And thus began 2009

Perhaps there is something in the air, but overall, 2009 feels significantly less intense than its predecessor.

Although it is certainly easy to say that when we're only 5 days in.

That said: Macau on shaky ground, Airfares dropping, New York real estate developers struggling in finishing and selling their overpriced developments?

I like this part of the economic downturn.

Let me put on my revolutionary cap for a second.

The fact is that the world was starting to get a little too stratified, people were beginning to isolate themselves from others in a blanket called entitlement. Now virtually everyone from every socio-economic class has started to realise that no one is immune. In other words, it's the chickens coming home to roost.

It may sound rather callous and cold to sing the praises of economic hardship, but it is not the hardship that I am praising it is the fact that the hardship has caused the world to re-evaluate priorities.

Of course not all is perfect in this new world--(Angela Bassett in Notorious, TD Jakes continuing to pollute the black movie industry and ghettoize talented actors)--but give it time.

Happy New Year from Hikaruland

I want to thank everyone who has ever stopped by here whether you lingered or stayed for just a little bit.

And I wish all of you out there a happy, exciting, and pleasing 2009.

Now this is a Corporate Holiday Greeting

Happy Holidays from Air New Zealand...

I don't think you'd see any US airline or corporation for that matter be this saucy in their greetings.

Happy Holidays, Palindrome

The 1,111th post at this corner of the Internet warmly wishes you a pleasant seasonal celebration.

A holiday thought:

The New Delta: Pan Am redux? I don't think so.

The Flying Roo Stole Christmas

Boy, does Qantas have its work cut out for them, at least in terms of public relations.

Today's latest shot to the heart (or pouch, as it were) is a story in the Sydney Morning Herald which discusses how Qantas lost 750 pieces of luggage on several very important routes, including London - Sydney. 

Ouch.

Eurovision 2009: Albania - What It Is and What It Nearly Was

Albania decided their Eurovision entry, and it seems the elfin-looking but deep-voiced Kejsi Tola won with a song that looks extremely difficult for non-Albanian speakers to pronounce. 

I think there's a fair chance of that song title getting translated before Spring.

 

Just 8 points separated Kejsi and 3rd placers West Side Family who sought to give Albanian rap its due. I'll let the visual and aural tell their own story.

At the other end of the spectrum was Soni Malaj who came in 16th with Zona Zero. Now she's pretty and can hold something approaching a tune, but I think she needs to shoot her choreographer as the Trampettes are upstaging her with some unintentional comedy.

Jukebox Videos of the Year: Act 2

So we have 6 remaining, so let's strike one off the list already. The lyrics are indecipherable (and I'd be willing to bet intentionally so), the orchestration is jarring and aggressive, the driving force of the duo shares my birthday...all indications were that capsule were going to take one of the spots of Jukebox of the year, but alas JUMPER didn't make that last jump to the top.

Now onto the second recipient of the Punctured Eardrum Award. Number Two is, and quite likely will always be judged as the PEA winner against whom all winners will be placed against. He didn't get the #1 slot because Ala/en got there first, but this guy is no tortoise. People, give it up for Kosuke Atari:

A very mellow eeeeeee for Mr. Atari.

Back to the main race, and it is time to elimate another two contenders. 

Oriental Funk Stew probably had a bit of a longshot at making it to JotY status, being so newly jukeboxed, but it was a valiant effort and I'd be willing to bet that they will make many more journeys there in times to come.

Appropriately that leads to another elimination, albeit from one of the older entries. Sadly, Jason Walker--like capsule--got very close to taking the top spots too.

He will also be a frequent visitor to the Jukebox if there is any justice in the video world.

Let's see who's left:

• Frau Peters
• DOUBLE & Namie Amuro
• Die Deutscher Boyz

Will it be a Teutonic sweep of the top? Nein.

Citizens, here are the first winners of Jukebox of the Year:

(the patience while buffering will be worth it)

It is only purely coincidental that the first ever winners happen to be on non-Youtube sites. 

It is not coincidental that they also happen to be the most fierce, kick ass, and all out performances. 

Coming within the fortnight: The Year That It Was On Here 2008.

Jukebox Videos of the Year: Act 1

In true awards style wherein the big awards are held out to the very end, so shall it be with Jukebox Videos of the Year.

That being said, at least the wait won't feel like decades have passed. (In fact, come here after midnight and it'll go by in no time at all.) 

Let's get the ball rolling with an award that as already been known, The Punctured Eardrum.

Sponsored by Hothands...because just buying a simple pair of gloves is too taxing on the brain.

The first recipient is Alan/Alen Hrzica.

And I finally realised who Ala/en reminds me of: Dermot O'Leary.

Was there some secret Anglo-Irish-Croatian dalliance in the past?

And now here are two nominees who are now sadly out of the running.

From the Danish Eurovision Retrospective:

From the late lamented* Thursday Jukebox SMAPs You Upside The Head:

* (damn dead video links)

Since it is Sunday morning, I won't make any innuendo surrounding TAKE OFF...Oh hell, performing a song with a refrain that goes "TAKE OFF!" while wearing skintight suits is very Chippendales-esque in execution even if that may not have been the intention. 

That leaves 6 entries still in contention: DOUBLE & Namie Amuro do the Ho Stroll,  Dem Deutscher Boyz, the Funk Stew from Korea, capsule's precient summary of the US election results, Jason "skinny white boys can sing house music dammit" Walker, and Ingrid...Frau Peters if you're nasty.

Tune in at 4 PM today for Act 2: Still Mike Woods-free and lovin' it!

A Belated Apology or How I learned to dress for the connecting city

I was reading a thread on Airliners.net about "Most annoying passengers" and they mentioned body odour. 

Well, I should take this moment to apologise to my seatmate on the delayed 1:55 pm flight from Atlanta to Milwaukee this past Friday evening, plus anyone who came close to me at Hartsfield-Jackson.

Here's the story:

I thought that a warm wool sweater (with no undershirt) was the perfect compromise between comfort and warmth, particularly I was going from one cold city to another with only a 70 minute stopover in a warm one. Well, as most of the US & Canada found out, pretty much the entire Upper Midwest was shut down and that 70 minutes stretched out to 7 hours...7 hours in wool in 70 degrees. 

It's jackets from here on in.

Fortunately it was not as grueling as Sugarbaker sisters flying to Japan.

Jukebox Video of the Year: Special Mention

The first ever Jukebox of the Year Special Mention must go to Japanese electropop princess Aira Mitsuki's GALAXY BOY.

Apart from being very catchy (and well produced), it does have a high degree of unintentional comedy due to Aira's slight lisp. 

Listen to the first 45 seconds and see how many scatological references you pick up.*

* I'll take a wild guess and assume that this is just due to mispronunciation.

GALAXY BOY first appeared during the The Grand Super Special 1000th Post Celebration back in September.

Quick Rave: KJ Denhert

We tend to be mostly about foreign music at this corner of the internet: Korean House, Italian electro-clash, German rap, whatever shape Eurovision takes in a given year. So let's switch gears for a moment and talk about *GASP* American music and artists.

KJ Denhert describes her music as Urban Folk & Jazz, which is a fusion I have never heard before, and apparently is not one I've really come across in other artists. She sounds somewhat like a cross between Sade (a Sade that allows herself to be happy) and Swing Out Sister with lyrical oomph. 

Her latest release is a live recording from the Umbria Jazz festival, where she opened for Alicia Keys. (Controversal opinion: I personally find Denhert more accessible than Keys, not to knock Ms. Alicia, but lyrically I get Denhert's easier.) One of the strongest tracks on it is actually the opener (intro aside), I Got Time which becomes rather poignant after a rousing start. Fortunately, the album keeps the momentum going. Hearing her sing He's Not Coming Home live has a certain punch to it for me. (The song itself has strong meanings to me recently with the whole move to Australia.) 

You can buy Dal Vivo a Umbria Jazz and Lucky 7 (her latest studio album) here. (She runs her own label, so I'll do my bit to steer traffc her way.)

It's Off!

Richard Branson can rest well, BA-QF is now not happening according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

The fiance thinks that perhaps that even in its tarnished state, Flying Roo didn't want to marry beneath themselves.

December 2008 Video Log: Part 1

The sudden flurry of snow makes me delighted (and gramatically challenged for a bit) ...



And then turns me into Veruca Salt with testosterone

The Flying Roo is a Slag

First they want to take the BA relationship to the next level, now they supposedly want to get just as close to Malaysia Airlines.

The funny twist here is that Malaysia Airlines is looking like Julia Roberts in My Best Friend's Wedding because Qantas isn't saying anything.

Airlines are truly soap operas.

BAQF: Bah Humbug

So says The Australian:

JP Morgan analyst Matt Crowe said consolidation would tend to transfer pricing power from consumers to airlines.

Consumers have probably benefited from having incredibly competitive aviation markets putting in more capacity at lower prices than you would optimally do, and consolidation is a way of reversing that trend, Mr Crowe said.

So say I.

Jukebox Videos of the Year: The Contenders

I truly can't believe it's December, it's like 2008 just started, although this has been a rather rough year for me, so I'm all for 2009.

Nonetheless, as befits these year-end retrospectives, here are the eight nominees (via the jury of one) for Jukebox Videos* of the Year:

* Yes, there will be two winners. This corner of the internet likes even numbers.

1. Ingrid Peters - Africa
2. capsule - JUMPER
3. Jukebox is a Funk Stew
4. The Danish Eurovision retrospective
5. German Rap Is A Different Animal
6. DOUBLE & Namie Amuro - BLACK DIAMOND
7. SMAP Us Upside The Head
8. Loving Jason Walker

Kosuke Atari & Alan Hržica will be given the Punctured Eardrum Award for bringing the EEEEEE! out.

The two winners will be announced later this week. Feel free to edge the jury one way or the other in the comments.

Contrary to the rumours circulating out there, Mike Woods will NOT be presenting.

Sunday Jukebox is a Funk Stew

Korea's Oriental Funk Stew that is, which has the honour of being the last (official)* jukebox of the year. As the name promises, funky house is always welcome at this corner of the internet.

* The Jukebox Videos of the year nominations will be announced by the jury of one later today. Any subsequent jukeboxes are valid for 2009...so says the jury of this one.

Here's his (it's pretty much a (very strikingly handsome) one-man team with guest vocalists) latest: Deep Inside of Love



And from earlier this year: Sweet Melody

Friday Jukebox Wants Sakis Rouvas

Remember him? He shook his thing in 2004, and was the sane part of the controlled anarchy that was Eurovision 2006.

Well, apparently when not chalking up Hugh Jackman type rumours, he's been working on a new album and got the nod to represent Greece next year in Moscow.

I have to say that his stage presence--which wasn't that bad in the first place--is even better, as evidenced by this stage attacking performance earlier this year.

The Flying Roo Takes Another Hit

...and it's a well-deserved one.

Qantas & BA are fined for price-fixing cargo.

I hope they start delving into passenger fares, because fares from the US (particularly East of the Mississippi) to Australia on Qantas are absolutely extortionate, to the point that it is nearly cheaper to fly via Europe than direct.

Sydney Can't Move

This is not exactly the sort of news I want to read 6 months before I move to Sydney.

Apparently, Sydney ranks behind Mumbai & Mexico City in terms of public transport.

Not being a fan of driving--and being very pro-mass transit in general--I will say that at least based on my own observations, no metropolitan area comes truly close to New York in terms of having a really effective transit system.*

* That doesn't excuse the MTA, nor the fact that the system itself needs serious upgrading.