What's Next for Keongomania Blogs

After the successful launch of the second complementary blog at LiveJournal called Speaking Silence of a Dream, what is next for the Keongomania Blogs? We look into its brief history and future plans in the blogosphere.

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BRIEF HISTORY

Started on 11 January 2006 (110106) as a Friendster blog with its pioneering entry Aftermath of the Days of White (left picture), the Keongomania Blog moved to its present Keongomaniac Khronicles Blogger location on 17 July 2007 (170707) with its first entry The Best Harry Potter Film So Far, a movie review for Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Recently on 21st February 2009 (210209), Keongomania Blog expanded to include a complementary LiveJournal. In order to maintain a sense of continuity, the Keongomania Awards is held every year in conjunction with the Blog's anniversay, its 3rd this year.

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EVOLUTION AND RECENT PROGRESS

The original Keongomania Blog in Friendster primarily discussed topics with focus on metaphorical expression. While there were also personal and entertainment-oriented entries, it became rather inaccessible to readers. Moving to the mainstream Blogger, the essence of the blog is still maintained though high-end metaphorical elements were abandoned in favour of personalised entries. With an inclusion of movie reviews, the Keongomaniac Khronicles entered a realm of infotainment (information + entertainment) and became increasingly so.

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This led to the opening of the Speaking Silence of a Dream LiveJournal which focuses more on the personalised thoughts. Developments are still underway on what direction the Keongomaniac Khronicles (main mother site for the Keongomania Blogs) would take, but it is most likely to retain its infotainment nature.

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RELINKING OLD FRIENDSTER BLOG

Efforts are now being undertaken to make available a link to allow access to the original Friendster Blog so as to preserve its heritage and Keongomania Blog's humble beginnings. It will allow other bloggers to visit the site and see how far the Blog has come thus far.

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PROPOSED MOVIES BLOG

More exciting development is also in store! Discussions are now underway for a proposed creation of another separate blog dedicated solely to movies tentatively called MovieXpose (depicted is the propsed logo). This blog would feature The Keongomaniac movie reviews (currently reviews are placed on the sidebar of the Keongomaniac Khronicles under "Keong at the Movies"). In addition to that it will feature other links to movie sites so that bloggers will be able to find out more about the featured movies. Other proposals in the site include DVD reviews, recommedations and upcoming movie trivias.

There are concerns that separating movies from Keongomaniac Khronicles could render the blog "pointless" to a point that the main site would lose its stature as the 'mother site' for the Keongomania Blogs franchise. On the other hand supporters of the separation feels it would make the main site more focus in information and entertainment without having to feature movies all the time. What say you? Help The Keongomaniac to decide, a blog poll would be opened for you to voice your choice!
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Sir Heath Wins Oscar!

Sir Heath Ledger finally won the much-deserved Best Supporting Actor in the 81st Academy Awards for his last role as The Joker in The Dark Knight. In doing so he is the first ever actor to win in the said category posthumously in the history of the Oscars, and only second to do so in an acting award. Sir Heath is also the fourth youngest winner ever as the Best Supporting Actor.

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Vote for Heath Ledger the Joker Campaign

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After the screening of The Dark Knight in 2008, The Keongomaniac led an online poll to support for Sir Heath Ledger's win called Vote for Heath Ledger the Joker Campaign in the Keongomaniac Khronicles blog. This generated an unprecedented 800 votes from the blogosphere, and it all finally pays off!

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Statuette Dispute

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Though there were some dispute as to whom the Oscar statuette would go to, Sir Heath's family decided that his 3-year-old daughter Mathilda Rose Ledger would own it, though she can only get full ownership upon her 18th birthday in 2023.

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Big winners at the 81st Academy Awards includes:

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8 awards: Slumdog Millionaire
3 awards: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
2 awards: The Dark Knight
2 awards: Milk

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In Haz Wayne's World, 2008 has already been declared the Year of Sir Heath Ledger for his majority 6 wins in the 3rd Keongomania Awards.

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Hazwayne opens LiveJournal

The Keongomania Blog has expanded its blogosphere with the opening of a new LiveJournal named Speaking Silence of a Dream. This complementary blog serves as a more personalised approach to enlightened thoughts, with primarily words to convey such expressions.

The Keongomaniac Khronicles remain as the Main Site for Keongomania Blog. A permanent link to the Speaking Silence of a Dream blog would be featured here (through the Hazwayne Label at the top right hand corner). Similarly, a link back to the Main Site would be made available at the LiveJournal site. For now, only entry updates for Keongomaniac Khronicles would be updated in Facebook.

LiveJournal users are invited to add hazwayne as their friend in LiveJournal.

To visit Speaking Silence of a Dream, click on the Hazwayne Label at the top right hand corner of this blogpage.
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3rd Keongomania Awards (Honorary Category)

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HONORARY CATEGORY
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This is the last of the categories in the Keongomania Awards. The Honorary Category houses the most prestigious recognitions in Haz Wayne's World, including the naming of the knights who are the Honourable Bearers of the Sword and Shield of the High King, the highest honour of it all.

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Honourable Title

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Haz Wayne's All-Time Favourite Fantasy (Book) Series

Unlike the Of-The-Year recognitions (in Blue Borders) which are specific to the year they are awarded, the All-Time honourable title (In Red Border) is a permanent recogntion, tailored for a particular entity. In 2007, the honourable title Haz Wayne's Greatest Villain of All-Time was conferred to Darth Vader from Star Wars.

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In this 3rd Keongomania Awards, C.S. Lewis's The Chronicles Of Narnia is honourably named Haz Wayne's All-Time Favourite Fantasy (Book) Series. Favoured since year 2000, the Narnia books were referred to as "Book of Priceless Gem". Highlight were given once again to the book series after the successful film adaptations The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) and Prince Caspian (2008).

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2007 Honourable Title, Haz Wayne's Greatest Villain of All-Time: Darth Vader

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Now We Humbly Present...

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Sword and Shield of the High King (Knighthood)

In 2008, the Sword and Shield of the High King knighthood is introduced to the Keongomaniac Khronicles. This is by far the highest honour in all of Haz Wayne's World. Those conferred with this award will be known as an Honourable Bearer, and given the title of Sir (or Dame for females).

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So far, the recipients of the Keongomaniac Lifetime Achievement Award (in Gold Borders) are honoured with the knighthood.

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Keongomaniac Lifetime Achievement Award

Sir Heath Ledger

A shocked Haz Wayne's World accelerated Sir Heath Ledger's knighthood in early 2008. Conferred with the Sworld and Shield of the High King merely a month after his untimely death, rumours have been rifed that it was Sir Heath's saddening demise that inspired the creation of a "high honour" in Keongomaniac Khronicles.

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While many have since questioned Sir Heath's eligibility in receiving the Keongomaniac Lifetime Achievement Award, his many great accomplishments as a very versatile actor and talented youth in an all-too-short a lifetime places him more than deserving in receiving Haz Wayne's highest honour.

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We humbly present

Sir Heath Ledger

Honourable Bearer of the Sword and Shield of the High King

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Keongomaniac Lifetime Achievement Award

Sir P. Ramlee and Lady Saloma Legend of the Malay film industry who was responsible for the great Golden Age of Malay Cinema in the Shaw Brothers studio of Jalan Ampas Singapore, Sir P. Ramlee (born Teuku Zakaria bin Teuku Nyak Puteh) was knighted after the illuminating P. Ramlee the Musical (by Malaysia's Enfiniti Productions) staged at the Esplanade in May 2008, in conjunction with his 35th death anniversary.

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Sir P. Ramlee was conferred the Keongomaniac Lifetime Achievement Award together with his wife the legendary Lady Saloma (Singapore-born Salmah Bte Ismail). She had been credited as Sir P. Ramlee's muse and musical inspiration, and thus instrumental in his successes. It is understood that Sir P. Ramlee primarily receives the knighthood, which means Lady Saloma (as his wife) also receives the customary honorary title of "Lady", instead of "Dame". Nonetheless the award is conferred to both of them simultaneously.

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We humbly present

Sir P. Ramlee and Lady Saloma

Honourable Bearers of the Sword and Shield of the High King

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Keongomaniac Lifetime Achievement Award

Dame Audrey Hepburn

One of Hollwood's greatest and most beautiful actresses of all-time, Dame Audrey Hepburn is thus the first female to be fully knighted in Haz Wayne's World. An icon of her times and of the Golden Age of Hollywood, Dame Audrey is best remembered for her pioneering role in Roman Holiday (1953) and Breakfast At Tiffany's (1961). She is one of the few people who have received an Academy, Emmy, Grammy and Tony award, the four major entertainment awards in American show business.

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In her later life, she dedicated herself as the UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, and has gone to Ethiopia, South and Central America, Vietnam and Somalia among others. For her humanitarian efforts, she was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1992. In Haz Wayne's World, it is interesting to note that Queen Natalie (Portman) who rule the movies has been noted by some as reminiscent of a "young Audrey Hepburn", and has almost similar features.

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We humbly present

Dame Audrey Hepburn

Honourable Bearer of the Sword and Shield of the High King

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3rd Keongomania Awards Summary

3rd Keongomania Awards Highest Winners

Thus with the majority of 6 wins in totally, including the honorary Keongomaniac Lifetime Achievement Award, The Keongomaniac henceforth declares:

2008

the Year of Sir Heath Ledger

2007: Year of Harry Potter

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3rd Keongomania Awards (Literary Category & Misc)

LITERARY CATEGORY

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Keongomaniac Book of the Year The Keongomania Awards Literary Category is very much still under preliminary stages. Proposals are under way to further refine this category, to include separate Fiction and Non-Fiction recognitions. This year the Keongomaniac Writer of the Year recognition is not included for lack of contenders.

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Sir Heath's first book-length biography titled Heath Ledger: His Beautiful Life And Mysterious Death written by British journalish John McShane is named the Keongomaniac Book of the Year. It chronicles Sir Heath's acting career before and in Hollywood with references to all his movies productions. This is considered Sir Heath's 3rd win, not including The Dark Knight's wins as a movie.

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Philip Pullman's second book in His Dark Materials trilogy (first was Northern Lights, also known as The Golden Compass) The Subtle Knife receives a Special Mention. His Dark Materials was expected to win Book of the Year, but unfortunately the purchase of the last book The Amber Spyglass was disrupted for unspecified reasons.

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2007 Keongomaniac Book of the Year: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

2007 Keongomaniac Writer of the Year: JK Rowling

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MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORY

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Keongomaniac Past Year Commendation

This is the newly-introduced Keongomaniac Past Year Commendation (the only non-Of-The-Year recogniton in a Miscellaneous Category). This recognition is created to allow entities that were not given recognition in its year (for any reason whatsoever) to be acknowleged the following year. Usually this applies to the Music Category, where competition are stiff with a large number of competitors. Seen by some as a 'make-up' recognition, The Keongomaniac states it clearly that winners of this recognition is of equal status as any Keongomania Award winners.

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Maroon 5's It Won't Be Soon Before Long is given the Keongomaniac Past Year Commedation. If measured by the Keongomania Awards standards, this album now stands equal to winners of the Keongomaniac Album of the Year (i.e Justin Timberlake's Futuresex/Lovesounds and Mariah Carey's E=MC2).

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Songs wise, 3 songs are noted - Any Winehouse's Back To Black, Young Folks, and Shut Up and Drive by Rihanna. All 3 songs are given re-recognition due to Gossip Girl Season 1's popularity.
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3rd Keongomania Awards (DVD Category)

DVD CATEGORY

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Keongomaniac DVD of the Year

In this year's 3rd Keongomania Awards, DVDs have unto them a Category to themselves. Out of the 53 DVDs purchased by The Keongomaniac in 2008, The Dark Knight DVD and The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian DVD were singled out to be co-winners of the Keongomaniac DVD of the Year. The recognition is considered by some as definitive since The Keongomaniac is an ardent DVD collector.

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Both The Dark Knight and Prince Caspian have already won high recognitions in the Movies Category. This win is The Dark Knight's fourth win, while a third one for The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.

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2007 Keongomaniac DVD of the Year: Transformers

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Keongomaniac Classic DVD of the Year

Fashioned in a similar way as the Keongomaniac Classic Album of the Year, this new Keongomaniac Classic DVD of the Year recognition is given to none other than the iconic Breakfast At Tiffany's (1961) from the time of Hollywood's Golden Age. This DVD would pave the way for more exposure to Hollywood legend Dame Audrey Hepburn (first female to be fully knighted by The Keongomaniac with The Sword and Shield of the High King in late 2008).

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Keongomaniac DVD Box-Set of the Year
Another first-time recognition, the Keongomaniac DVD Box-Set of the Year acknowleges the contributions of DVD box-sets in Haz Wayne's World (usually in the form of TV series or sitcoms) as a medium of alternate satisfaction.

Being such an influential force in Haz Wayne's World with its introduction, the Gossip Girl complete first season DVD more than warrants the award. Looks like the XOXO was enough to single-handedly beat all 5 seasons of Smallville box-sets, a rare occurance where Superman is involved! Dirty Sexy Money first season was considered for Special Mention but the idea was later abandoned.

Keongomaniac Concert DVD of the Year
This unique recognition seems to stand on its own, since it is the only concert DVD contested. Due to this The Keongomaniac has been accused to deliberately lobbying wins for Mariah Carey, the Queen who has been highly-tipped to gain most recognitions in this 3rd Keongomania Awards. Customarily the entity that gets the most Keongomaniac Recognitons (i.e the Of-The-Year titles) would have the year named after it, just like year 2007 was named The Year of Harry Potter (Harry Potter received the most wins of 4 recognitions).

Believe it or not this is Queen Mariah's unprecedented fifth win in this 3rd Keongomania Awards so far.
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3rd Keongomania Awards (Music Category)

MUSIC CATEGORY

Keongomaniac Songs of the Year

There has been major changes in the Keongomaniac Songs of the Year recognition. In 2007, after some changes, only 3 songs are named as Songs of the Year plus 1 Overall Song of the Year. Controversy surrounded Beyonce's songs Listen and Irreplaceable as both were named as a Song of the Year separately.

This time however, 17 songs in total are honoured in the 3rd Keongomania Awards as Keongomaniac Songs of the Year, including the Overall Song of the Year and a non-English Song of the Year. Separately, 2 songs are given Special Mention, just as Elliot Yamin's Wait For You was given in 2007.

For the first time, Leona Lewis and Jason Mraz receives 2 Keongomaniac Songs of the Year each. Indonesian band ST12's PUSPA is recognised as the first-ever Non-English Song of the Year, while Mariah Carey's I'll Be Lovin' You Long Time is named Keongomaniac Overall Song of the Year.

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2007 Keongomaniac Overall Song of the Year: Rehab (Amy Winehouse)

2007 Keongomaniac Songs of the Year: Irreplaceable (Beyonce), The Sweet Escape (Gwen Stefani feat. Akon), Beautiful Girls (Sean Kingston)

2007 Special Mention For Keongomaniac Song of the Year: Wait For You (Elliot Yamin)

Keongomaniac Album of the YearPerhaps as of no surprise to anyone in Haz Wayne's World, Queen Mariah's latest album E=MC2 wins the Keongomaniac Album of the Year. Interestingly Mariah Carey has also been named a co-winner of Keongomaniac Female of the Year, which echoes Justin Timberlake's win as Keongomaniac Male of the Year and Album of the Year in 2007.

In a part from tradition, Mariah Carey's I'll Be Lovin' You Long Time from this album is named Keongomaniac Overall Song the Year. Usually the songs from the Album of the Year are not considered for Songs of the Year.

2007 Keongomaniac Album of the Year: Futuresex/Lovesounds (Justin Timberlake)

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Keongomaniac Classic Album of the Year

Clearly dominating the Music Category and possibly the 3rd Keongomaniac Awards, Mariah Carey is given yet another recognition with her compilation Greatest Hits album as the Keongomaniac Classic Album of the Year. This album is one of the first CDs owned by The Keongomaniac.

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2007 Classic Album of the Year: Whitney Houston Greatest Hits

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Keongomaniac Music Video of the Year

A recognition newly introduced in this year's Keongomania Awards, the Keongomaniac Music Video of the Year is won by Britney Spears's Womanizer. A catchy song and irresistable music video which seals Princess Britney's comeback, Womanizer is a testament to her potential and return to her royal status in Haz Wayne's World. Similarly too, Womanizer is not considered for Song of the Year given it has won Music Video of the Year.
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