True genius shattles expectation...

That's the comment given by Paula Abdul to Adam Lambert after his performance in week 9 of Americon Idol rocking the stage with his rendition of "Play that Funky Music". I was watching from 8TV across the globe from Malaysia. This week, he has Simon giving him a standing ovation for a touching "Mad World".

Have you ever wonder what would it be like to have the talent and charisma of Freddy Mercury, Elvis Presley and Mick Jagger all merged into 1 body? That's Adam Lambert. He is taking the stage to the best advantage, total self indulgence, showing off his talent and artistry in full power. Which artist in history has such opportunity to show off his talent week after week on TV to over millions of viewers? I once saw a photography contest excerpt that says "we are looking for photographs that make one couldn't comprehend how you managed to shoot it". That is the most common description of sublime in layman terms. It is something so wonderful it's beyond comprehension.
In Lambert case, one couldn't help but to be mesmerized and fall in love with his singing and performances. They are all unforgetable. He knows how to bring the meaning of a song and genre to it's fullest and made you like it even if it's not your cup of tea. If it's a rock song, he totally rocks it. If it's a sensual song, he melts your heart. Johnny Depp has this charisma in the movies and now there's Adam Lambert. Blowing the mind off every audiences.
It has reached a point where I had to visit americanidol.com, for the first time, and unawares, keep repeating his performances on and on and on. It's really magical how he could gain your total attention throughout the performance and for the life of me, how did he made me click "PLAY" so many times??? And how is it each song is so unforgetable in your head? It's so beautiful and bordering evil! And I don't know how to explain, I've never thought such talent could exist! Whether he wins or not, he's one extraordinary talent.

Visit http://www.americanidol.com/videos/season_8/performances/adam_lambert_mad_world and judge for yourself.

KL Taxi, Very Scary

Read this from the STAR, a concern of which is has been something bothering for quite a while now... I wonder if we'll ever see the day when you get NICE taxi drivers????

Tuesday March 31, 2009

Losing battle against cabbies

PUTRAJAYA: The Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (CVLB) has admitted that it was out of solutions in its war against rogue taxi drivers.

Board chairman Datuk Markiman Kobiran has likened the situation as a “war with no ending like the war between Israel and the Palestinians” despite continued measures to curb the menace.

“Until today, there is no absolute formula to solve this problem. Do we cancel their permits, step up on enforcement and urge passengers to be more proactive in making complaints? We have done all that. You tell me,” he told a press conference at the CVLB office yesterday.

Despite the increase in the number of errant taxi drivers, Markiman said the board was not giving up because it involved the country’s reputation.

In an undercover operation conducted by the board, only 15 of 627 taxis were found to be following regulations.

“Media reports on ‘samseng’ (rogue) taxis, drivers who refused to pick up passengers and those who overcharged were quite disappointing. Upon investigation, we found them all to be true,” he said.

Sixty JPJ (Road Transport Department) officers boarded 627 taxis in the Klang Valley this month and 612 taxi drivers were found guilty of various offences.

The operation also showed that a taxi driver committed on an average of three offences.

“An enforcement officer boarded a taxi from Pudu to a hotel early one morning. He was overcharged and at the end of the trip, the taxi driver told the officer that he ‘dah agak pegawai’ (could guess he was an officer). But yet, he overcharged the officer,” said Markiman.

During the operation, 432 taxi drivers did not use meters, 192 did not display their driver cards, 144 overcharged their passengers and 103 refused to pick up passengers.

A total of 502 taxi drivers were caught for not having driving licences, not wearing seat belts and driving recklessly.

“Five Pakistanis were found to be driving the taxis. We view this matter seriously as foreign nationals are not allowed to drive taxis. We will be calling the taxi operators to explain,” he said,

Markiman said it was important for the passengers to be more pro-active in reporting errant taxi drivers as it would help with enforcement.

Meanwhile, a taxi operator said undisciplined taxi drivers would not only tarnish their company’s name but also cause losses in income.

“The CVLB may cancel or suspend the licence of our taxi drivers if they keep committing offences,” she said.

She also said the company would seize the taxi or forfeit the driver’s deposit if it received too many complaints from passengers.