within six months to a year. In hot and humid climate, this is reduced considerably. So decide based on the amount you'd use within that time frame. The smaller denomination is usually a wiser choice, so is storing the bottle in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight - all enemies of fragrances. That makes the bathroom the worse place to store them and the closet one of the best.

There you go! You are now ready to hit the mall to select a fragrance that announces to the world, "GET READY FOR ME!!". Have fun!

Next instalment: how to layer your fragrance.

Fabulista Supposes: Culture can be Ordinary

Culture is both a product and a way of life. It surrounds us and is us from the moment we open our eyes. Since is such an intrinsic part of us, it makes sense that it should be ordinary. In that sense, Williams is right, it should be ordinary in the sense that it should be accessible to all and everyone.

However, one cannot discount the relevance of Leavis' comments. He is most prophetic in the sense that he had talked about the mass-ification of the population and the distinct lack of ‘taste’ so to speak and thus critical judgment of what is essential ‘good culture’ in his view. The consumeristic culture of today’s generation does appear as his apocalyptic vision.

With the advent of mass-media and thus mass-production of ‘cultural merchandise’ as churned out by the so-called ‘cultural industry’, the world’s population, including Singapore’s, is under such constant bombardment.

Engaging both William and Leavis’ ideas about culture and education of the so-called masses, we apply it to the Singapore context. As a developed country, with an advance info-comm infrastructure, we would appear as the ideal consumerists of this mass-ification of the crowds. Everything and anything, material, intellectual or otherwise, does literally appear to be at our very fingertips. Without any discernment or critical ‘taste’, it would seem that such a generation, brought up in such a climate of consumerism is doomed to be the ‘faceless crowd’.

Nevertheless, this is where we can propose the power and empowerment of education. With quality education, instead of mass production of ‘units’ to be fed into the ‘industry’, we can instead re-mold the factory that is for mass-dissemination of knowledge and ideas into an institution for the exposure of young, moldable minds to the variety of ‘cultural products’ now so easily available to all. Then, without prejudice, introduce the contents of such products, be it culture or the cultural. For example, we teach young learners the basic skills of reading and slowly introduce the basic elements of a story; characters, plot, settings, etc. Through such introduction and ideally discussion, we infuse the ideas of how a ‘good’ story should look/read like.

In the process of sharing such skills and knowledge, we thus impart the capabilities choosing and judgment to these learners, that they acquire the skills to be critical and selective about the choices they make of the cultural products they consume that is mass-produced by the cultural industry, thus necessarily avoiding the dreaded path of being massified.

Fabulista Breathless: Over Boyzone's Latest Video

The video that accompanies their latest video is pure porcelain; transparent, fragile… beautiful.

Just listen... without prejudice.

Now the making of...

Fabulista Remembers: The Sands of Time.

Yes. I remember you.

Sitting at the usual café where we used to hang out all the time, I recall images of you and us. Your order of an ice-cold latte is unforgettable. Your diabetes-worthy load of sugar syrup still causes cringes – albeit only in the memory of the mind.

Sometimes I gasp when someone lanky walks into the café, wearing jeans and carrying a bag the same way you do. That careless (or is it apathetic) way of the gait. I gasp. Then I realize it’s not you, it’s just someone with some semblance of you. Then I am caught in a dilemma, am I disappointed or relieved?

I am disappointed because I did not get the chance to say hello again. I am relieved because I don’t have to figure out how to say hello. Do we hug each other like long lost friends? Or do we shake hands? I don’t think I will need to figure this out; most probably not in this lifetime anymore, anyway.

You always made me laugh. I can be terribly upset with you (our mutual friends present would say an egg might fry on my forehead) but you always manage to make me forget my anger and laugh with you (or sometimes, at you). Come to think of it, I can never be upset with you.

Your patience has always been a godsend. You do not mind being the clown just so that we can make peace. Of course, sometimes we’d have or verbal matches; but you are always willing to back down so that we can go on. I love the way you’d hold me against your shoulders as assurance that we’re fine. It always made me feel safe and happy and appreciated.

Our usual café has changed. Twice. We have not met since the concave wall and the coffee table. We thought we might meet again two years ago, but somehow, it didn’t come through. I am not sure what happened. I am not sure why I am writing this.

I guess it’s the season.

I guess it’s the momentary lapse of reason.

I guess I still miss you.

Fabulista Laments: The Only Good Thing...

It’s just not a good day today. It all started when I forgot that it is a public holiday today. I packed my bag to go out to my usual café, hoping to get some work done. When I arrived, not only did I discover that I had not brought the notes for my paper, I realized it’s a holiday today. This meant that I’d be caught in the city, a crowded one at that without even the alternative choice to go shopping since it’s going to be crowded everywhere!

Damn! To think that I especially dressed up and styled up for the occasion. That was actually the saving grace of the day – the weather. At a frigid 24°C (in local terms), I could actually layer my clothes, something that I can’t usually do.

So that was about the only good thing...

Fabulista N-ticipates: Nokia N97

If you remember my previous post, Fabulista had anticipated the arrival of touch screen mobiles from Nokia's N-series. Well, here it is - the N97. It's the latest flagship model for the N-series of phones from the Finnish maker that runs of Symbian. It will be unleashed upon the Asian world on the first half of 2009. Here's the review from CNetAsia:

Unveiled at the recent Nokia World event in Barcelona, the N97 is touted as the latest flagship model in the Nseries lineup. In fact, Nokia calls its new handset the "most advanced mobile computer". While we are still reluctant to agree with the company's concept of equating a phone to a mobile computer, we can most certainly concur with the "advanced" tag. From GPS and Wi-Fi to a 3.5-inch touchscreen display and 32GB onboard memory, the N97 has just about everything you can find on a mobile phone today, and more.

Upside:
As advanced as the N97 may be, the most distinctive features of the handset are its slideout keypad and tilting touchscreen display, a design combination which shares an uncanny resemblance to the HTC TyTN II. According to a Nokia spokesperson, the 35-degree tilt of the display is designed such to make it easy to view the screen while typing.

During a quick hands-on with the demo unit of the N97, we found the keypad relatively easy to type on. The longish design of the N97 was also quite comfortable for one-handed operation when the keypad is retracted.

While having a generous 3.5-inch, 640 x 360-pixel display is always great for Web surfing or GPS navigation, the screen's 16:9 aspect ratio makes it ideal for watching widescreen movies on-the-go, too. The use of widgets on the large touchscreen display also seems fairly intuitive, though we'll have to test this out further when we get the review set.

What's also noteworthy about the N97 is its onboard memory which, at 32GB, is probably one of the largest storage capacities available in mobile handsets today. Adding to that is a built-in microSD slot which can support up to the largest 16GB cards. This means the phone can potentially store a whopping 48GB of data, a feature that would definitely appeal to those planning to use the N97 as a mobile entertainment device.

As the flagship model in Nokia's Nseries lineup, it didn't come as a surprise to find an arsenal of wireless capabilities on the N97, including GPS, Wi-Fi, HSDPA and Bluetooth with AD2P. Also onboard are useful features such as a 3.5mm audio jack, VGA video capture at 30fps, an electronic compass, and a 5-megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss lens and dual LED lights. The N97 runs on the latest Series60 5th Edition operating system.

Downside:
One of the major concerns over a device with so many wireless radios and a large touchscreen display is battery life. It will be interesting to see how the N97, with its high-capacity 1,500mAh battery, copes with daily usage.

Sadly, due to the beta firmware, we were unable to test the responsiveness of the touchscreen user interface, though the N97 will face an uphill task matching up to the iPhone's seamless multitouch UI.

Unlike the TyTN II which allows users to view the display tilted or flat when the keypad is slid open, the N97 doesn't have the option of not tilting the screen. Depending on how you hold the device, some users may not find the tilted orientation of the screen as comfortable to view when typing.

Outlook:
Whichever way you look at it, the N97 is a truly impressive handset that's already creating quite a buzz among mobile users. On paper, it has all the features you can expect from a top-of-the-line cellular offering. Its success in the market will, however, depend largely on the implementation of the touchscreen interface and the ease of use of the onboard software. The N97 is expected to be priced around 550 euros (without subsidy and taxes), or roughly US$699, when it starts shipping worldwide in the first half of 2009.

Model name

In a nutshell

Nokia N97

Notable features: Tri-band HSDPA/quad-band GSM Sliding QWERTY keypad and touchscreen display 3.5-inch TFT (16:9 widescreen); 640 x 360 pixels 32GB onboard memory + microSD card slot Series60 5th Edition 5-megapixel camera with Carl Zeiss Tessar optics MPEG-4 VGA video recording at 30fps Multiple music, video and image formats supported 802.11b/g; USB; Bluetooth with A2DP; GPS with A-GPS 3.5mm audio jack 117.2 x 55.3 x 15.9mm; 150g Availability: Worldwide, first half of 2009; 550 euros (before tax, subsidies)

Fabulista Considers: Madonna.

She (Madonna) is a style icon. But elegance and taste, she is not. This is why I thought Louis Vuitton might have made a better choice on the celeb-spoke for its SS09 collection. Marc chose her to reinforce the boldness of the latest collection. However, there is always an element of elegance and taste (except for the last collaboration with Richard Prince and the ‘mistake’). Louis Vuitton has engaged her to launch its next collection in a series of six shots set in a mid-twentieth century French café.

If the intention of the choice was for boldness and individuality, there are so many others in pop culture:

Music:

- Annie Lennox;

- David Bowie;

- Kylie Minogue;

- etc.

Art:

- Damien Hirst;

- Gilbert and George;

- Andres Serrano;

- etc...

amongst many, many others who can be considered iconoclasts with taste.

Fabulista Laments: The Loss of Leisure.

I can’t remember how long it took me to complete my last paper. I certainly hope it wasn’t too long. I am in serious need of a holiday. I have been slogging non-stop for the past whole year.

It’s no joke training future wannabes and that is not including the management of the wannabes’ parents. Those people make too many assumptions – the responsibilities of parenthood; the abilities of their offspring and even the trainers’ role in the development of the wannabes.

Now, I am assumed to be on a holiday from all that nonsense. However, due to the nature of my training to be a master fashionista/fabulista/urbanista, my break is usurped by the lessons that continue into the holiday.

I have been told by well-meaning people that it is for the long-term good that I should be doing this. I am aware of that; I chose to take this up for crying out loud. I just need to vent the loss of a breathing period – give me at least that little amount of freedom and choice.

Fabulista Thinks: About Kindness...

I ventured into Starbucks™ doing some charity tie-in … with the Salvation Army. Oh yes, don’t we all need some saving every once in a while. Me from the financial crisis that is going on with my insatiable need for bags, shoes and bags and shoes… oh, I’ve mentioned them already.

What anyone worth their salt (or coffee bean in this case) would notice is that the setup in Starbucks™ at the chosen publicity store is not in its original getup. The seats have been removed, tables shifted and reconfigured and hey (in the light of the whole charity thing and the season) we even have a decorated pine tree. I bet you in a month’s time, the sacrifice of the tree’s poor young life is going to be forgotten. That’s commercialism for you – everything and everyone is dispensable.

But at least, it is for a good cause (and I am probably going to get my complimentary drink). So if you are reading this today (Thursday), go down to ANY Starbucks™ found on the sunny island set in the sea, between the hours of 5 and 7 in the evening and get your complimentary tall drink from the barista. You may even make a little cash contribution to the Salvation Army this season. But remember, kindness is and should be a way of life, not just restricted to this over-commercialised festive season.

...winter

And so again winter came
Ends the cycle of the year
Ever so the same
Culling sadness of days gone by
A voice that calls both far and near
A kiss a sigh we say goodbye
The falling snowflakes’ silent call
Quiescence for a crystal tear
Mourns for those whom the bell does toll
Lies forlorn the winter cold
A silent cleansing from the shear
The weary the tired the very old

-- Fabulista'08