It's Just .... Another CRUSH!
Music: Jennifer Paige - It's just another crush (NOT!!! AS IF)

Been working for two weeks liao and time does seeem to fly ... Even from the first day, I was bombarded with so many new things that I would have to learn ... new perspective and priorities I would have to incoporate into my new life ... basically a restructuring of my lifestyle. Now every morning, I would ave to be in the office latest by 8.45am (but I get to wake up at 7.45 and still have time for grooming and a nice brekkie ...Isn't city living marvellous? LOL). Not to mention that my work is in a totally different playing field altogether, I had to practically reinvent myself totally (at least the inner workings of my brain) as I undergo a crash course in the coming 6 weeks.

As stressful as it seems, I am quite having alot of fun meeting new people from the workplace. They are really fun and nice people.. once we even went to play pool during break instead of doing lunch. And once, we got off early and did karaoke!! I don't know .. but where are all the bitchiness and politics that I was expecting ?? Or maybe not yet ..I don't know ...

But yeah just two weeks into my work and it seems like I have been getting alot of attentions ...from the opposite sex sadly. In fact, a conversation goes something like this today with this guy called David today while we were on a smoking break.

"Damn you ...ever since you came to work here ...none of the girls even notice us anymore." he fumes teasingly.

"Huh? Whadda ya mean?" I feigned innocent =)

"You sibe yan dao (gd lkg) what!" quips another guy ...

"Got meh??" I acted surprised at that comment ...well I like people to think that it was the first time I have heard it =)

"Yah lar .. all the girls whole day always talking about you. Some more, their eyes always on you ..they dun even know I exist anymore" David adds again. "Your closest competitor so far is W*****...."


At the mention of his name, I thought of him and cant help it but smiled to myself. This guy is new as well ...came in a week after I did. And the first time I saw him walk through that door, damn, I couldn't take my eyes off him. He looks like a tanner version of Tony Leung, with jet black hair that looks so suave with a side-parting, his eyes like Tony's that are kinda droopy at the end and his lips, so damn sexy.

He smiled, and his eyes crinkled and sparkled, his lips curled and damn it he's got dimples too!!!! I was infatuated ....Even when he has his silver rimmed specs on while reading, he is a total babe!

I was so into this guy that I later went over and talked to him ...hello you guys should know I hardly do that at all! So yeah I learned that he's a fresh grad from NUS and has a degree in engineering as well (wow ..with brains too!) and he loves playing soccer.... We kinda hit it off anyway and I prayed so hard that he is AJ and would like me too ...

But yeah 4 days later, it seems like nothing much has progresed from the first day we met. We have lunch together, smokes and have coffee break together but that is all. Just now, as I left the office, I sms-ed him to ask if he was still going out tonight (he mentioned Zouk's Halloween Party earlier) and he replied that he is meeting up some frens at Mohd Sultan (oh gawd .... like why?!?!?) ..so I tried to see if he would be keen to meet up with me, I texted back that I might go if he's still staying there for abit and asked how long he would be there for.

His reply was one word: Dunno.

Well, if that isn't an expression of disinterest and nonchalance, I dunno what is. Maybe he is not even gay at all in the first place right? I mean if he is, how could he not be interested in me??!?!? HAHAHA hey I'm trying to salvage whateva little ego I can at this point allright ...sigh ..

But yeah, I am amazed by the fact that I am still having crushes/infatuations at this age. I mean I can't stop thinking about this guy ya know ... his face with taht arrogant smirk is so deeply imprinted in my mind. The last time this has happened was like 1.5 years ago .....





**********************************************





This morning, on my way to work, I passed by Orchard Rd and to my delight, found that the first Christmas decorations has been assembled at the intersection infront of Marriott ..... A warm fuzzy feeling crept inside me .. and suddenly everything seems better. I didn't even mind having to wake up so early ... everything seems worth it all at once and being alife really felt like a gift at that moment. I also thought of last year in December and how that seemed like such a long time ago ..... how far I have come from then ...

Now if only I have someone cute like W***** to hold my hands as we stroll down Orchard Rd with all these lights flanking by the side ...

For a moment like this
Some people wait a lifetime,
For a moment like this
Some people search forever,
For that one special kiss
Oh, I can't believe it's happening to me
Some people wait a lifetime,
For a moment like this
----------------- Kelly Clarkson

Wiggle Your Big Toe
Music: Kylie Minogue - Slow






I'm speechless after watching this genre-bending masterpiece from the genius Tarantino ... Some might say he is hardly an innovator, merely researching and collating the best from past films and combining them in a visual extravaganza under the tired pretext of "paying a tribute" ...

But in my humble opinion (and this is a rarity so hear y'all LOL), it takes a true master to see beyond all those "genres" and really feel for the gist, or that essence that made past classics ....a classic. Quentin Tarantino doesnt dissapoint once again. Definitely worth the 5 stars it has been garnering everywhere!

On a side note, it's JUICE's 5th Anniversary Party tonight at ZOUK. And I have 4 invitations too, and together with my membership, that means 6 free passes. But only one left so far .... so yeah ..PARTTAYYYY !!!

PHUNKY


Everywhere you go, you know what you're doing and
people can't stop to take notice. You're into
what's groovy and different. You're the Funky
Style type of Gay Guy.


What type of gay guy are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

I am Life


You are Form 0, Phoenix: The Eternal.

"And The Phoenix's cycle had reached
zenith, so he consumed himself in fire. He
emerged from his own ashes, to be forever
immortal."

Some examples of the Phoenix Form are Quetzalcoatl
(Aztec), Shiva (Indian), and Ra-Atum(Egyptian).

The Phoenix is associated with the concept of life,
the number 0, and the element of fire.
His sign is the eclipsed sun.

As a member of Form 0, you are a determined
individual. You tend to keep your sense of
optomism, even through tough times and have a
positive outlook on most situations. You have
a way of looking at going through life as a
journey that you can constantly learn from.
Phoenixes are the best friends to have because
they cheer people up easily.


Which Mythological Form Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Oh Man
Music: Lumidi Feat Bludshot and Nyce Won - Never Leave You

Singapore's first AJ magazine ??



Would u take a look at that distasteful logo, combined from the letter A and J .... oh man!! And that title "Manazine" ... RIGGGHHHHTT! They are even having a private launch tonight at Water Bar. I was naturally invited of course heh .. but I would never miss DJ Tiesto at ZOUK.

Anyway, it's still amazing how far these people are trying to push the limits over here.... A gay lifestyle magazine indeed ... Next they'll probably turn Maxwell Street into the new Oxford .. LOL

Wonder if the tolerance limits that we are seeing today will snap anytime soon?

I suspect in a year or so, people would be soooooo sick of anything gay-related because there has been such a barrage of them in the past year or so. By then, "being straight" would be the new hip .. just like the short-lived fame that the metrosexuals are enjoying at the moment.

One word of advice ..enjoy it while u can.

As Seen on TV
Music: Chingy - Right Thurr

My ad is finally being shown on TV!! I was dissapointed by it; the fact that the ad was not the promised 30 sec and that the voice they used to dub over mine doesn't seem to go with my face or image at all!! BUT suprisingly, ALOT of people noticed me ...actually make that EVERYBODY. I even have old classmates recognising me, and even those one-off acquaintances from clubs.

Well, apparently the verdict is that I am "very photogenic".

If that is not an euphemism for "not that pretty but looks better through the camera lens", I don't know what is LOL ...

Anyway, I got a mention at SGboyx under the "Male Celebrities" forum so I'm happy ... *slutty grin*

this guy is sooo cute!!

Socratic Dialogue Part 2
Music: Chen Qi Zhen - Hai Shi Hui Ji Mo (Still Lonely)

It's over before it has even begun ... Well that's strange becos just a few days ago, I have just decided to take the plunge. At least to try out and see how far this relationship will go ... so what went wrong?

Was it because he is more involved into it than I was? Hence scaring me off with his intensity?

Is it because I have yet to get over my phobia of commitments?

Maybe I give up too easily, especially at the prospects of so many differences and hurdles that we have yet to encounter? After all, is it not better to end things before things get ugly?

Or perhaps it is simpy because I am yet ready to settle down ... to be loyally attached to ONE significant other? I mean, I am still young and beautiful right? Why should I give up the entire forest for a mere stump? And I am not even sure if he is my significant other.

So many possible answers.

Am I falling into the same patterns over and over again?

Hmm maybe all I want is just to look at their dicks and then I'm bored after that

WHATEVER !?!
Music: Liam Lynch - United States of Whatever

There has been a few "whatevers" the past few days ... [Ed: For those uninitiated, "whatevers" refer to surreal situations where it is easier to roll your eyes and dump any last traces of memories of it into your "recycle bin", or risk serious damages to your ego. And as we all know, shame on you if you don't, my ego is the only thing that keeps me going LOL).

Anyway, as I was saying, there has been a few cases of "whatevers". Firstly, I happened to chance upon a friend's bf's profile on friendster over the weekend. Having met him a couple of times before, when he and my fren was trying to pick up innocent and fresh-faced 18 year olds at good ole TABS. So anyhow, being the ever-friendly and newly friendster-addict that I was, I msged him to ask him to add me in his list. A few days later, this is the reply I got from him:

"Hi XXXXX, photo does you no favours .. you look much
better than that. you're very good looking ...
but, sowwy, not my type cos i like 'em with
thin, slitty eyes, hehe.
how do i add you? new to this ...
okay la .. take care xx"

Well helloooooo, you think you could fool me with that kind of reverse psychology mind fuck?? Next time try something more sophisticated and .. just MAYBE you might succeed in getting me interested. I'm like, which part of my message even remotely sounds like a come-on to you ??? And that usual technique of an initial compliments, followed immediately by another contradictory statement (meant to be a letdown, so as to make the other party intrigued) is sooo OVER!!! Get a life dude, 22 year olds ain't easy to fool nowadays!! WHATEVER!!

Next case in point, I was at CENTRO on Sunday and this girl suddenly approached me and introduced herself as a talent scout for XXX Production Company. She said she is looking for someone to fill in a leading role in this movie that will be filmed here under a HK director, and that the cast will include the likes of veteran Sylvia Chang (Zhang Ai Jia) and hot actress Maggie Q. I was suspicious and cynical at that point of course but took her name card anyway.

So anyway, I kinda did a search on the company and found out that it is actually a respectable establishment and that plans are really in the pipeline to produce said movie during November/December period. I called them up and they arranged for me to come in for a casting/audition of sort. At that point in time, I had flashes of images going through to my mind; of bright spotlights, red carpets, glossy covers, tv talkshows, Patek Phillipes, first class flights, summer holidays in the Carribean and fucking loads of dollar bills to spend as I please hehe. I was like " Is this gonna be my big break?" ...

When I got there, they got me to read a part of the script, which is one of the "drama" bits and I had to act really furious at one point. Anyway, I casually asked why the character was so angry at his mother, and the girl cooly replied that it was because his mother did not approve of her son's homosexual lifestyle and kept interfering in it.

I was like "WHAT ..... EVER!!" .. At that point of time, the realisation struck me why I had been talent scouted at Centro on a Sunday night .. I guess not many actors want to be typecast in a gay role even though more than 90% of them are anyway. So it was with mixed feelings that I left the studio, should I or should I not??

I guess ultimately the decision would be a resounding NO. It is a good opportunity but what is the use if I risk all that I have at the moment. Watcha guys think?

Days of Being Wilde
Music: Hajime Chitose - Wadatsumi no ki

Suddenly, out of no reason, I remembered a story by Oscar Wilde that I have read before as a kid. Don't ask me why but I remembered liking this tale a lot, so I went online and googled for it. For those who have not read it before, here is something touching I would like to share with you. For those who have, just read it again heh!

High above the city, on a tall column, stood the statue of the Happy Prince. He was gilded all over with thin leaves of fine gold, for eyes he had two bright sapphires, and a large red ruby glowed on his sword-hilt.

He was very much admired indeed. "He is as beautiful as a weathercock," remarked one of the Town Councillors who wished to gain a reputation for having artistic tastes; "only not quite so useful," he added, fearing lest people should think him unpractical, which he really was not.

"Why can't you be like the Happy Prince?" asked a sensible mother of her little boy who was crying for the moon. "The Happy Prince never dreams of crying for anything."

"I am glad there is some one in the world who is quite happy," muttered a disappointed man as he gazed at the wonderful statue.

"He looks just like an angel," said the Charity Children as they came out of the cathedral in their bright scarlet cloaks and their clean white pinafores.

"How do you know?" said the Mathematical Master, "you have never seen one."

"Ah! but we have, in our dreams," answered the children; and the Mathematical Master frowned and looked very severe, for he did not approve of children dreaming.

One night there flew over the city a little Swallow. His friends had gone away to Egypt six weeks before, but he had stayed behind, for he was in love with the most beautiful Reed. He had met her early in the spring as he was flying down the river after a big yellow moth, and had been so attracted by her slender waist that he had stopped to talk to her.

"Shall I love you?" said the Swallow, who liked to come to the point at once, and the Reed made him a low bow. So he flew round and round her, touching the water with his wings, and making silver ripples. This was his courtship, and it lasted all through the summer.

"It is a ridiculous attachment," twittered the other Swallows; "she has no money, and far too many relations"; and indeed the river was quite full of Reeds. Then, when the autumn came they all flew away.

After they had gone he felt lonely, and began to tire of his lady-love. "She has no conversation," he said, "and I am afraid that she is a coquette, for she is always flirting with the wind." And certainly, whenever the wind blew, the Reed made the most graceful curtseys. "I admit that she is domestic," he continued, "but I love travelling, and my wife, consequently, should love travelling also."

"Will you come away with me?" he said finally to her; but the Reed shook her head, she was so attached to her home.

"You have been trifling with me," he cried. "I am off to the Pyramids. Good-bye!" and he flew away.

All day long he flew, and at night-time he arrived at the city. "Where shall I put up?" he said; "I hope the town has made preparations."

Then he saw the statue on the tall column.

"I will put up there," he cried; "it is a fine position, with plenty of fresh air." So he alighted just between the feet of the Happy Prince.

"I have a golden bedroom," he said softly to himself as he looked round, and he prepared to go to sleep; but just as he was putting his head under his wing a large drop of water fell on him. "What a curious thing!" he cried; "there is not a single cloud in the sky, the stars are quite clear and bright, and yet it is raining. The climate in the north of Europe is really dreadful. The Reed used to like the rain, but that was merely her selfishness."

Then another drop fell.

"What is the use of a statue if it cannot keep the rain off?" he said; "I must look for a good chimney-pot," and he determined to fly away.

But before he had opened his wings, a third drop fell, and he looked up, and saw -Ah! what did he see?

The eyes of the Happy Prince were filled with tears, and tears were running down his golden cheeks. His face was so beautiful in the moonlight that the little Swallow was filled with pity.

"Who are you?" he said.

"I am the Happy Prince."

"Why are you weeping then?" asked the Swallow; "you have quite drenched me."

"When I was alive and had a human heart," answered the statue, "I did not know what tears were, for I lived in the Palace of Sans-Souci, where sorrow is not allowed to enter. In the daytime I played with my companions in the garden, and in the evening I led the dance in the Great Hall. Round the garden ran a very lofty wall, but I never cared to ask what lay beyond it, everything about me was so beautiful. My courtiers called me the Happy Prince, and happy indeed I was, if pleasure be happiness. So I lived, and so I died. And now that I am dead they have set me up here so high that I can see all the ugliness and all the misery of my city, and though my heart is made of lead yet I cannot chose but weep."

"What! is he not solid gold?" said the Swallow to himself. He was too polite to make any personal remarks out loud.

"Far away," continued the statue in a low musical voice, "far away in a little street there is a poor house. One of the windows is open, and through it I can see a woman seated at a table. Her face is thin and worn, and she has coarse, red hands, all pricked by the needle, for she is a seamstress. She is embroidering passion- flowers on a satin gown for the loveliest of the Queen's maids-of-honour to wear at the next Court-ball. In a bed in the corner of the room her little boy is lying ill. He has a fever, and is asking for oranges. His mother has nothing to give him but river water, so he is crying. Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow, will you not bring her the ruby out of my sword-hilt? My feet are fastened to this pedestal and I cannot move."

"I am waited for in Egypt," said the Swallow. "My friends are flying up and down the Nile, and talking to the large lotus-flowers. Soon they will go to sleep in the tomb of the great King. The King is there himself in his painted coffin. He is wrapped in yellow linen, and embalmed with spices. Round his neck is a chain of pale green jade, and his hands are like withered leaves."

"Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow," said the Prince, "will you not stay with me for one night, and be my messenger? The boy is so thirsty, and the mother so sad."

"I don't think I like boys," answered the Swallow. "Last summer, when I was staying on the river, there were two rude boys, the miller's sons, who were always throwing stones at me. They never hit me, of course; we swallows fly far too well for that, and besides, I come of a family famous for its agility; but still, it was a mark of disrespect."

But the Happy Prince looked so sad that the little Swallow was sorry. "It is very cold here," he said; "but I will stay with you for one night, and be your messenger."

"Thank you, little Swallow," said the Prince.

So the Swallow picked out the great ruby from the Prince's sword, and flew away with it in his beak over the roofs of the town.

He passed by the cathedral tower, where the white marble angels were sculptured. He passed by the palace and heard the sound of dancing. A beautiful girl came out on the balcony with her lover. "How wonderful the stars are," he said to her, "and how wonderful is the power of love!"

"I hope my dress will be ready in time for the State-ball," she answered; "I have ordered passion-flowers to be embroidered on it; but the seamstresses are so lazy."

He passed over the river, and saw the lanterns hanging to the masts of the ships. He passed over the Ghetto, and saw the old Jews bargaining with each other, and weighing out money in copper scales. At last he came to the poor house and looked in. The boy was tossing feverishly on his bed, and the mother had fallen asleep, she was so tired. In he hopped, and laid the great ruby on the table beside the woman's thimble. Then he flew gently round the bed, fanning the boy's forehead with his wings. "How cool I feel," said the boy, "I must be getting better"; and he sank into a delicious slumber.

Then the Swallow flew back to the Happy Prince, and told him what he had done. "It is curious," he remarked, "but I feel quite warm now, although it is so cold."

"That is because you have done a good action," said the Prince. And the little Swallow began to think, and then he fell asleep. Thinking always made him sleepy.

When day broke he flew down to the river and had a bath. "What a remarkable phenomenon," said the Professor of Ornithology as he was passing over the bridge. "A swallow in winter!" And he wrote a long letter about it to the local newspaper. Every one quoted it, it was full of so many words that they could not understand.

"To-night I go to Egypt," said the Swallow, and he was in high spirits at the prospect. He visited all the public monuments, and sat a long time on top of the church steeple. Wherever he went the Sparrows chirruped, and said to each other, "What a distinguished stranger!" so he enjoyed himself very much.

When the moon rose he flew back to the Happy Prince. "Have you any commissions for Egypt?" he cried; "I am just starting."

"Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow," said the Prince, "will you not stay with me one night longer?"

"I am waited for in Egypt," answered the Swallow. "To-morrow my friends will fly up to the Second Cataract. The river-horse couches there among the bulrushes, and on a great granite throne sits the God Memnon. All night long he watches the stars, and when the morning star shines he utters one cry of joy, and then he is silent. At noon the yellow lions come down to the water's edge to drink. They have eyes like green beryls, and their roar is louder than the roar of the cataract.

"Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow," said the Prince, "far away across the city I see a young man in a garret. He is leaning over a desk covered with papers, and in a tumbler by his side there is a bunch of withered violets. His hair is brown and crisp, and his lips are red as a pomegranate, and he has large and dreamy eyes. He is trying to finish a play for the Director of the Theatre, but he is too cold to write any more. There is no fire in the grate, and hunger has made him faint."

"I will wait with you one night longer," said the Swallow, who really had a good heart. "Shall I take him another ruby?"

"Alas! I have no ruby now," said the Prince; "my eyes are all that I have left. They are made of rare sapphires, which were brought out of India a thousand years ago. Pluck out one of them and take it to him. He will sell it to the jeweller, and buy food and firewood, and finish his play."

"Dear Prince," said the Swallow, "I cannot do that"; and he began to weep.

"Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow," said the Prince, "do as I command you."

So the Swallow plucked out the Prince's eye, and flew away to the student's garret. It was easy enough to get in, as there was a hole in the roof. Through this he darted, and came into the room. The young man had his head buried in his hands, so he did not hear the flutter of the bird's wings, and when he looked up he found the beautiful sapphire lying on the withered violets.

"I am beginning to be appreciated," he cried; "this is from some great admirer. Now I can finish my play," and he looked quite happy.

The next day the Swallow flew down to the harbour. He sat on the mast of a large vessel and watched the sailors hauling big chests out of the hold with ropes. "Heave a-hoy!" they shouted as each chest came up. "I am going to Egypt"! cried the Swallow, but nobody minded, and when the moon rose he flew back to the Happy Prince.

"I am come to bid you good-bye," he cried.

"Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow," said the Prince, "will you not stay with me one night longer?"

"It is winter," answered the Swallow, "and the chill snow will soon be here. In Egypt the sun is warm on the green palm-trees, and the crocodiles lie in the mud and look lazily about them. My companions are building a nest in the Temple of Baalbec, and the pink and white doves are watching them, and cooing to each other. Dear Prince, I must leave you, but I will never forget you, and next spring I will bring you back two beautiful jewels in place of those you have given away. The ruby shall be redder than a red rose, and the sapphire shall be as blue as the great sea."

"In the square below," said the Happy Prince, "there stands a little match-girl. She has let her matches fall in the gutter, and they are all spoiled. Her father will beat her if she does not bring home some money, and she is crying. She has no shoes or stockings, and her little head is bare. Pluck out my other eye, and give it to her, and her father will not beat her."

"I will stay with you one night longer," said the Swallow, "but I cannot pluck out your eye. You would be quite blind then."

"Swallow, Swallow, little Swallow," said the Prince, "do as I command you."

So he plucked out the Prince's other eye, and darted down with it. He swooped past the match-girl, and slipped the jewel into the palm of her hand. "What a lovely bit of glass," cried the little girl; and she ran home, laughing.

Then the Swallow came back to the Prince. "You are blind now," he said, "so I will stay with you always."

"No, little Swallow," said the poor Prince, "you must go away to Egypt."

"I will stay with you always," said the Swallow, and he slept at the Prince's feet.

All the next day he sat on the Prince's shoulder, and told him stories of what he had seen in strange lands. He told him of the red ibises, who stand in long rows on the banks of the Nile, and catch gold-fish in their beaks; of the Sphinx, who is as old as the world itself, and lives in the desert, and knows everything; of the merchants, who walk slowly by the side of their camels, and carry amber beads in their hands; of the King of the Mountains of the Moon, who is as black as ebony, and worships a large crystal; of the great green snake that sleeps in a palm-tree, and has twenty priests to feed it with honey-cakes; and of the pygmies who sail over a big lake on large flat leaves, and are always at war with the butterflies.

"Dear little Swallow," said the Prince, "you tell me of marvellous things, but more marvellous than anything is the suffering of men and of women. There is no Mystery so great as Misery. Fly over my city, little Swallow, and tell me what you see there."

So the Swallow flew over the great city, and saw the rich making merry in their beautiful houses, while the beggars were sitting at the gates. He flew into dark lanes, and saw the white faces of starving children looking out listlessly at the black streets. Under the archway of a bridge two little boys were lying in one another's arms to try and keep themselves warm. "How hungry we are!" they said. "You must not lie here," shouted the Watchman, and they wandered out into the rain.

Then he flew back and told the Prince what he had seen.

"I am covered with fine gold," said the Prince, "you must take it off, leaf by leaf, and give it to my poor; the living always think that gold can make them happy."

Leaf after leaf of the fine gold the Swallow picked off, till the Happy Prince looked quite dull and grey. Leaf after leaf of the fine gold he brought to the poor, and the children's faces grew rosier, and they laughed and played games in the street. "We have bread now!" they cried.

Then the snow came, and after the snow came the frost. The streets looked as if they were made of silver, they were so bright and glistening; long icicles like crystal daggers hung down from the eaves of the houses, everybody went about in furs, and the little boys wore scarlet caps and skated on the ice.

The poor little Swallow grew colder and colder, but he would not leave the Prince, he loved him too well. He picked up crumbs outside the baker's door when the baker was not looking and tried to keep himself warm by flapping his wings.

But at last he knew that he was going to die. He had just strength to fly up to the Prince's shoulder once more. "Good-bye, dear Prince!" he murmured, "will you let me kiss your hand?"

"I am glad that you are going to Egypt at last, little Swallow," said the Prince, "you have stayed too long here; but you must kiss me on the lips, for I love you."

"It is not to Egypt that I am going," said the Swallow. "I am going to the House of Death. Death is the brother of Sleep, is he not?"

And he kissed the Happy Prince on the lips, and fell down dead at his feet.

At that moment a curious crack sounded inside the statue, as if something had broken. The fact is that the leaden heart had snapped right in two. It certainly was a dreadfully hard frost.

Early the next morning the Mayor was walking in the square below in company with the Town Councillors. As they passed the column he looked up at the statue: "Dear me! how shabby the Happy Prince looks!" he said.

"How shabby indeed!" cried the Town Councillors, who always agreed with the Mayor; and they went up to look at it.

"The ruby has fallen out of his sword, his eyes are gone, and he is golden no longer," said the Mayor in fact, "he is little better than a beggar!"

"Little better than a beggar," said the Town Councillors.

"And here is actually a dead bird at his feet!" continued the Mayor. "We must really issue a proclamation that birds are not to be allowed to die here." And the Town Clerk made a note of the suggestion.

So they pulled down the statue of the Happy Prince. "As he is no longer beautiful he is no longer useful," said the Art Professor at the University.

Then they melted the statue in a furnace, and the Mayor held a meeting of the Corporation to decide what was to be done with the metal. "We must have another statue, of course," he said, "and it shall be a statue of myself."

"Of myself," said each of the Town Councillors, and they quarrelled. When I last heard of them they were quarrelling still.

"What a strange thing!" said the overseer of the workmen at the foundry. "This broken lead heart will not melt in the furnace. We must throw it away." So they threw it on a dust-heap where the dead Swallow was also lying.

"Bring me the two most precious things in the city," said God to one of His Angels; and the Angel brought Him the leaden heart and the dead bird.

"You have rightly chosen," said God, "for in my garden of Paradise this little bird shall sing for evermore, and in my city of gold the Happy Prince shall praise me."

Friend-star
Music: Abs - Miss Perfect

Heh ... its amazing how friendster can show your connections with some "famous" (at least more than us) people. THese are some friend-stars that I have come across through my present "network" .. There is Henry and of course the ever bubbly Robin. Although I do doubt whether this is really Edison Chen.