Audio Pimpage

Official Finals Tally: 2 down, 6 more to go. :(

So the Anatomy lab exam today (well, technically yesterday) wasn't as bad as I originally thought it'd be. First off, the much hated salpingopharyngeus didn't even appear on the exam -- AT ALL -- meaning that the A I had my eye on at the beginning of the term is still mine. Quelle surprise! So much fingernail-biting over nothing. This makes me wonder if all that last minute praying/pleading/begging ("Are you there God? It's me, Lynn.") had something to do with it. Who knows? Like my girl Caroline always says, "It's interesting how we all suddenly become real chummy with God during exam time."

Gee, no kidding.

Anyway, before I send you all spiraling into a coma with my rants on Academia, I thought I'd divulge on another one of my biggest loves ever...

MUSIC.

(Why, what did you THINK I was referring to?)

Lately I've found myself stumbling across some seriously stellar musicians. Some of them are already relatively well-known in certain parts of the world, others not so much. But who cares, because either way, they've all been a great breakaway from contemporary radio muzak...

I keed, I keed! I love the top 40's just as much as the next person, but sometimes it's nice to immerse the ears in something a little different, ya know? Cleanse the palate, so to speak. So, without further ado, here's a list of musicians who have piqued my interest these past few months...plus links to noteworthy video performances.

• Tristan Prettyman, whose chill and laid-back tunes are perfect for kicking back to after a really long day. Her range isn't anything to be mesmerized by, but her velvety voice definitely is. Check her music out if you're looking for something with more of a indie folk/indie pop feel. [1] [2]

• If, however, you're craving for some jazz and blues, you can't go wrong with the way talented Katie Melua, who's definitely a much more interesting alternative to Snorah -- oops, I mean Norah -- Jones. She must be doing something right; after all, her first album went 6 x platinum. Oh, and get this -- the girl's only 21. [1] [2] [3]

• I don't know how else to describe Mattafix, other than as a creative duo whose music ranges from all ends of the spectrum. Either way, the result is damn refreshing, thanks to their clever fusion of reggae, trip-hop, soul, and dancehall, giving them an uber urban and uniquely distinctive sound. The guys are relatively unheard of in the US, but are hot, hot, hot here in Asia and Europe. Listen to their tunes while driving down an open highway and you'll see why. [1] [2]

• KT Tunstall -- oh, my God, I cannot rave about this girl enough. Chica is a genius on the guitar and just about everything she sets her hands on, not to mention the clever looping techniques she uses during her live performances. If I could be one female artist for a day, I'd seriously choose her. But I'll shut up and let the music speak for itself! [1] [2] [3]

• As for the artist whose music has just about conquered every minute of my day (his music spins in my car, iPod, laptop, and stereo), don't let his boyish good looks fool you -- Howie Day, who is the epitome of the angsty, tortured, heartbroken singer/songwriter that all girls love to fall for, goes to dark places with his poignant yet brutally honest lyrics and gorgeous, gorgeous, GORGEOUS voice. It's no wonder he's almost managed to conquer that spot in my heart reserved solely for my teenage obsession (key word here being almost, because no matter what, the prepubescent Hanson fangirl inside of me will always live on). [1] [2] [3]

• Not only am I a fan of Sandi Thom's music (Human Jukebox and Sunset Borderline being personal faves), but I also admire her overall internet prowess and marketing savvy. I mean, concert webcasting from your basement? Who would've thought it could land you a fancy schmancy record deal?! [1] [2]

• And finally, being the bona fide celtophile that I am, it's no surprise I'm including Celtic Woman in this here list. Partly it's because their harmonies are, as cliched as it sounds, flawlessly angelic, but mostly it's because their voices evoke lush images of Ireland that make me want to pack my bags for the Emerald Isle tout de suite. Éirinn go Brách! [1] [2] [3]

Wow, those picks are all over the place...kind of like my blog entries and general train of thought. Heh, no surprise, though. I mean, I never like to pigeon-hole myself, and my musical tastes are no exception...

So, that said, what are YOU currently listening to?

Currently Reading: About how babies are formed. And don't even ask me why a future dentist needs to know about embryology and organogenesis -- I'm still trying to figure that out myself.

Currently Playing: Buttons by the Pussycat Dolls, because sometimes we all need a little Top 40's muzak in our lives. (Also, um, because it's really fun to dance to.)

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My cousin, Wonderwoman

Exclamation marks are in order: Meet my cousin, P'Ju, aka Wonderwoman.


She just won the Young Investigators Award from the University of Texas Research Council for her research on chlorinated polyethylene elastomer (CPE) in the use of extraoral facial prostheses.

And she did all that while being 39-weeks pregnant!!!

I told you the lady's a freaking Wonderwoman, not to mention one of my biggest role models.

This is going to change the lives of so many cancer patients. I think it's no wonder why I'm totally beaming with pride for her. :D

Plus, in a few days time, I'm going to have a new baby niece, Teresa, whom her parents just so happened to have named the same name as one of my best friends from high school. How awesome is that?

Congratulations na ka, P'Ju!

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Grey's vs. Gray's

"I don't want to read Gray's Anatomy, dammit. I want to WATCH Grey's Anatomy!!!!"
--Lynn, as her brother sat watching the entire 2nd season of Grey's Anatomy, much to her personal torment.

I wish my brain were a thumb drive. I wish I could download my entire Gray's Anatomy book, float into the exam room, pencil in those bubbles with my eyes closed, and float right on out. I wish the muscles of the head, like the salpingopharyngeus, weren't so miniscule and hard to find, leaving me with no other option than to probe and squint at my poor cadaver as my formaldehyde-stung eyes weep in protest to the clanging buzz of the timer behind me (how, I ask you, is it possible to locate the itty bitty, teeny tiny salpingopharyngeus in under 40 seconds???).

On the other hand, I guess I could wish for a personal McDreamy to whisper the answers over my shoulder to me. Hmmm. Yeah, I think I'd like that best. :)

Anyway, despite the magnitude of ill will I harbor for the salpingopharyngeus, I must say that none of it compares to the trigeminal nerve. Nor the brachial plexus, which is probably the worst of them all.

Why?

Well, the brachial plexus looks all nice and pretty and orderly in pictures, right? Nuh-uh. SO not the case in real life. I mean, hello! Talk about getting youreslf tangled in one hell of a knot.

Which is why I have concluded that the brachial plexus was personally invented by God so he could torture me and my poor perplexed brain. And, well, okay, I guess so we can also move our arms and hands and fingers and all that good stuff.

Still, I kind of wouldn't mind giving all that up if it meant the brachial plexus would be erased from Anatomy for good...

Just kidding!

Sort of.

In the meantime, I will survive till the 11th!

(I hope.)


Currently Reading: What else WOULD I be reading?

Currently Playing: Rosas and La Esperanza Debida by La Oreja de Van Gogh. I cannot stress how much I love these songs, and pretty much everything else by them.

"Por eso esperaba con la carita empapada
a que llegaras con rosas, con mil rosas para mí,
porque ya sabes que me encantan esas cosas
que no importa si es muy tonto, soy así.
Y aún me parece mentira que se escape mi vida
imaginando que vuelves a pasarte por aquí,
donde los viernes cada tarde, como siempre,
la esperanza dice 'quieta, hoy quizás sí...'"

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Wrong Name

If you don't mind the emoticons and dizzying font, my brother's friend has an interesting story to tell:

Her grandmother's house was raided and destroyed because her house had the wrong name.

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And that's All She Wrote...

I'm off to bed now, folks. Now that the major media networks are up and running again (with their lovely celebrity montages, but back nonetheless), there's little point in me carrying on with the live blogging. Thanks for stopping by, though -- all 2,354 of you. I mean, really, that figure has left me reeling; that's how many visitors I get in a month. Still, if there's one thing I've learned during the past 24 hours, it's that blog networking and the internet are seriously powerful tools. You may take away our TV, but you sure has hell can't shut us up!

In the meantime, if you're craving for some fantastically thorough updates, definitely stop by and visit blogger extraordinaire, Bangkok Pundit. The guy is simply the best.

As for me, I'll return to my usual brain fart-esque blogging soon. Or at least once finals are over, I will.

Sigh. I am so gonna die, it's not even funny. :(

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Coup D'Etat Part Deux

I just dropped my dad off at the airport, and contrary to rumors, cars, planes, and trains are still very much on the move. Well, sort of. There was literally nada traffic along Viphavadee-Rangsit, which, under normal circumstances, is almost unheard of at this time of hour. In general, the scenes on the streets are calm and, with the exception of the eerie absence of traffic, everything seems perfectly normal.

The latest rumors say that Thaksin and his family have been reunited in England, and General Sondhi will be making a televised statement at 2 PM.

I'll try to keep updating as, ahem, rumors/news become available. Might be a bit sporadic, though, as I have other things to do today.

EDIT @ 10:18 AM: Thai TV is back on air. At least their regular programming is. News has yet to make an appearance, except for ITV which is currently airing a newscast of an event. CNN, BBC et al are still MIA.

EDIT @ 10:29 AM: The Nation will be updating continuously throughout the day.

EDIT @ 10:33 AM: The popular forum, Ratchadamnern, at Pantip.com has been suspended. Also, many Thai sites have been difficult to access, probably due to the sudden surge of visitors overnight.

EDIT @ 10:46 AM: I forgot to mention this earlier, but on my way back from the airport, I flipped on the radio to 102.5 and SexyBack by Justin Timberlake was on, followed by silence, then Nelly Furtado's Maneater, and then...more silence. For some reason I have this mental image of a military dude sitting in a closed radio booth trying to decide on what to turn on next -- Stars are Blind by Paris Hilton or Buttons by the Pussycat Dolls? Oh, the dilemma!

In the meantime, all other radio stations have resorted to playing hotel elevator music.

EDIT @ 11:06 AM: New Mandala talks about the importance of the number nine, since the coup occured on 9/19 at 9 pm.

EDIT @ 11:15 AM: Thai New Yorkers speak out -- New York City Network for the Defense of the People's Constitution of Thailand.

EDIT @ 11:21 AM: To whoever posted this and this, thanks so much for the shout-out! This is insane -- I have gotten over 500 hits in the past three hours; normally I only get 100 a day. In the meantime, I'll try to keep the updates going as regularly as I can.

EDIT @ 11:21 AM: I just saw my uncle on Thai TV (channel 3), which is weird because my mom just called him last night at his hotel in Italy. Like all ministry senior officers, he was called back to report in at the army headquarters.

EDIT @ 11:31 AM: Check out live pictures at Bee's flickr page.

EDIT @ 11:34 AM: According to latest updates from The Nation, "An AMC spokesman reads an order of AMC leader Gen Sonthi for the Information and Communication Technology Ministry to check and censor any type of information dissemination that could affect the works of the AMC."

If my blog suddenly disappears, you'll know why.

EDIT @ 11:43 AM: Make way for the "new prime minister."

EDIT @ 11:54 AM: Let me reiterate that so far this has been a bloodless revolution. While both anti and pro-coup supporters have taken to the streets, there hasn't been any apparent violence as of yet.

EDIT @ 12:01 PM: Looks like the rumors were correct -- Thaksin has taken up residence in London, though the whereabouts of his children is still unknown.

EDIT @ 12:17 PM: My friend just called saying that he's spotted a humvee parked in front of the Shinawatra building along Viphavadee Rangsit. Also, another friend heard that General Sondhi is asking the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to revoke Thaksin and Potjaman's passports.

EDIT @ 1:21 PM: Sorry for disappearing; I couldn't log onto blogger for almost an hour. Latest rumors say tanks are rolling in not far from where I live along Viphavadee Rangsit Rd. Also, the Don Muang airforce military base I use as a short-cut on my way to uni everyday has set up check-points upon entering and exiting. And finally, a friend who lives around Sanam Bin Nam says that oodles of soldiers have taken over the streets right outside her house.

EDIT @ 1:26 PM: I'm off to find some lunch. If I can get onto blogger when I return, then I'll definitely try to continue updating. In the meantime, Bkkpundit, take it away! :)

EDIT @ 2:01 PM: CNN, BBC, et al are BACK!!! Now if only we could just get the tanks off the streets...

Oh, and I just found out that uni's going to be up and running again tomorrow. Le sigh.

EDIT @ 2:09 PM: Is anybody else in BKK having phone troubles? I'm having problems contacting people and vice versa. Also, I can't seem to log onto MSN at all...

EDIT @ 2:12 PM: Check out Steve's comment on the current happenings here in Thailand.

EDIT @ 2:27 PM: CNN and BBC may be back on air, but strange things are going on here: just now, a reporter was analyzing the current situation in Bangkok when all of a sudden UBC cut them off due to another "sun *cough* bullshit *cough* outage." When I switched over to BBC, another similar "sun outage" occured the second the reporter started talking about Thaksin's cancelled UN speech. A quick switch back to CNN showed that UBC had replaced the sun outage notice with video clips of... CELEBRITIES. (!!!!!) No, I'm not even kidding. I wish I were making this stuff up, folks, but alas, looks like this is how it's gonna be until things blow over. Anyway, CNN coverage is finally back now that they're talking about, um, stocks.

EDIT @ 3:28 PM: Some dude just made an announcement on TV saying that meetings or get-togethers with five people or more discussing anything political are banned. I want to say something really catty now, but will refrain from doing so; I think I stand enough risk of getting my ass censored as it is. Still, 1984, anyone?

EDIT @ 11:00 PM: Sorry for disappearing, but I was busy, uh, studying. (Hey, I have a really scary Biochem exam this Friday, okay?) Anyway, moving on. My dad, who's in Phuket, says that things are as normal as can be down there. Here, on the streets of Bangkok, things have remained relatively peaceful in what CNN has dubbed a "bloodless revolution." I wish I could say more, but we're still getting the lovely celebrity montages whenever clips about Thaksin's popularity in the provinces comes on. In the meantime, Thai TV says that the internet is to be approached with caution since malicious content and rumors are most likely to be found there, as opposed to Thai TV, which says it has only been reporting "the truth."

Oh, and in case you were wondering, UBC's now infamous celebrity montage includes the likes of Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Britney Spears, Ashlee Simpson, and Scarlett Johansson. Oh, and Joshua Jackson, too. Again, I'm not even kidding. I wish I were, because, dude, if you're going to make a cheesy celebrity montage, why oh why would you ever think of including a now defunct Dawson's Creek star?

I'm just saying. That's all.

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Blast to the Past

[LATEST UPDATES HAVE BEEN ADDED HERE]

***
The tanks have taken to the streets.

Jesus Christ, we've gone back in time twenty years.

(Maybe this is inappropriate, but I wonder if this means finals are cancelled...)

EDIT @ 12:16 AM: CNN, BBC, CNBC, and Bloomberg news have all been suspended due to a "sun outage." I smell bullshit; lots of it. Interesting how the "sun outage" should happen just in time for Thaksin's speech at the UN General Assembly.

They better not "suspend" the internet. If I wanted to be cut off from the rest of the world, I'd live in North Korea.

EDIT @ 12:29 AM: Apparently, all schools and universities in the country have been ordered to close. (I ask again, does this mean finals are cancelled?)

EDIT @ 12:56 AM: There are rumors that all cell phone networks are going to be cut off in the next hour. Hopefully this is just that -- rumors.

EDIT @ 1:01 AM: Rumors are swirling like crazy. I have been getting phone calls and text messages that say a new prime minister, Akrathorn Jurarat, has been appointed.

EDIT @ 1:22 AM: Apparently Thaksin's headed back to Thailand (by commando, natch), and according to rumors, he might not be allowed to land.

EDIT @ 1:29 AM: Troops have moved in closer to home -- Changwattana Road -- which isn't far from the major military base I use as a short-cut on my way to uni everyday.

EDIT @ 1:58 AM: According to 2bangkok.com, troops have moved into the Communications Authority of Thailand, which is located on Changwattana Road. This explains their sudden appearance so close to home...

EDIT @ 2:14 AM: Rumors (and I strongly emphasize this because rumors are going around like crazy) say Pantongtae has been detained at the airport while trying to leave the country.

EDIT @ 2:20 AM: Trains, planes, and cars are all halted. Looks like we're stuck here, folks.

EDIT @ 2:22 AM: Internet's going to be cut down in a few hours. I'm trying to get as much down here while I can. With access to CNN, BBC, and CNBC down, who knows how we're going to find out what's going on now?

EDIT @ 2:24 AM: Bush to make a statement soon (not like we're going to be able to hear it, but you folks outside Thailand will) about the US's relationship with Thailand political and international affairs.

EDIT @ 2:38 AM: Thailand's officially constitutionless and tomorrow's officially a "holiday." What we're commemorating, I have no idea.

EDIT @ 2:48 AM: A friend has told me of rumors of a shooting around the Rattanatibet area.

EDIT @ 2:53 AM: Popular Thai message boards are being shut down all over the place. The Thai blogs are still going strong, though. If you can read Thai, definitely check out http://revolution.blogrevo.com/.

EDIT @ 3:02 AM: My friend's dad, who's a member of Thai Rak Thai, is unreachable and nowhere to be found. I'm still waiting for all of this to sink in; this is supposed to be in the history books, not on my front door, for f*ck's sake.

EDIT @ 3:18 AM: I'm sorry, but I just had to post this: My brother just said, and I quote, "Does this mean I don't have to go to ROTC class this Friday? And if I do, are they going to make me join in on the coup???" XD

EDIT @ 3:29 AM: In light of everything that's been going on, suddenly I'm reminded of a book I read a few months back by Meg Rosoff called "How I Live Now." It features a teenage protagonist, but no matter what your age, I cannot recommend this enough. Run to your local bookstore and check it out.

EDIT @ 3:39 AM: Thaksin's scheduled UN address has apparently been cancelled.

EDIT @ 4:48 AM: My phone has finally stopped ringing, so I'm off to get some shut-eye now. Things seem to have calmed down around the city; hopefully it stays that way when dawn breaks in a few hours...

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AWOL

Wow, I've been MIA for, um, nearly six months. But I promise to update soon! In the meantime, here's a paltry teaser of things to come:

I recently discovered that Bhutan's Prince Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck's younger brother studies at the international college at my uni. I've seen him a few times in the common room and he even sat down at the same table as me once. Naturally, I was too chicken to even look up from my book (never mind read it). Imagine my surprise when I found out later that he lives in the same apartment building as my friend, and that his room is on the floor above her's... As in his room is DIRECTLY ABOVE MY FRIEND'S. Sometimes, late at night, we can even hear him working out. Um, at least we THINK he's working out...

Anyway, the latest news is that Prince Jigme, who I am convinced is a cross between Takeshi Kaneshiro and Jay Chou, will be visiting his brother at the international college (IC) in November. When exactly? Nobody knows just yet, but you can probably imagine the intensity of screaming that went on at the IC when the news broke out. I'm proud to say I did not contribute to said screaming. Still, that doesn't mean I'm not just slightly anxious (okay, downright excited) to meet the Thai media's Prince Charming. All I can say is I HEREBY SWEAR NOT TO MISS A SINGLE DAY OF CLASS IN NOVEMBER.

In other unroyal news, I was recently reunited with my one true high school love, Matthew Derek. Hahaha, I promise to clarify later, but we, ahem, caught up on old times...didn't we, Arwen????

Speaking of, mi mejor amiga, Arwen, who I've known since 7th grade, visited from Vancouver!!!!!!! The girls and I had so much fun catching up on old times with her, not to mention gallivanting through Hua Hin. It was so sad sending her off at the airport. She's only been gone two weeks, but we miss her so much already. :(

And last but not least, Gug's FINALLY back from Argentina. I am disgustingly envious of her la vida loca this past year in Buenos Aires (the girl visited Machu Picchu and got thisclose to an Australian humpback whale off the coast of Chile, amongst other things), but it's all good because she brought back a fantastically poignant gift for Siri and myself. I can't wait to share it, because I honestly cannot imagine a better gift. Teehee.

Other than that, I have finals to look forward to in two weeks. Sigh, same old, same old.

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