Since Aug 14, we have been running all around Singapore to cover various YOG events. So far, Singapore hasn’t been performaning too badly in the inaugural event.

Our Medal Tally = 3 Bronze and 1 Silver.

I hope there would be more coming our way in swimming, judo, boxing, and ….  (:

So anyway, I am currently having a break from the YOG Madness because

1) I don’t have any sports event to cover today (which is really rare seeing how packed the competition schedules are)

2) I will be covering a non-YOG event tonight at City Square Mall.

tee hee. Do you know who they are? ((:

[Photo Credit: ALLKPOP]

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Over at Youth.SG, young hearts run free. Perhaps, a little too freely.

Of late, we’ve (we meaning Linnet, Liying and myself) been terrorising our office and colleagues with the candyfloss that Korean and Japanese pop is. Nothing like music that you know was made more from electronics than singing for a quick pick me up on dreary Monday mornings.

The occasional excited gushing has recently turned into something serious with a blatant blasting of Korean and Japanese pop songs. (I believe much to the dismay of our beloved editor, Lai Chow.)

But we believe everyone can find some candy fun with these songs that are meant more for getting hyper to, rather than being appreciated for its music achievements. And to start you out, here’s what we recommend:

Linnet hearts Davichi

She recommends you listen to their ‘8282‘.

Liying hearts 2am.

She recommends you listen to their ‘이노래‘.

Cassandra hearts Arashi.

She recommends you listen to their ‘Happiness‘.

If you’ve got your versions of rainbow fluff to share, don’t be shy and tell us who you listen to and why! We’ll be very happy to start blasting your recommendations in the office.

PHOTOS: OUR DEAR INDISPENSABLE GOOGLE

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The beauty of SHINE Youth Festival lies with the surprises it brings to the audience each time an event is held. While most closing ceremonies take place in a hall, function room or open space, our Closing Ceremony was held in a cinema theatre!

Yes yes, it was held at The Cathay, Hall 3 as a whole package, with the movie ticket transforming into our entrance ticket and the LED display outside the theatre showing “SHINE 2010” instead of “Inception” or “Eclipse”.

That’s us! The co-chairs (Yi Da and I) with the Youth Organising Committee beaming excitedly in front of our very own LED display.

We had the honour of having Acting Minister of MICA, Mr. Lui Tuck Yew to grace our event. One of the key highlights of our Closing was the award ceremony for Stars of SHINE winner. This is an award to profile young and positive role models with inspiring stories and a heart to influence people.

Stars of SHINE winners with the working committee and Acting Minister of MICA Mr. Lui Tuck Yew

Many items were also showcased at the closing. That includes two initiatives by the Youth Organising Committee – Hip Hop in the City & Show Power Video Competition! The champion from Hip Hop in the City performed their groovy hip hop moves while the committee awarded the top 2 winners from the Show Power Video Competition.

Show Power Video Competition aims to profile youths’ passion and talents through a 1-minute video. The gist of it is to execute “Enough Talk, Just Do!” essence into actions, to translate their talents into a video. The top winner walked away with a Olympus Pen EP-2 worth $1200!

Our top prize winner, Eugene with Martin, co-chair of SHINE Steering Committee 2010

It had been 6 months since Day 1 of our preparation for SHINE Youth Festival 2010. Friendships were forged, effort were put in relentlessly. As co-chair, we saw the passion, the conviction, the commitment which shaped the success of this year’s festival.

The YOC with volunteers! Stay tuned – SHINE Youth Festival 2011 on the way!

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No. I don’t mean the carp. You should know what Koi Cafe is. If not, you must be a caveman/woman. Haven’t you heard about the queue at Toa Payoh (where the 1st Koi Cafe resides)? Haven’t you seen the crazy queue outside Iluma?

I know there are other bubble tea shops around like Sweet Talk (think cheap bubble tea), Each-a-cup (think amazing snowshakes), and Cup Walker. But, if I’m not wrong, only Koi Cafe allows you to choose the amount of sugar you want to add in that cup of lovely goodness. I am guessing Koi Cafe owes its popularity to its amazingly great milk tea, and the freedom of choice.

I know some people don’t see the craze about Koi.

But hear the confession of a koi-bubble-tea addict.

Give me one Hazelnut Milk Tea with no sugar and less bubble, please.

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Radiohead fans would remember back in October 2007, when one of the most valiant experiments in the music industry was undertaken by Thom Yorke and company. Their seventh album, In Rainbows which was released online, allowed downloaders to pay any amount. Yes, zero dollars was an option. This lasted about three months, but alas in December, the official In Rainbows Site directed visitors to go buy the CD instead - which got critics up in arms, especially since the band claimed most people paid for the songs. No matter how short lived the endeavour, I still applaud these guys for breaking new ground and getting a discussion started on a pertinent issue surrounding the (said-to-be-dying) music industry.

Fast forward to the present and we have Amanda Palmer from the Dresden Dolls who has released a collection of popular Radiohead hits played on her Ukulele! Visit the site and you’ll see a link to download the songs. So it is not exactly free, but you need only fork out a minimum of USD$1, about SGD$1.40 (less than a plate of chicken rice). Take it from a long-time fan of Radiohead and a recent fan of Palmer; this is good stuff. Plus we know the best things in life are (almost) free, right?

I <3 such initiatives because they help differentiate between the musician/artiste and the celebrity. Besides, they remind us that mother dearest was right about sharing. It's awesome.

Images from ateaseweb.com and amandapalmer.net

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Ever thought that beauty pageants only take place on glamorous runways? Then you must have missed out on the Urban Beach Pageant on July 3rd! Kudos to you if you were around to catch some of the action!

Organized by the SHINE Youth Organizing Committee, the pageant was one of the programmes planned for the SHINE Youth Festival 2010 Launch Day. Taking place at *SCAPE Youth Park right in the heart of Orchard on a Saturday afternoon, the contestants provided eye candy and raised temperatures with their antics.

Unlike most pageants where the emphasis is on good looks, the Urban Beach Pageant stays true to SHINE’s theme. It is all about letting one’s inner personality shine and living one’s passion.

It has not been easy for the contestants. They had to attend a modeling workshop where they learned how to pose and sashay. Grueling trainings aside, the contestants also had a good time at Sentosa’s Palawan Beach where the photoshoot was held.

After much preparation and hard work, the big day came. The morning passed in a blur as the contestants rushed to have their hair and make-up done by professional stylists, and the organizing committee ran about to ensure all operations were running smoothly.

The pageant kicked off shortly after 2:30 PM. There are three segments to the catwalk: 1) beach wear 2) swim wear and 3) casual wear. While the clothings for the beach and swim wear were sponsored, the contestants were required to pick out their own clothes that they think “shouts me” for the latter.

The myriad of outfits reflected each contestant’s character. For the talent segment, they have five minutes each to showcase a skill and boy, they did not disappoint! From the traditional performing art of poi (which involves swinging balls suspended from a length of flexible material) to bodybuilding to dancing, the contestants charmed the crowd with their unique talents. There was even a pair whom had partnered to put up a dance to the tune of Toy-Box’s Tarzan and Jane, much to the delight of the crowd.

What is a pageant without a Q&A session? The contestants’ wits were put to the test when questions on social and moral issues were fired at them. Despite the difficulty of the questions, they displayed cool logic, proving that beauty pageants are not all about looks.

Everyone walked away a winner with cash prizes and vouchers at the end of the event. Each contestant also won themselves sashes with titles such as Mr and Miss Photogenic, Diva, or Creative. There was the Mr and Miss Everlast 2010, and the grand titles of Mr and Miss Urban Beach Pageant 2010.

Enough Talk, Just Do! Think our contestants have done just that? I can’t agree with you more!

PHOTOS: BENJAMIN TAY

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The erratic weather is getting on my nerves. The weather goes from sunny to cloudy to crazy. But, I still haven’t got the chance to witness any flash flood. (ha)

So anyway, rain or shine (recently, it seems to be rain AND shine), you need something to cheer your day. Something like dessert, or more specifically, ICE CREAM!!

I know, two weeks ago, we featured the Swensen’s Savory Ice Cream Range.

Salted Cornflakes, anyone?

Last week we had Häagen-Dazs’ Ice Cream Cocktails.

I want to dive into Venetian Velvet..
Guess where we are heading this week?

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Okay, I admit I am a little slow here. Hey! You cannot blame me right? I mean, I just came back to Singapore for less than a month! I just heard the “You are the one” cheer a week ago. And the reason I did a Google search was I had to interview JJ. Let me reiterate this: He is still cute despite having to do that street fighter-like choreography.

I have a suggestion for those who still think that cheer/choreography is really awkward/or an embarrassment.

Think of Ryu.

**

Hope it helps!

We are 25 days away from YOG! Are you guys excited?

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