N.E.mation - An annual animation competition for students now open for registration

Wow, another season of N.E.mation continues! Remember just less than a year ago I was invited to try out on animation? Read it here.

I had a personal hands-on try at animating, stop-motion was really a headache, but really fun in the process.


N.E.mation 5(Read my short blog post about it here), Seeing how much passion these students have to show off their Total Defense Day knowledge.


These are works of some of the youngest animators I've seen, ranging from 13 to 20years of age.(Around there lah)



You get to learn many techniques(for free), all these are expensive tools that you get to play with, and moreover, it'll look good for your future CV/Resume, imagine that you get to show off your works on national television.

You'll get some awesome guides, such as this big brother in pink.


The champion team gets to have....

• Fully sponsored trip to USA to visit DreamWorks Animation SKG worth more than $15,000. Get to see first-hand how films like Kung Fu Panda, Shrek and Shark Tales were made.

  Or

• Fully sponsored trip to visit a renowned animation studio in USA worth more than $15,000.


• Privileged screenings on major TV channels

Eligibility

1. The competition is open only to Secondary School, Junior College and Centralised Institution students who are Singaporeans and Singapore Permanent Residents.
2. Participating students will be required to form teams of 3 to 4 members.
3. Each student can be part of only ONE team. Each team shall consist of members from the same Secondary School, Junior College or Centralised Institution.
4. Each participating educational institution/school must have a registered teacher-in-charge as liaison officer for their team(s).
5. Prior experience or knowledge of animation techniques is NOT required. Fully sponsored training workshops will be provided for all shortlisted teams.

Show you an example, looks awesome doesn't it? This is one of the works in N.E.mation 5, which was held last year.


If you're really interested, willing to learn, have a short-short story to share, START FORMING A TEAM AND JOIN N.E.mation! 6! This year, students are asked to use their creativity to produce storylines centred on the theme of “NS: From Father to Son”. Just form a team of at least 3 members and sign-up now at http://nemation.sg. Registration closes 14 August 2011. No prior animation knowledge or skill required."

Elson Soh 苏奕铨 The Final Showcase Concert 2011

Concert Details
Concert Title Elson Soh . Royal Artistes (苏奕铨 . 皇室群星) - The Final Showcase Concert 2011
Date 9 July 2011 (Saturday)
Time 8pm
Venue The Max Pavilion @ Singapore Expo
Ticket Pricing $168 / $128 / $88 / $48 (book via Ticket Booth)
Organized by Royal International Group Pte Ltd
Supported by Life Record Industries Pte Ltd

Just a plug for one of my good buddies, Elson Soh, He will be having a full fledged concert this coming month, on the 9th of July.

Being a rising star in the local music scene, of course as a singer/blogger/performer as well, he has my full support.


Apparently ticket sales have been pretty good, only category 3 and 4 tickets are available, and seats are pretty limited.

You can get your tickets here, All Passion/Safra/nEBO/NTUC card holders will get a 30% off.


Come and meet him in person if you will!


And eh brother Elson, I couldn't find any photos of us anywhere on my computer, only one single photo of us together on my dusty bookshelf.


Only a physical photo of us! Very very dusty.....I want to take a new personal picture with you at your concert.

Colgate Sensitive Pro-relief toothpaste

(A quick plug for my favorite tooth-related brand)
Just a few days ago, I was at a friend's chalet, I only realised that I've forgot to bring along my tooth brush during that late night.

The following day, I couldn't take it anymore, I needed to brush my teeth badly, Being a smoker(erm, yes I started again), I take my hygiene levels seriously, especially with my teeth, I usually brush at least 3times a day.

I was only looking for a tooth brush and probably a cheap pack of tooth paste to last another 2days in the chalet.

Everything in the supermarket was selling at 3 toothbrushes at s$10, or 3 combo packs of toothpaste at s$8, I didn't need 3 effing packs of everything, do I?!

So I chanced upon this, a combo of toothpaste with a tooth brush, and it was going for only s$5.70 (I think s$6.70, I can't remember).



I have been a fan of Colgate's toothpaste series, they have the perfect textures, and perfect taste. Now comes a new "flavor", Sensitive Pro-relief.


It came with a flyer in it, explaining all important key points about sensitive teeth.



As well as the Colgate 360 toothbrush.


It comes with a cheek and tongue cleaner, at first when I first watched their commercials, I thought that with it I had to take the trouble brushing my cheeks and tongue separately, instead, after using for the first time yesterday, It FELT really easy, all I have to do it shut my jaws, brush my teeth on the sides and the cheek/tongue cleaner will scrub my cheek concurrently! Well, I still had to take the trouble of cleaning my tongue.



So far it hasn't broke after bending and abusing it, but my expensive electronic Oral-B toothbrush broke after I dropped on the floor.


Ah, whitened teeth.


Being a victim of sensitive teeth, this toothpaste also helped me relieved the pain, just after one full brush. It is just amazing, and I am blogging about this just because it's this awesome, this is the first time I'm drinking something cold and allowing it to flow around my teeth.

I felt no pain, usually I'll need a straw or just be careful not to get anything cold in contact.

Taking a break at Pinkdot 2011

Last saturday, the 18th of June 2011, was the 3rd annual Pinkdot gathering, held to express freedom to love, no matter the sexual orientation.



So I went down with some of my best buddies. Angie, Fenny, Jasmine, Alfred, and best of all, SIXU!


We've been there since 3:30pm when the whole schedule of activities only starts at 5pm. Already there's a few hundred people gathered.


Some awesome and friendly volunteers serving everyone free drinks too cool off from the humid weather.


Ah, free drink for me = Free advertising for you! Visit The Garden Slug!



Of course, how can anyone in our group forget about one of our favorite snacks? Kit Kat!


Eat eat eat eat.








yeah, I'm sucking on that kit kat.


Dim Sum Dollies at Pinkdot!


What would you do if you forgot to wear a pink shirt down?


Pinkdot, freedom to love, maybe I should start a Freedom to Pose campaign.


I love her pose, Sixu, see? we must start a new campaign liao, Freedom to Pose.


Forming the pink dot


Getting interviewed by Jeremy and his film crew.


Anyways, check out the Pinkdot 2011 video.

Let the feast begin @ Icon Village

Omy.sg is holding up 3 part series of food trail and gourmet entitled, "Let The Feast Begin!"

It was a slow, rainy and uncomfortably humid saturday morning, While my cabby slowly drives thru a flooded area along Maxwell area to reach Icon Village.


All the other hungry bloggers gathered early in the morning, Inside Kumo Restaurant.


Some of you might recognise the Japanese character 雲 (actually same character in chinese language, It means Cloud, let me explain a little more below.


According to them, their concept is constantly changing, coming up with new textures and shapes to bring out each season's ingredients and specialties, hence the Cloud metaphor.

Chef Hirohashi Nobuaki serving us.


first dish served, a Sushi set, lightly torched sea bream, pike eel, sea urchin, crystal bay prawn, octopus).
It didn't bring me any significant taste, cold mornings with cold sushi just doesn't do well for me.

But the third sushi with the yellow stuff on top, was pretty special, it's the Pike Eel I believe, When I first felt it in my mouth, it seemed like a dozens of tiny bones poking around, but when I tried searching for bones with my tongue, it all melted/disappeared!

That was an experience for me.


Next up! Grilled meat stuff! I couldn't wait for it, It was good to have warm grilled food in the cold morning!

SALTA Argentine Parrilla + Grocer internally connected with the former restaurant.
Photo by : Calvin Timothy


Contains beef, pork, chicken and lamb. The Parrillada
With it's beef specially imported from Argentina, according to them, the cattles grazed the grass plains freely and openly, resulting in lean meat and less saturated fats, with no hormones or supplements given.


It was the star of the morning......


until it went down all our tummies. Even the ladies couldn't resist it.


The sauces, Paprika chimichurri, Salsa Verde and Salsa Criolla. I'm not sure what the green one is called, but I really loved it's flavor!


Everybody kept pushing their unfinished platter to me.




Of course no one should doubt me, I love grills!



KUMO Japanese Kaiseki Restaurant
Icon Village
12 Gopeng Street
#01-58
(S) 078877

Tel: 6225 8433
Fax: 6225 8481
Email: kumo@kitchenlanguage.com.sg

Opening Hours
Monday – Saturday
11:30am – 2:30pm
6:30pm – 10:30pm

SALTA Argentine Parrilla + Grocer
Icon Village
12 Gopeng Street
#01-56
(S) 078877

Tel: 6225 8443
Fax: 6225 8481

Email: salta@kitchenlanguage.com.sg

Opening Hours
Monday - Saturday
11:30am – 2:30pm
6:30pm – 10:30pm


Next, Pizza.

At Pizzeria L'Operetta , you get to experience Neopolitan Cuisine
, with ingredients imported from Italy and made traditionally in a wood oven(for pizzas).
Some photos from their facebook page.


Each pizza is topped, baked and served in less than 90seconds!


Off into the traditional wood oven.


The heat from the oven is measured to be at approximately 450 degrees Celsius at any one time!



Pizza!




Wet and runny egg with dough crispy on the outer layer and spongy inside due to high heat.
Pretty special pizza, nothing like I've ever experienced before, pizzas usually tend to be dry, but with the runny egg, it's pretty easily consumed.



Of course, it was their handsome and macho Japanese Italy-trained pizza chefs that served us!
I wonder if they have bad tempers, since Italians are known to have really bad tempers......



12 Gopeng Street, Icon Village,
Singapore 078877
6222-9487
http://www.operetta.sg
Mon - Sat: 11:30 - 23:00


Next, Ramen Culture.


I'm not gonna talk much about this, it wasn't much to my liking, Here's pictures of the food served.

Hot-Stone Tsuke Men


It wasn't very good or very bad, just some casual meals.

Ox-Tail Ramen


Ramen Culture
12 Gopeng st, Icon Village
#01-82/83
6222 5110
www.fnbculture.sg


Next, Muffet's Room cafe.


A cosy little cafe next to 7-11 at Icon Village. A very friendly and casual place to hang out, I'd say, the chef would probably occasionally come out to have a chat with you, making sure you're feeling alright with the food.

It gave me a very comfortable feel, no fine-dining stress.


Some of their specialties, Ranging from Beer-battered fish and chips to Pastas.


Their Beer-battered fish & chips, a must-try! I realised I was so indulged in it that I've forgotten to take more pictures of it.


To make up for it, that I've forgot to take pictures of the food, here's 2 hot chicks.


Muffet's room cafe,
64109353/91849353,
muffetsroom@gmail.com ,
12 Gopeng Street,
Icon Village #01-16,
Singapore 078877


Next, Whips Cupcakes
Located conveniently right in the middle of Icon Village,


Of course, desserts usually drive ladies mad.

Whips Cupcakes is a specialized gourmet cupcake store that provides a selection of authentic American cupcakes to the discerning trendsetter. Their cupcakes are made with the finest ingredients from all corners of the world, befitting the lifestyle of today's chic urbanite, they use some of the best ingredients sourced from France to Madagascar.

Kiyomi getting dazzled by the Red Velvet cupcake.


This is their best selling cupcake, the Red Velvet, the whipped cream on it is actually cheese.


Whips Cupcakes
12 Gopeng Street, Icon Village
#01-85
Tel : 62225432 / 83383255
Price : s$3.50 for regular cupcakes, s$1 for mini cupcakes.


Next, GLACE fine Japanese Pastries.


I was already bloated at this point, I've tried one of the cakes, and they were awesome, You've gotta read the other ladies' blogs to find out more, they were mad while trying out all the cakes.

Read it here


Pâtisserie Glacé
12 Gopeng Street #01-33/34 Icon Village Singapore 078877
+65-6400-0247



Last but not least, Frost Bites.


A cosy little corner store with delicious yoghurts with colorful toppings, probably a girl's favorite hang out place.



A wide variety of toppings.


I had a grape flavored yoghurt, topped with walnuts and mango.


Erm....yeah, low in fat, just like me.


Frost Bites
12 Gopeng street, Icon Village #01-29
Tel : 62250585

Of course, after all that gluttonous activities, I had a great time exercising with friends at Playnation playing X-box Kinect and the Nintendo Wii.