From: ttbfn@tpl.com.sg

Hi Asyraf,

We do have stock of Vogue US September issue( Charlize Theron on the cover) , retail price is $12.90 and Harper's Bazaar US September issue( Leighton Meester) , priced at $14.40. As for Australian Vogue, we still have not received the September issue. The retail price is $10.10. There are no specific or scheduled dates for magazines but we received our August issue on the 6th of August. So i'm assuming that we'll receive our September issue around that date next month. If you want, we can inforrm you when the new issue comes in. Please let me know if you'd like us to reserve the 2 magazines for you as stocks are limited.

Thank you & Regards,
Mira
Times Funan
63372833

I think that religion is not something that you can force upon anyone. People can choose to believe in what they believe in, and people can choose to believe in what they don't believe in. So, I think it's completely pointless for people to try to force upon their beliefs onto you. I think the realisation for the need of religion will dawn upon people at different times in their life. So, what I'm trying to say is, there's no point in someone practicing religion if it's forced upon them. And technically, doing things while actually saying that you're practicing a certain religion does not make you a good person. It just makes you a hypocritical one.

The most unpatriotic thing to do is to post a photograph of another city that is not your own on the day of your country's independence. Ooops, my bet that I don't feel anything for this country. And what happened to all the cheesy pledge-taking stunt that was never meant to be. I didn't see anyone stop what they were doing and recite the pledge. It was a good try, but a total failure. And shucks, I have a pimple on my nose. Need-it-to-clear-soon.

I think I'm going to buy my first ever Harpers Bazaar UK, because of the stunning Natalia Vodianova on the cover. I've never really liked her, because when I first started liking fashion, she was very over-hyped, like Agyness Deyn, but less annoying. Then, her body of work made me realise how good a model she is, and reading interviews and watching videos, made me realise how humble she actually is. So, for the sake of my first ever Harpers Bazaar UK, I will fast(i.e not spend money in school otherwise necessary) for me to be able to get hold of this magazine, alongside the other September issues.

National Day was celebrated in college today, and unsurprisingly enough, I wasn't at all inspired. Sitting in a lecture theatre with 2 movie screenings, which were more documentary than actual films, was what the college had in mind to instill a sense of patriotism in the students. In Naeem's words, "Nice try, but BOO!" And taking a pledge on Sunday at 8.22pm does not make you a Singaporean. There's just too much hype surrounding all these celebrations that it's like cheesy pizza with parmesan overload.

If you're a patriotic Singaporean reading this blog, I'm sorry that I don't feel the same way as you do. There's no need to shove National Education down the throat of us people who aren't the least bit interested. National Day to me, is just a day where everyone decides to don the colour red, and show their sense of love for this country. A bit superficial don't you think. Only a day in the whole entire year dedicated to honouring the country. A day where kiasu Singaporeans go to the floating platform and the area surrounding it to catch glimpse of performances by students being forced to do all the shit. A day where the Esplanade area is not infested by mats and minahs, but by families.

A day for me to sleep in.

It absolutely hurts my heart to type this post out because I'm criticizing the ultimate queen bee that has ever lived on this planet. WTF has happened to Harpers Bazaar? First it was Angelina Jolie's red carpet snapshot that got the cover instead of the beautiful Doutzen Kroes(whom I still don't like after her mainstream crossover to VS) and now this cheap shot of Leighton. Why is this happening? Bazaar is a celebrity fronted fashion magazine and I'm fine with that. But to downgrade every single issue until its nothing more than a tacky shot in a tacky gold dress with the bronzed look and an equally ugly background is just too much. I mean seriously. Somehow, I feel US Bazaar isn't worth the money, since it's now jacked up to prices higher than previous months due to air fright costs. But i'm still gonna hopefully get my hands on this issue since it's the September issue and every September issue is worth the money becasue of the amount of advertisment pages.

Anyways, MNTM was a success, although it didn't start on time, and there were a few hiccups that were managed to be solved. It was tiring just holding one event, even in the air-conditioned photog room. I wonder how the House Comm people manage to do it, on an everyday basis, running around the school, for a perisod of 2 weeks. *cues superman theme song*

A GAP inspired photshoot was a fun one, although contestants came up with their very own interpretation of what GAP is. Gary's inspiration was GAP meets China, so he had eyebrows drawn like Chinese Opera and cloth and many outfit changes. Nizam's interpretation was more Levis due to the leather jacket, and Soleil's was very H&M. Asaad was super GAP, with Shuyin being GAP going to sleep look, and Sharifah's was so Forever 21. It was super fun, super hectic, super laughable, and super entertaining that MNTM should be made an MJC tradition.

ZOMG, that's be super cool.

Today was a mad scramble to get all the MNTM contestants' number, and also texting them about all they need to know to get prepared for their photoshoot tomorrow. So hopefully, all goes well tomorrow. Before that, would like to thank the house committee people for like spoon-feeding us with all we need and also especially to danial for always checking up to see our progress. Things are so gonna be freaking awesome tomorrow.

I find Asaad one funny fella. His humour is a dry one and although he doesn't try to make people laugh, he just does, with how he acts, and the way he pronounce and enunciate his words. So basically, what I'm trying to say is that I'm not laughing at him, but with him. Anyways, I think this guy can;t wait for his MNTM debut. He practically brought his wardrobe down to ask the drama girls for their valuable opinions. As in cca drama girls and not drama-mama girls. Hahaha.

Anyways, Atlas is leading Funfestique. Go ATLAS! Actually tied with Callisto, but doesn't matter because we used to always trail behind and now we're leading, even though it's only the first day of events. I don't understand why i'm even blogging about house-related activities here. Got to go, Literature test qn was leaked and hell yeah I'm gonna mug for that and show Dr S that "I'm a good student, as well as a good student leader."

Let me just start by congratulating the Atlas team who won the Meridian All Stars Challenge. And yes, you guessed it right, I'm on the team. We finished pretty quickly, and was just hanging around looking at the other matches and games like netball and "so you think you can run", which turned out to be a nine person race. As usual, Atlas was dramatic and when the ropes unraveled, the house committee people decide to make a "you'll never walk alone" moment by walking hand in hand with the contestants. I know, how awesome are our house committee members:)

The arts tee-shirt finally came today, and when Nizam brought the big box full of shirts into the canteen to be distributed, all eyes were on us. Typical. Anyways, it's really super nice, and I'm wearing it on Wednesday, which also brings me to Meridian's Next Top Model photoshoot. It's gonna be so much fun, and I'm sitting in on the photoshoot. Theme: GAP-inspired advertisment. Super chic, super cool.

Anyways, i'm super tired from all the running just now. But then, there's still PW, Econs essay, Mathematics tutorial, Literature essay and College Publications, as well as Funfestique stuff to do. Oh, and on top of that, MJC 2010 Open House proposal. Early much? At this rate, when's the time for serious promos revision? The perils of the life of a JC student.

Technically, yesterday's meeting did not go as bad as I had expected it to be. But, there was still that degree of rotten-ness that I'm still feeling. This is like the first time that I'm failing so badly for examinations. I was lucky that my parents were not able to make it, so my sister was the one who had met with Ms Pearlyn and Dr S. If it had been my mom, I would have been a dead meat smeared with coriander that is roasted over an open fire in the middle of a forest for a campfire to feed a group of hungry campers. I bet I'll taste delicious. But anyhows, I am just glad my sister was there. Although I wish like killing her 75% of the time, i'm still grateful for her presence. Say awww.

So, that one hurdle is over, and I'm here to concentrate for the Promos. There is no way in hell that I'm going to get retained. No way, because I just can't. I'd rather die that be retained. Like one of my good friends said when I was talking to him, quote on quote, "You'd kill yourself before your parents kill you." Oh, how true.

I cleaned my closet, again. This is the 4th time this year I'm clearing out my closet. This time the arrangement was home clothes and new clothes in different compartments, instead of separating the clothes according to type(i.e shirts vs pants) like the previous time. OCD much? Yeah, I guess so. And I found this red tartan-esque shirt in the depth of my dad's cupboard while searching for messenger bags, and it's so nice I'm gonna wear it as an outerwear sometime. Maybe for Lady Gaga? Who knows.

Meridian's Next Top Model photoshoot is this Wednesday. Super freaking excited since I'm organising it. The theme for the photoshoot is clean cut American. So think of photoshoots along the lines of Gap advertisments and Michael Kors, although MK is really so boring he's got no new ideas I wonder why Heidi Klum always refers to him as the great American designer because he is so not since there's newer designers that are so much more insightful like Alexander Wang and the Mulleavy sister for Rodarte. Wow, that's a long sentence.

Okay, a post for the day is done. Connie just called to say Meridian All Stars is tomorrow and I don't know what I had just signed up for. Going to do my maths tutorial and Geography notes now. What happened to living life? Apparently it revolves around tutorials now.