People in your Facebook list! friends on Facebook!
Dress to Impress! “Remember that time...” JUNE 2011 ISSUE
Stories of friendships forged at unexpected moments!
FRIENDSHIP
Gift guides for friends!
“A friend is the one who comes in when the whole world has gone out.”
People in your Facebook List!
Dress to Impress!
Gift guides for friends!
And more!
EDITOR’S NOTE In this issue of Catch! magazine, we examine the diverse dimensions of our friendships: from the blissful moments of happiness to the lowest points of downright ugly situations. If you’re looking for movies to watch with your buddies, check out our choice picks in the Entertainment section. Also, we address an important faces in life. Or if you’re just looking for fashion tips, new places to hang out, fresh ideas for the perfect present or to be inspired by the most touching tales of friendship, it’s all here in this Friendship issue. What are you waiting for? Dive right in! Aaron Mossadeg Editor
In this issue, Dionne Gan went undercover to find out about the work behind the successful friendship of an in-line skating duo and provides us with useful pointers on becoming a loved member of any online social network.
With a firm belief in the horoscope, Teo Youliang shares with us the compatibility of friends based on the 12 animals. As if that isn’t enough, he gives us lessons on fashion and the best food havens where the fun never stops.
Our very own Ms. Sociable, Shermaine Lau, has the scoop on the Symphony Orchestra’s latest performance and shares an insight to how her best friend of many years is not even close to being a girl!
PHOTOGRAPHERS: NANYANG POLYTECHNIC PHOTOGRAPHY CLUB | MULTIFOLDS PHOTOGRAPHY
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THE FRIENDSHIP ISSUE
CONTENTS
. . . NOTES
01 07
EDITOR’S NOTE ~ Get To Know The CATCH! Team
FOOD&CUISINE
GIFT FOR FRIENDS
14 PIG OUT WITH FRIENDS!
~ For Him And For Her
~ Food, Drinks and Laughter
FEATURE
03 04 05
11 12
15
~ Brought To You By SoundCard
SINFONIQUE
MOVIES
~ All-Time Movies You Must Know
~ A Night With Symphony Orchestra
VIRTUAL FRIENDSHIP
FRIENDSHIP COMPATIBILITY
~ Horoscope Friendship Chart
5 FRIENDSHIP STORIES
~ How Friendships Are Formed
FRIENDSHIP BREAKUPS
~ Ties That Bind, Ties That Break
TELEVISION
hot
~ Deciphering The FaceBook Friend List
LIFESTYLE
09
FILM
INSPIRACIóN
cool
16
WATCH TV
~ Discuss Among Your Friends
MUSIC
17
THE LATEST HITS
~ Songs of Encouragement And Comfort
BOOKS
18
CLASSIC NOVELS ~ Tales & Lessons On Friendship
SPORTS
IN-LINE SKATING
FASHION
19
13
TECH
DRESS TO IMPRESS ~ First Impression Counts
20
~ 2 Trainers Let The Good Times Roll!
BE A SOCIAL MAGNET
~ 5 Tips to Stay Socially Active Online
ADVICE COLUMN
21
PLATONIC FRIENDSHIPS ~ Is It Possible Or Will The Fatal Attraction Bring Impending Doom?
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Soundcard:
Inspiracion
By Dionne Gan and Shermaine Lau | Images courtesy of NYP Photography Club NYP’s singing CCA, Soundcard, held us through the Facebook event page and the late Michael Jackson and to do the their debut production “Soundcard: so there we were with two tickets to infamous moonwalk. These amazing Inspiracion” on 3rd June, Friday at the Soundcard’s biggest event yet. Upon hosts made me feel like I was part of a Theatre of The Arts as we were there as arriving, we encountered a little problem Broadway Musical Concert. at the registration table as we were After the energy level boost by the well to check out the event! In collaboration with other CCAs includ- informed that the theatre was already at its witty emcees, the evening kick-started ing La Ballroom En Masse, Students full capacity and we would have to either with Kaira singing Annie Lennox’s Union, Stage Arts Make-up Artiste Team, stand or sit on the steps. Not wanting to Sweet Dreams (Are Made of These). Photography Club and Ambassadorial miss the event, we decided to just go Her prodigious voice brought out the Team, this production sure seems to be along with it despite thoughts of leg sexiness of the song and I was sure everyone had goosebumps when she nothing short of an iconic event for cramps and strained vision. Upon entering, even the phrase ‘packed hit the high notes. Soundcard. like sardines’ cannot describe the scene They brought to us a total of 12 songs Our classmate, Rachel Tan, who was also we saw. The jam-packed theatre only with different genres and styles featurone of the organizers of this event, invited meant that we would have locked knees ing Jazz, Rock and Pop. For most of for the next two hours. We elbowed our the items, their strong, moving vocals way through the crowd, all the way to the were either accompanied by Stage Arts front and found ourselves a cosy spot on Dance or La Ballroom En Mass sexy the stairs, which was lit up with Christmas dance moves. The talented batch also lightings and looking like a scene out of a played their own instruments such as fairytale. acoustic and electric guitar, piano and Coincidentally, the person who sat ukulele. It was a great line-up and after beside us is one of the top 6 semi every performance, the crowd went finalists of MediaCorp Suria wild clapping and cheering. Anugerah 2011. We were surprised The rest of the night remained wonderand honoured to be sitting near a ful as the emcees continued to bring the potential star of Singapore. house down with their funny antics, the Everyone was literally holding their performers giving their all on stage and breaths as if they were in a rock the audiences’ energy level never concert decreasing. During the final performwaiting for Bon Jovi or some other ance where everyone sang “Circle of superstar to appear. The emcees for Life”, it was definitely a memorable the event, Hanaffi, Suma and sight on stage as all the performers David had much chemistry came together to close the show with a between each other and were so bang. comical that we spent When it was time for the curtain call, half of the times clutching Soundcard President Norashikin Binte our stomachs, laughing Imran said, “When I first proposed for hysterically. They weren’t afraid to Soundcard production, I asked myself, act, to mimic famous stars such as can we do it? And I always tell myself, no harm trying. Soundcard has been through a lot. Not many people knew the existence of Soundcard; this debut production will kick start a brand new beginning.” Soundcard’s vocal instructor, Min was also proud of them and said, “Soundcard is a group of like-minded individuals who have great passion for singing; the inaugural Soundcard production is a testimony to the dedicated efforts of these young and talented singers and musicians.” The production was a tremendous success, which was clearly reflected in the crowds’ enthusiastic and energetic response. Oh, and to our surprise, we didn’t thought about our leg cramps at all until the end of the show. Well-done Soundcard!
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feature
Sinfonique
2011
Nanyang Polytechnic Symphony & Wind Orchestra in collaboration with Bowen Military Band and Orchid Park Wind Orchestra
Are you a lover of classical Japanese music? If your answer is yes, then I am sure you were there at the auditorium when NYP’s Symphonic Orchestra performed with two other guest bands, Bowen Military Band and Orchid Park Wind Orchestra. By Dionne Gan and Shermaine Lau How many weeks of preparation there were lesser people to move It was the �irst time NYP’s did it take? heavy instruments like the percusSymphonic Orchestra invited sions. two other schools to perform We have 4 concerts every year; 2 together. Every year, the band major ones and 2 minor ones. Did you learn anything from this would choose a theme and this Normally, we would have a 2 week concert? year was no exception. The break before we start to plan the bands played a total of 15 pieces next one. Sinfonique is a I learned to appreciate my CCA which were all heartrendingly major event for us and it more because I am starting my beautiful to the ear. We took about 3 to 4 months attachment soon. Sinfonique was interview Siti Rahayu Azman, supposedly the last performance of preparation. a third year student in our for me but I am going to miss the Symphonic Orchestra and also a band a lot so I am going to perform member of the committee. one last time for the Chamber concert in August. Performing has What was the theme also made me more con�ident. for this year’s concert? This year’s theme was Japan because our conductor returned from there in December. We practiced about 17 Japanese pieces but only played 8.
So, I understand that you’re in the committee. What role did you have to play for the concert? Yes, I was the quarter master and my job is basically to take care of the instruments.
Lastly, if there was a chance to do it again, what would you change about the event and how?
While preparing for this event, did you guys encounter any challenges? I would have liked to play with the String Ensemble because they have We had some problems with our improved a lot since the last time logistics. Our band is already so big we collaborated. Furthermore, I and we had 2 other bands this time would like to play in a big band and, round. Since our president was away if we had combined with the String having overseas attachment, our Ensemble, we would be able to play two vice-presidents had more more classical pieces. pressure on them to handle everything and I felt sorry for them. Our helpers decreased as well, so
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E H T G N I D R N E E H I P R I F C DE BOOK E T C S FA LI by Aaron Mossadeg
In
this unpredictable journey called life, change is the only constant and one of the most common variables is friendship. As much as we’d like to deny it, some of our friends climb up and slip down the proverbial ladder all the time. Sometimes, our friendships are ruined even by the most nonsensical reasons! Even your closest friends may split because of the circumstances that life will hurl your way! Everyone has friends.
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From a close friend of many years to that random someone that added you on Facebook, they’re all considered friends now. Heck, some may boast a ridiculous 3000 friends on the internet; a handful of which are actually known! Of course, that’s in stark con trast to the nature of the old times. Back then, without the internet and mobile phones, our predecessors kept in touch with friends through meetups, long phone calls and the
traditional hand-written letters ters. Thus, it limited one’s social circles to real friends. But with the rise of social networking websites in recent years, the fine line has been blurred between real friends and online friends whom you’d otherwise not even talk to on the streets. In this edition of Catch, we help you make some sense out of all the chaos in our social circles and take a peek at the different types of friends on our Facebook list.
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#1: The Close Friend The Close Friend is someone whom you’ve known for several years and constantly talk to despite the fact that you may not even be in the institution. Due to the long friendship, your parents have met and know the Close Friend by name. This friend knows your inner-most secrets and you trust him with your life and vice-versa. Close Friends will be there for you when you come running in need. If you have a Best Friend, he’s bound to be from this batch.
#2: The Colleague The Colleague is a friend in whatever institution that you’re a member of. It can be friends from your school, work place, neighbourhood, CCA or maybe even from your respective place of worship. Generally, the Colleagues are those that you wouldn’t hang out with if not for your common ground. However, it’s important to note that your real colleagues may even be considered a Close Friend or, on the other hand of the spectrum, may even be an Almost Stranger.
#3: The Fair-Weather Friend The Fair-Weather Friend is someone that you hang out with rather often but, when it comes down to pouring your heart out and seeking advice, he isn’t the best option for you. In most situations, this is the kind of friend that you call when you want to have fun but your conversations never revolve around sensitive and heartfelt topics. In a nutshell, Fair-weather Friends are there for the smooth-sailing times but head for the hills when the mood becomes serious.
#4: The Hello-Goodbye Friend The Hello-Goodbye Friend is someone that you currently don’t hang out with at all. However, you know of their existence and are comfortable enough to acknowledge each other in public with a short small-talk conversation or even a simple wave, nod or hello. Hello-Goodbyes can be friends of friends, someone you briefly met a while back, old friends, ex-classmates or anyone else!
#5: The Almost Stranger The Almost Stranger is the worst of the lot. Although both of you are aware of each other’s existence, that’s really the only thing that you know! So, it’s no surprise that you don’t even bother to acknowledge each other in public and this is where you find yourself pretending not to see the person. Almost Strangers may be friends of friends or the random bunch of queers that added you on Facebook along with everyone else they’ve ever laid eyes on.
So, there you have it! The 5 different kinds of “friends” that everyone has on their Facebook friend list! Whether you’re Singapore’s bona fide social butterfly with an incalculable stream of contacts or an unknown loner, all of them can be classified into these categories with the few exceptions of hybrids. But always remember that in this twisted, winding road, the Almost Stranger may very well end up being the Close Friend!
notes We all have experienced wondering what to get for our girlfriends. Some of us might even Google search ‘What should I get for my friend’s birthday?’, only to get the answer ‘Ask her Mum!’. Here’s a one-step guide to give you an idea of what your friend should be getting from you!
FOR HER.
“I am not an ipad” iPhone Cover $15.95 from WaldoPancake
“Dance Around” Washbag (Purple) $23.45 from Waldo Pancake
“For You to Keep” $19.90 from Ameba
‘Notes about Us’ P-A6VR Journal $18.10 from Ameba
‘Shop till drop’ Pocket Mirror $10.90 from Ameba
‘Bunny Sticky Notes’ $5.90 from Ameba
‘My Best Friend’ Photo Frame $25.90 from Ameba
Bad Friend Voodoo Doll $19.90 from Ameba
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‘Knock Knock Line Book’ Excuses, Pickups, Intimidations $14.90 from Knock Knock Books
Very Peachy MISO Pretty Lip Gloss $8.95 from ShopRockCandy.com
notes Which is more challenging - getting a gift for a boy or a girl? With most of the shopping outlets in Singapore dedicated to girls, it is difficult to find the perfect gift for your guy friend! The CATCH! team has shortlisted some gifts that the boys might like!
.FOR HIM
Police Sunglasses Model S8556 S$228 from Giarre Champion Perfume 50ml $79 from Davidoff
AKG K319 Earphones $125.00 from iStudio Dark Green Pocket Jacket $129 from River Island
F50 X-ITE Soccer Ball: $52.90 from Adidas Authentic Shoes $78.90 from Van Canvas
Mortal Kombat Video Game $69 from GameShop
5 Row Wood And Bead Wristwear $14.80 from Topman Mid-Washed Blue Slim Jeans $50 from Topman White Springsteen Crew T-Shirt $39.99 from Topman
lifestyle
friendship horoscope There is no better boat than a horoscope to help a man cross over the sea of life. ~Varaha Mihira
“
Whether you’re a fresh-
man, pondering over the chances that you’ll be able to fit in with the people in your class, or curiously wondering if star signs are the reason behind your declining relationship with a friend; this chart serves as a basic guide to compatible friendships for your socializing needs! Of course, it’s only a guide, and true friends may even come from incompatible relationships, so don’t rely on it too much!” BY TEO YOULIANG
AQ UARIUS (Ja nuary 20 to February 18) P I SCES (February 19 to March 20) ARI ES (M arch 21 to April 19) TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) GEM INI (M ay 21 to June 20) CANCER (Ju ne 21 to July 22 ) LEO (Ju ly 23 to August 22) VI RGO (Au gust 23 to September 22)
Compatible
LIBRA ( September 23 to October 22) SCO RPIO ( O ctober 23 to November 21)
Neutral SAGITTARIUS ( November 22 to December 21)
Incompatible
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CAP RICORN (December 22 to January 19)
lifestyle
3 STORIES OF FRIENDSHIP
TRUE FRIENDSHIPS FORGED IN UNFORESEEN EVENTS
By Teo Youliang
Starting friendships can be more than a simple meeting or chance encounter; it can be sparked by much more exciting circumstances or events. Here are some amazing experiences of people around campus in their ventures to make friends.
“The Lemon Barley” by Ryan Goh, Year 3 SBM Student
“When I was queuing for a drink at Koufu as a freshman, I realized I didn’t have enough money to afford the Lemon Barley I ordered. Panicking, I tried explaining to the cashier but instead, a random stranger came up and paid for the Lemon Barley for me. He waved off my promise to pay him back and walked back to his group of friends.” “I didn’t see him until when I went for my Kendo CCA two days after the incident, where I recognized and approached him. Luckily, he recognized me too and we laughed about what a small world it was. It’s been two years now, and we still are close friends.”
“First Day of School” by Li Xin Yi, Year 2 SIDM Student
“Back in Year 1, on the first day of school, I got lost and wandered around the school, trying to find my first class. It didn’t help that I skipped both orientation days so I was hopelessly confused. Soon enough, I bumped into another freshman who was in the same boat with me. Surprisingly, she was in the same course as me and we began finding the class together while cracking jokes about how we resembled Frodo and Sam from Lord of the Rings. We finally found my class and it turned out that she was in the same class as me! Despite being 40 minutes late for the first lesson, I was excited that I made a new friend in such a circumstance!”
“A Helping Hand”
by Imran Siddique, Year 3 SHS Student
“I was in a mess two years ago, when my family had plenty of problems and financial debt. I lost interest in my studies and my GPA slowly declined. I was on the verge of quitting my course until a classmate, whom I’ve never spoken to, approached me and asked if I needed any help in my studies. At first, I reluctantly accepted but as she continued tutoring me, I felt more comfortable pouring out my secrets that I would never tell anyone usually. She gave me good advice and shared my worries; I felt much more confident and decided to take control of my life. My GPA, previously from 1.2, increased sharply to 2.9. My lecturers were impressed of how I changed for the better and I owe it all to her.” Even though your own friendship stories are not as amazing as theirs, do not worry. It’s not possible to expect a fairy-tale situation for everyone you meet. But it does, however, make one awesome story to retell during your reunion dinners after graduation.
lifestyle
FRIENDSHIP BREAK UPS By Teo Youliang
Not all friendships are made to last forever. Sometimes, the world decides to throw a wrench into the relationship in the form of conflicts and misunderstandings; leaving both parties to repair the damage or simply not see each other anymore. William Tan, a student in Nanyang Polytechnic, has gone through that experience. Surprisingly, William first met his friend in primary school but they didn’t really bond until they entered secondary school. Having mutual buddies, William and his friend slowly began to know more about each other better as they hung out, becoming closer in the process. Sometimes, when one person is missing, the whole world seems depopulated. ~Lamartine
They could relate to each other easily, joking around and having a good laugh. They met regularly for outings with their clique. It seemed like they were set on course to a lifelong friendship but, alas, nothing should be assumed too quickly as fate has many cards to play; which fate did. That card was a girl in their clique which William’s friend had a crush on. However, the girl did not reciprocate his feelings, leaving him heartbroken and depressed. William lent a helping hand to his friend, assisting him in overcoming his feelings for her and, at the same time, talking to the girl and sorting things out.
However, William’s friend never stopped his feelings for her in spite of William’s efforts. To make matters worse, William and the girl began to develop feelings for each other during their talks which made the situation much more complicated. William finally decided to approach his friend with his relationship with the girl to clear matters up but, with the problem already as volatile as it is and with misunderstandings all over the place during the conversation, they stopped speaking to each other totally. They soon patched things up after for a long time but it was never the Sadness flies on the wings of the morning and out of the heart of darkness comes the light. ~Jean Giraudoux
same as before, where they could easily joke and socialize as close buddies. It’s now more of a friendly acquaintance situation, where they do only the necessary chatting and talking when their clique meets up.
William regrets not handling things better between them and wonders how things would be like if they cleared the air earlier on before they stopped talking to each other. If we must part forever, Give me but one kind word to think upon, And please myself with, while my heart's breaking. ~ Thomas Otway
Friendships are something that we acquire as we travel through this long adventure of life. It can be treasured or thrown aside with the other friendships one has. But it is something that takes plenty of effort to forge or even begin; yet, break-ups can be sudden and very quick...so quick that you won’t even have the time to question it until it’s too late. So think twice if you decide to simply walk away from a friendship problem. Sure, it can be restored with plenty of effort but it’ll never be the same again.
fashion By Teo Youliang IMAGE COURTESY OF MULTIFOLDS PHOTOGRAPHY
DRESS TO | IMPRESS
Everyone knows that clothes make a person, especially when it comes to first impressions. So, it’s no wonder that most of us pay special attention to our attire when we’re headed out with family or friends. Hence, here are a few refreshing tips to ensure you don’t end up with the wrong clothes on your first day in college!
| FITTING CLOTHES
RULE
#1
Always purchase clothes which fit you perfectly. You’d be surprised by how much an inch off from your size can be a noticeable difference to people around you! Why bother buying clothes that are half your size, when you can settle for a shirt that matches you perfectly?
| CLEAN CLOTHES
RULE
#2
Usually, the first thing people keep an eye out for during first impressions is how clean your clothes are! A rice grain on your collar conjures up the unflattering image of a glutton, while a wrinkle associates you with a lazy person. It doesn’t matter if your clothes come from the Armani Exchange, as long as it’s ruined by these small little details! So, do yourself and the world a favour and take a last look in the mirror before you leave your house.
| ACCESSORIES
RULE
#3
Not only do accessories add the final touch to an outfit and make it really stand out, they also lure attention away from the flaws of your current outfit, especially when they’re suitably matched with the outfit you’re wearing. However, wearing too much accessories may be unattractive to many; and instead of luring flaws away from your outfit, it screams them out loud to the world!
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| BE YOURSELF
RULE
#4
Of course, the rule which cannot be emphasised enough: be yourself when you pick an outfit! Fashion is one way to express yourself and what you love or despise, and stay unique from the billions of others around the world. On the other hand, that doesn’t mean that you should put on outrageous clothes just because you think that describes your wild side, but try to add your own personal touch to your outfit to signify who you are among your friends and family.
food&cuisine
..
PIGOUTWITH FRIENDS . . . Food Drink Laughter
By Teo Youliang
nEbO is not your ordinary cafe. It’s a cafe which is specially catered for youths with an interior design and hand-picked furniture and accessories that appeals to those young at heart. It’s also jam packed with entertainment systems like plasma televisions that allow patrons to play movie trailers or music videos while enjoying their food and internet kiosks for e-mail use and internet browsing while waiting for their orders! Places: • 4th level of E!hub @ Downtown East • AMK Hub, 53 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3, #04-02
Just Acia is a restaurant where you can not only score cheap but delectable Asian cuisine, but also have free-flow of various drinks and ice-creams with every set meal ordered! It’s the perfect spot to chill out and have long conversations or catch up while filling your tummies to the brim. The atmosphere is perfect for socializing and promises a memorable dining experience which will leave you wanting to come back for more with your friends in tow. Places: • Dhoby Ghaut MRT Station 11 Orchard Road #B1-45 • Downtown East 1 Pasir Ris Close #01-40 (The Alley) • Marina Square 6 Raffles Boulevard #02-05 (near Raffles Link bridge)
Pitstop blends the regular features of a cafe with one unique thing: board games. At this cafe, you get to challenge your friends to a variety of board games ranging from “UNO” to “Bop It” while enjoying their delicious delights! Don’t worry about being overwhelmed by the huge selection of games they have because they offer a wide variety to satisfy everyone in the group. The cafe promises a fun-filled day through its board games, as a form of escape from the tech-filled world. Places: • 14B Circular Road Singapore 049370
CATCH | 14
film
FRIENDLY ENTERTAINMENT!
By Aaron Mossadeg After a seemingly endless week of hard work, everyone looks forward to a glorious weekend of some well-deserved rest and relaxation with friends. But sometimes, those 2 beloved days don’t live up to the hype and you find yourself stuck at home because no one can think of anything fun to do! For such occasions, a simple chill out at a friend’s place can work wonders if the appropriate mood is set. For all of you who find yourself bored even at a friend’s place, here’s some of the best buddy movies, television shows and songs to chase away the Monday Blues! Or, if you’re a bookworm, we look at the Wall Street Journal’s pick for the 5 Best Novels on Friendship!
MUST-WATCH MOVIES
ALL
DUDE. WHERE’S MY CAR? After 2 decades, Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure still comes to mind when thinking of movies that have developed a cult following. The 1989 classic tells the tale of 2 metal-head stoners who travel back in time to assemble a collection of historical characters for their History presentation. Starring the lovable Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter as the duo, the movie also spawned sequels, TV series, comics and video games!
Starring Ashton Kutcher and Seann William Scott, the 2000 comedy flick recounts an unusual day in the lives of 2 carefree albeit half-baked slackers. It starts with the best friends suffering from a serious hangover and a lack of memory from the apparent wild night before. But to make matters worse, their car has gone missing and, along with it, their twin girlfriends’ anniversary presents! So, the pair sets out to find out what happened the previous night and rediscovers their unbelievable but forgotten adventure.
AMERICAN PIE
HAROLD AND KUMAR GO TO WHITE CASTLE
BILL AND TED’S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE
The 1999 movie is the first of the American Pie franchise which flaunts 7 movies and another slated for release in 2012. It revolves around 4 desperate virgins and their quest to lose their virginities before college. But, with the timehonoured promenade fast approaching, the friends realize it’s their best chance to do the No-Pants Dance and rush to make the necessary preparations for the special occasion with hilarious outcomes! American Pie stars Jason Biggs, Chris Klein, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Eddie Kaye Thomas and Seann William Scott.
While the hardworking Harold slaves away at work, Kumar wastes away his intelligence and potential to become a doctor by slacking off at work. After developing the “munchies” one marijuana-filled night, these stoners make it their mission to satisfy their craving for White Castle and experience friendship struggles, racist policemen, street punks and wild Koreans along the way in this bizarre night! The 2004 hit earned a sequel in 2008 with a 3rd installment expected in December 2011 also starring John Cho and Kal Penn.
HOT TUB TIME MACHINE In wake of a possible suicide attempt, 3 friends bring their depressed buddy on a road trip to Kodiak Valley Ski Resort where they spent their most memorable moments 30 years ago. But, after an unchained night of partying, they find themselves back in the 1980s. Amidst all the sex, drugs and rock n’ roll, the foursome embarks on their pursuit to travel back to the present and they realize they should never have drifted apart to their mundane adult lives. It’s easily one of the best comedies of 2010!
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television
TELE V I S I O N S H O W S By Aaron Mossad e g
the o.c.
F.R. I . E . N . D . S After 10 seasons and 236 episodes, Friends came to an end in May 2004 but remains a classic sitcom for 2 generations with its re-runs still broadcast around the world. Moreover, it’s amazing how successful the TV series is considering the fact that its plot is simple: 6 friends and their lives as average Americans in New York City! Friends stars Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt Le Blanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer who were each paid a million dollars per episode. Till now, it’s one of the best sitcoms to watch with your buddies.
H O w i m e t your mother Similar to Friends, How I Met Your Mother (HIMYM) depicts the lives of 5 best friends living in New York City and their eventful encounters on the road through adulthood. However, this beloved comedy revolves mainly around a hopeless romantic, Ted Mosby, as he franticly searches for his soulmate and narrates the episodes from the future. HIMYM first aired in 2005 and, by 2011, had 6 seasons with CBS renewing the contract with plans for another 2. For an entertaining night with your comrades, any episode of HIMYM is a gem!
After his broken family’s inevitable end, Ryan Atwood strikes gold when he’s adopted by the philanthropic Sandy Cohen and lives with the kind family in the Orange County amongst the wealthiest in America. But, he soon realizes even the glamorous and powerful lot have dramatic issues. The OC depicts the lives and friendships of the residents in California and mixes drama and comedy effortlessly; making it a spectacular TV series with 4 seasons and 92 episodes.
Entourage
SEX & T H E C I T Y After 6 seasons and 94 episodes in 2004, HBO’s Sex & the City finally ended but continued to please their wide, demanding fanbase with a 2 movies in 2008 and 2010. Yet again, the TV series is set in New York City and follows 4 middle-aged American women as they navigate through their lives as professional workers while tackling socially relevant issues like men, love and sex from a women’s perspective. Sex & the City’s lead actresses are Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon.
Based on the early experiences of Mark Wahlberg, Entourage documents the lives of 4 childhood friends as one of them hits the big time as a movie star. With their long friendship and fortune at the core of the TV series, it gives its audience a peek into the secret on-goings behind Hollywood where affairs like drugs, sex and relationships are rampant. Entourage also includes many cameo appearances from top icons in the industry. The 8-season HBO hit features Kevin Connolly, Adrian Grenier and Jeremy Piven as its main characters.
music
By Aaron Mossadeg Lean On Me – Bill Withers If you haven’t heard this golden oldie before, you must have been living under a rock all your life! Lean On Me was written and released in 1972 by Bill Withers and has since been one of the most iconic friendship songs. In fact, it’s ranked at No. 205 of the Rolling Stones’ 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time and was No.1 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
I’ll Be There For You – The Rembrandts Renowned for being the theme song of the hit TV series Friends, this wonderful number catapulted The Rembrandts to stardom and popularity. It’s well-deserved too since it never fails to make its listeners smile and was No.3 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 17 on the US Billboard Hot 100.
You’ll Be In My Heart – Phil Collins
You’ve Got A Friend – James Taylor Although this beautiful song was originally written and recorded by Carole King, it was made famous by James Taylor who released his version as a single in the same year! This 1971 success was No.1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart at its peak. Since then, this friendship anthem has been covered dozens of times by the most popular musicians of our time.
From the 1999 Disney animated film Tarzan, You’ll Be In My Heart is an Oscar award-winning song by Phil Collins that also peaked at No. 17 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 21 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Its sentimental and touching lyrics have surely brought tears to thousands across the world!
You’ll Never Walk Alone – Gerry and the Peacemakers Before you freak out at this Liverpool chant, take a step back to appreciate how lovely its lyrics really are! You’ll Never Walk Alone was first introduced in a broadway production but was subsequently rerecorded by several artistes including Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley. It also peaked at No. 1 on the UK Singles Charts in 1963.our time.
you're down and troubled “When and you need a helping hand, and nothing, whoa nothing is going right. Close your eyes and think of me and soon I will be there to brighten up even your darkest nights.
Today, most of us listen to music that is consisted of low-frequency sounds. This type of sound can have a negative affect on your brain and cause you to have a reverse affect than the high-frequency sounds.
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books
[[ BOOKS]] By Aaron Mossadeg
The Golden Notebook by Doris Lessing (1962) In this timeless piece, Doris Lessing addresses social issues like friendship, money, love, politics and sex through a glimpse at 2 years in the lives of divorcees; Anna Wulf and Molly Jacobs who met at the British Communist Party. Written as Anna’s diary, the novel also marks the end of Stalinism.
A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry (1995) Set in 1975 India, A Fine Balance places its readers in a world where men and women alike are victims of social and political oppression. However, its center is the friendship of 4 friends trying to maintain their tragically low standard of living through a sewing business; with the hope of a better life.
The Folded Leaf Crossing To Safety by William Maxwell (1945) by Wallace Stegner (1987) In 1920 Chicago, After a coinciden2 boys become tal night in 1937, 2 friends and are couples form an inseparable even enduring friendthrough college ship that will span untiltheir 34 years as they friendship’s meet annually in tested in unforeVermont for the seen ways. summer. In this William Maxwell, spell-binding tale, the fiction editor Wallace Stegner of the New examines human Yorker for 40 love, frailty and years, explores life expectations the complexity of through the examfriendship and ples of 2 unique loyalty in this relationships. haunting art.
The Group by Mary McCarthy (1963) The classic tells its audience about the journey of 8 Vassar graduates into adulthood and struggle with mid-life crisis. Mary McCarthy’s novel provides a commentary on issues relevant to women such as sex, love and class in a manner that earned its title of a New York Times Bestseller.
how is reading important? Nowadays, teenagers do not really read books. Be surprised at how important reading is! Aside from the personal growth and enjoyment derived from reading, it lets your imagination run wild. It empowers your mind and open many doors. In the past, slaves were rarely provided the opportunity to learn to read. This was to maintain a level of oppression. In some countries today, women and children are similarly stifled. Reading OPENS our minds, and provides educational opportunities otherwise unattainable. This can broaden and change our lives.
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sports
Ｕｐ Ｃｌ ｓｅ： Ｗｉｔｈ Ｄｉａｎａ ＆ Ｎｏｒｍａｎ skater
bros
trainers
Norman Wong and Diana Kaswadi, who became good friends through this sport. By Dionne Gan
19-year old Diana Kaswadi and 16- year “Basically, this whole job is about old Norman Wong may be three years friendship, because we definitely have apart, but they get along together just as to work with each other before we can well as with other peers of their own teach other people. Some of the students that have graduated still come age, maybe even better. With both a passion for skating, they got back and we are more than just teachto know each other through the com- ers to them, also friends.” pany, Singapore In-line Skating Train- From time to time, they also organize ing Centre, where they have been work- gatherings and picnics where the trainers would bring their family ing as part-time trainers. So, how did they have their first members and friends along. Sleeping over and pigging out at encounter with each other? “It took one the training centre is “We met at Pei Hwa Presbyterian and were thrown hour of lesson also something they are together to teach the students to build a year used to doing. “We are just like a there. It only took one hour of friendship.” family and we treat this of lesson to build a year of place like a second home.” Diana friendship.” Diana recalls the incident explains. with a smile. It has been three years since Diana For Diana and Norman, even though joined the company while Norman has they have only known each other for barely a year, they have already estabonly hopped onboard last year. When asked how they would describe lished something that is not easy … Chemistry! their relationship with each other, Diana, sporting a short cropped Diana described their chemistry with hairstyle answered cheekily: “We’re one of their daily work incidents, “Sometimes, before something goes just like brothers!” And yes , these ‘brothers’ seem to be on wrong, I take a look at him, and he such good terms that they are constantly knows.” Well, with such understanding teasing and making fun of each other, and chemistry of each other, how long but all in good humour. Other than the do they think their friendship will last? two of them having such close bonds, “It depends!” was the simultaneous they also get along extremely well with replies I got, before both of them burstthe other trainers. Other than teaching ing into laughter. in-line skating, their job scope also Well, I guess that explains the includes being trainers for camps. Some question, doesn’t it? of the camps are held overseas- and requires strong teamwork between
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trainers and students. 19 | CATCH
CENES
THE S BEHIND
We also had some fun trying out in-line skating! Just look at our faces, don’t we look so happy?!
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tech
TIPS ON becoming an
ONLINE Social Magnet By Dionne Gan
Don’t have a social life? Are you an amateur when it comes to making friends online? With social media being the new evolution in today’s world, we know how important it is for you to have a healthy online social life! Well, not to worry, because we have 5 tips to transform you from a disconnected nerd to a social media cool kid!
o1. CHOOSE YOUR NETWORKS WISELY.
Amongst dozens of social networking sites, how do you choose which one you want to join? Well, the key word would be objective. If your purpose is to make new friends or to connect with old friends, then you should probably join Twitter or Facebook since sites like Wikispace and YouTube are better used for sharing information and videos. However, don’t be too greedy either! Join a few rather than too many so that you can easily keep tabs.
o2. FIRST IMPRESSIONS!
You know how they say first impressions are always important? Well, it’s true! The same goes to social sites. Before you start adding friends or joining any interest groups, select a nice profile picture of yourself. Also, fill up your profile information with as much information as possible so that people have a better idea of you.
o3. SELECT YOUR FRIENDS CAREFULLY.
Other than adding your own friends, it’s always better to be cautious when it comes to adding new friends! It’s better to add people who have the same interests as you so that you can connect with them easily. They would also be more likely to accept your friend requests. But, be wary of that random fellow that added you even though you both have nothing in common whatsoever!
o4. STAY ALIVE!
Other than regularly updating your own status and profile, commenting regularly on your friends’ status and updates also lets them know you care about what’s going on in their life. Or, at the very least, lets them know that someone still looks at their profile. However, beware of overdoing it because no one likes a spammer! Don’t spam unnecessary posts or comments on someone’s page. It just pisses everyone off.
o5. SHARE QUALITY CONTENT.
When you want to share anything on your site, always ensure that it’s quality information. Not even your friends will want to waste time looking at boring and meaningless stuff! If the content you post is relevant and interesting, you will surely garner more likes and respect from your friends and also get more eyes on your profile or friends requests.
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advice I don’t have any experience for platonic friendships, but I know I definitely won’t tackle any guys who are already attached!
Since everyone today has an open mind, it is possible for the opposite gender to be just friends.
- shaun
- Yok Teng
We can be as close as brother and sister, but won't have sparks between us. Even if we do like each other, it's like the love for a sibling. There may be chances to fall in love, but the sparks don't happen all the time
-timothy
Boy meets girl. girl meets Boy.
Platonic friendships can exist because some girls are born with a male brain, which in turn allows them to bond with guys better naturally.
- Wei hao
Platonic friendships cannot exist, because sometimes the guy might end up falling in love with you.
- yan xin
Can they become the Best of friends? By Shermaine L au
We have no secrets between us and go to each other when we need advices. I guess I’ve an advantage here as I’m already attached so they naturally know it’s impossible to have any relationships with me other than being friends. It’s actually also pretty obvious to know if someone just wants to be your friend.
- Jasmine
Platonic relationships can exist. It's true that in many situations, friends fall for each other, but that doesn't mean that it applies for everyone.I have many guy friends, and most of them are quite close to me. What I have for them is something called trust, which is why they are close to me.
- rytha
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advice
CAN PLATONIC FRIENDSHIPS EXIST? If men are from Mars and women are from Venus , is there a possibility that they can become real friends? - By Shermaine Lau
My girlfriends and I had this conversation on the possibility of a genuine, platonic friendship between two genders. ALL of them said it was impossible because two people who get along really well will eventually fall for each other. When I asked them for a logical reason behind this overstatement, they just shook their heads and muttered: “It’s just impossible for you not to fall in love with someone who understands you and whom you understand really well”.
“We ALL, or most of us, have friends from the opposite gender whom we are really close to. Sometimes, we picture ourselves in a romantic relationship with our best friend. At least, I did that once but just the thought of it scares me. ”
Sure, we share the same vision and interests and we know each other inside-out. We are comfortable around each other, he burps aloud in front of me and I put my legs up on the chair. I am confident enough to say that we both know each other’s likes and dislikes and sometimes I think my best friend knows me better than I know myself! Being in a platonic friendship with my best friend is much more mystical and magical than being in a romantic relationship. It is something that not everyone can pull through without falling for each other. My best friend and I meet up every week and we have long, private heart-to-heart talks (HTHT). Many people have mistaken us for a couple before. Once, we were out shopping in Orchard Road when an interviewer from a
magazine approached us to talk about relationships for a Valentine’s Day issue. We were forced to take a picture together and the published photo caused many people to think that we were going steady. The possibility of a platonic friendship has been a debate for many years, with most debaters citing ancient friendships to explain that friendship between the two genders is impossible. According to the opposition, friendship is an element of the soul while the body is naturally attracted to the other half, and thus the physical attraction will transform friendship into a longing for a romantic relationship. This question was posed: Do we not live to seek for a mate to walk with us through our life? I kept wondering why I just couldn’t fall in love with my best friend. True enough, I do seek someone who can stay by my side for the rest of my life, but being in a romantic relationship with my best friend is out-of-question! We do love each other very much as friends but if there was something more, everything that we share would be so different. We would not have each other to ask for tips when it comes to relationships and there would be no one else to turn to for help if I ever got together with him. I wasn’t physically or romantically attracted to him, even though he is suave and charming. Dozens of girls have given chase before and I somewhat agree with his self-proclaimed ‘The Hottest Hunk’ title in his college. We do wrap our arms around each other
shoulders when taking pictures just like what we do with friends of the same gender. We share a lot on our ups and downs, and comfort, encourage and stand by each other. There is a lot of chemistry involved but not the kind of frequency that leads to love. When we were 15 years old, we played the famous ‘Truth or Dare’ game and he was dared to hug me from the back and to piggyback me. It wasn’t easy at all, there was this awkwardness and for that moment I feared it would trigger the ‘love’ button. Luckily, nothing explosive ignited. We remained as best friends and I am pretty sure we will still be best friends for life. I think if you genuinely want to keep a platonic friendship with the other gender, both parties have to make it clear from the start. Call your outings ‘walking exercises’ instead of ‘dates’ so that you do not give each other the wrong idea. My best friend and I can sit on the couple seat in the back of the theatre without feeling like lovers. We do keep our humour and jokes and tease each other, but it is important not to cross the dangerous line by ‘flirting’ and ‘leading the other party on’. We drink from the same straw and bite off from the same sandwich but of course, we do not feed each other. To further stress that we will never ever be in a romantic relationship, he takes me as his ‘brother’ while I will always call him my ‘sister’. We are both straightforward people and are realistic on what we want from the friendship. So the answer to the question that I asked at the start would be a definite ‘YES’. If men are from Mars and women are from Venus, they can be real friends if they are down to Earth. The writer has a male best friend for 10 over years.
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“Since we met Our friendship has grown While you’re in the world I will never be alone I feel blessed to have met Some one like you And to have found a friendship So special and true.”
Catch! Magazine
NanyangPolytechnic