I come across a lot of strange things online, and as this blog is becoming an extension of my mind and a receptacle of my thoughts, I thought it appropriate to share them here. You may remember a few interesting linkage posts that I wrote last year, well this is an extension of those. I haven’t decided whether these posts will be weekly or fortnightly yet. (more…)

I never was a fan of the Spice Girls in the late 90s or early 00s – as an aspiring musician at the time they represented all that was foul and impure about the pop music industry. Aside from their musical talents, I’ve always been interested in their phenomenon, and their individual solo careers. I’ve read Geri and Mel B’s autobiographies, and watched Victoria and Mel B struggle as solo artists.

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Thinking about it with some hindsight, I can now admit that Geri Halliwell is my favourite Spice Girl. She was the first to leave the group in 1998, and the first to start her solo career (despite her obvious lack of vocal prowess) and secured several UK #1 singles.

Even more importantly, she handled the scandal about her pre-Spice topless pics with the nonchalance that it deserved. If you’re hoping to be a successful performer and someone asks you to pose topless or naked, do it if you want, but remember that it’s bound to appear at a later date when you’d rather not have the world looking at your bits. And the likelihood of that happening is almost a certainty in this age of the internet, digital cameras and camera phones. So if you’ve posed nude, and have subsequently become famous, don’t sweat it, move on.

Anyway, here’s one of my favourite vids by Ms H: Bag It Up.

And some interesting quotes of hers:

• I don’t know what I’m doing, but I’m damn well gonna do it!
• I have got one of those faces that change every day: you can dress me up, make me look vampy and then make me look 12 years old. But don’t all women do this thing? We all take on these roles.
• Competition is for dogs and horses.
• In school nativity plays I was always the bloody little donkey, I was never Mary.
• Who knows just where I’m going? … Does tomorrow belong to me?

Vid: The Best Things in Life are Free – Peter Andre and Katie Price – cheesy cheese crackers

January 2008 is nearly over, and I’m glad. It’s been an awful month for me in several respects. I’m hoping that February and the Chinese New Year will bring me some good luck. My astrologer friend says it should be a good year for Monkeys like me:

Passion, excitement and glory await you in 2008. It is one of the most promising years you’ve seen of recent times full of material, spiritual and physical fulfilment. A new chapter in your life begins and you’re full of vitality, shining with a youthful exuberance. Your finances are good and it is good time to apply for a loan, maybe for business or property. You will have that little extra and you may choose to be generous with it. For those who are still single, there are interested suitors hanging around. Act quickly as 2008 is an especially auspicious year for monkey marriages. Your intuition and instincts will serve you well so listen to your feelings; explore your inner world. Being that this is your dream-year, it will pay to give back to those who are not doing so well. Build your karmic rewards and see just how fantastic you can make 2008.

Good news, eh? (more…)