This is a photo taken from the tour bus, near the hot springs. Forgot what it's called. But just lurve it. BTW, yes it's in Hokkaido.

So my verdict. He has a sweet voice. Not very powerful, but not irritating either. His album is surprisingly, not pure R&B (like M, which i actually dislked at the beginning) but a nice mixture of a little pop, hip-hop, R&B and rock. One of those that you'll enjoy on anyday, plus will grow on you. Loved track 8, which has rap by Eric Mun. Also there's a duet, which is quite good. (makes me want to learn Korean, so that i can read the titles and transliterate the lyrics) Korean pop can be quite boring or monotonous or sound too alike. This is more varied, so i like.

kimdongwan is ... ? a good companion & friend. Worth a listen for daring to be more friendly and less artsy. (but too commercial, is it? very him)

(You oddballs at home should know i don't like to copy and burn music, but since Sky might wanna have a listen. I've a sampler of five tracks, just let me know and i'll send you the link.)

Lately everyone at work has been working ourselves to the bone. Yet there are people who choose to be blind to all the blood, sweat and tears. And then there are also people who believe in the Victorian archaic style of parenting - that us kids should be seen, not heard. Complaining and making noise isn't going to solve anything, just do something about it - so it has been heard.

Isn't talking and speaking up a way of doing something? Can't they see we are crying for help? Only the ones with a sense of belonging will cry, complain because they care enough to hope and work for a change. If we stay mum, we are going out the door.

That is what i truly believe in.
And ... when we are running on empty, we'll soon lose all heart and soul. Where there is no heart or soul, there is no spark.

Tough luck then. You people will just have to lump it then, like we are now.

I heard the Booker went to Anne Enright and it's a very depressing book. Well, awards are like that, they go the the more serious fiction. Anyway, there are even a few awards that go to publishers like the Mildred L. Batchelder, or from booksellers who appreciate the work done to improve the quality of books.

My stand is always award the publisher for their fine work by buying more of their books and hand-selling. And needless to say, i always pick up a few favourites by the end of the year. So here they are:

Thumbs Up Walker Books UK for venturing with such elegance into more serious Young Adult Fiction. (Small in quantity but impressive)

Also to another publisher for their new range of Young Adult Fiction, albeit a little spotty but still, Thumbs Up Usborne especially for McCaughrean's Tamburlaine and the planned three more books on warriors. (which i read somewhere that one is being written by Marcus Sedgwick)

Thumbs Up Heryin for coming out of the woodwork with picture books from Taiwan. Readers will soon notice the difference in the artwork and the Asian 'sensibility'.

Thumbs Up both Candlewick and Bloomsbury US for doing a better job in promoting UK authors with those great covers than the Brits, and quietly making your presence felt.

Thumbs Up Little Brown US for maintaining their stature as the master of bubble chicklit. Yet suddenly surprising us with The Mysterious Benedict Society.

Thumbs Up DC Comics for that imprint called Minx, which is unique and brave and very impressive.

Also, secretly Thumbs Up MPH Publishing for making Daphne Lee's dream come true.

So there. I love you guys, so keep it up.

Have been having this unending, infernal headache since last week. bother!
no one except people who have actually experienced this, will know that shelving books and displaying highlights are awfully nerve-wracking.

of course, i don't really mean i hate to to shelf books. i love books! but it does automatically give me a headache. maybe too much physical work.
:-p