Shahridzuan Azali

Burning Roses Under The Silhouette

2012-01-29T02:05:00.001+08:00

Roses of red they write the dreams

Blooming in silence when the sunlight dims

The scent so strong but yet so far

Leaving a longing in the form of a scar

Violets of blue growing in the garden

But all he sees is a lonely burden

He burns the roses under the silhouette

Wishing for the ashes to not make him sad

Statement.

2012-01-20T23:22:00.000+08:00

I am sick of being criticized for being such a failure at handling stress. I am sick of being the underdog when I compare myself to my friends and I am so so so so sick of feeling like a loser.

Hmmm....feels pretty good to get that out of my chest. Years ago, I would have probably never come around to posting this but now, I don't see why I shouldn't. Blogs are created for self-expression (among other reasons, of course) and if I am too afraid to do that, might as well just shut it down.

Recently, I've been dwelling on endless thoughts about the future. Of where I am now and where I want to be and have yet to reach. I constantly think of the past and how I messed up what could have been the key towards success. I regret being too afraid to try, playing too much on the safe side, thinking too much and being too negative.

I'm pretty sure if I looked at things in a different way, the tough times would not have been too tough and my failures may just have been my triumphs. But now, it's too late. At the risk of sounding cliche, I can't change the past, can I? But there's always something good out of something bad. The silver lining, they call it. And I might have just discovered that or rather about to, I hope.

I'm frustrated. Yes. I. Am. Looking around at the successes of my friends, I can't help but hit myself on the head. I guess it's my inferiority complex but who cares? It ticks me off! So here's my vow.

I will no longer pay too much attention to what others think of me. That would just stop me from even trying for the things I want. I am just going to do it...like Nike. Forget about thinking too much...it does nothing but messes with my mind. And I am going to toughen myself up so as to not break down as easily as I used to when the going gets tough. I've broken one too many times and enough is enough.

I am going to be OK with failures and criticism but what I am NOT going to be OK with is my old self. It's about time to kick that person out of my life. Fine to start slow but progress is what's important. I don't care if this post makes no sense because I need to put my thoughts into words for them to be transformed into actions.

Finally.

The Bliss of Not Knowing

2011-11-20T14:47:00.001+08:00

Photo Credits to Omega208

I opted not to put the title as "Ignorance Is Bliss" because apart from being a cliche, it doesn't quite precisely sum my thoughts in a nutshell (another cliche). What is with headlines anyway? It's always quite a task to come up with them...

Life is the biggest inspiration for me. Ingredients for my writing content comes from life as whole, or as bits and pieces. Little occasions trigger me to write an entire post. Big events prompt me to write a novel (which sadly never makes to the ending). And this is yet another one of those cases.

While it is always a good thing to discover new stuff in life - friends, jobs, clothes, etc... sometimes those so-called blessings could take a reverse and hit you hard. Sucks...I know...but logically true if you ask me.

Relationships

I recall a number by Westlife, "You Can't Lose What You Never Had". Similarly, you won't miss what you never knew. That's precisely my point. There will be no crying over spilt milk if you had no milk in the first place (OK. Mind clear off any cheesy thoughts please). Relationships work wonders if they blossom into a happy ending. But what happens when they don't? I reckon there's no need for me to explain that. And I'm not only talking about love. I mean anything. Ties among friends, lovers, neighbours...all kinds of relationships.

When you get too attached with someone, and it ends up that you lose him or her, man does that hurt! Imagine not knowing that person in the first place. That would spare you the heartache, wouldn't it? I don't mean to discourage building nice, loving relationships. This is not a post for tips or an anti-social movement. Just a mere self-expression.

I guess that just adds one more irony to life. It is impossible to feel satisfaction and happiness without someone beside us. It is impossible to feel loved without someone to love us. Yet, that very someone could be the one who nabs the whole magical feeling he or she once given you. Irony takes a toll sometimes and we have just got to learn to deal with it.

Awful, awful secrets

This one is less of a personal-impact type. More of a I-don't-want-to-know type. Keep this is mind as you read along. CONSCIENCE. The part of us which keeps us from doing anything stupid, wrong and unacceptable. Living in this world, we are bound to share. And people are bound to share some of their secrets with us. Here's an entirely made up scenario which, I hope, paints a vivid picture of my point.

Two best friends. Guy A is an "angel". Guy B is a jerk cum murderer. The latter kills a woman and confesses to Guy A. The "angel" knows that it is obligatory to report his best friend to the police. Hold on. OBLIGATORY??? It's a crime to have knowledge of a crime and not reporting it. It is a bigger crime to know who did the crime and not report the crime...and the criminal.

So Guy A curses in his heart. If only his best friend kept his gory secret to himself, Guy A would have been able to carry on with his life smiling. Now, he has to decide whether to do what's right and lose his best friend to the prison bars or whether to stay silent and be in a prison of his own.

That happens in our lives you know. Though maybe a murder case was slightly over the top for an example. But yeah. Sometimes, we wish that we are spared some secrets of others just so we don't need to carry the burden with us.

Now I'm angry

A rather similar case. Have you heard of the expression "what he doesn't know wouldn't hurt him.."? Sometimes, what we don't know wouldn't hurt us. It could be a big lie our best friend has been keeping from us, say... he has been screwing with your girlfriend. Yes, not knowing means you're as dumb as a monkey (monkeys are not dumb actually). But isn't it better to be dumb and happy than to be aware and angry and hurt? You do the math.

There's probably no solution to this...issue? Life is such. We just got to deal with. Got to...

My Letter to Editor

2011-11-19T00:10:00.001+08:00

Just a post on my letter to editor which was published in the Sun Daily newspaper:

Rectify flaw in Kedai Rakyat

Posted on 15 November 2011 - 05:05am

I REFER to “Kedai Rakyat 1 Malaysia products not cheap” (Nov 10), which reported that not all products at the outlet are as cheap as they are claimed to be.

This can be a halt to the government’s efforts to provide affordable goods to citizens. It is disappointing to find that some hypermarkets are offering products at cheaper prices.

No doubt Kedai Rakyat do have goods which are cheaper than other shops, but this latest discovery has somewhat distorted the ideal behind Kedai Rakyat.

It should not be an issue if certain products have prices equivalent to, or as per the report, higher than items sold at hypermarkets. However, such details should be made clear prior to the launching of Kedai Rakyat so as to avoid criticism.

Despite that, the concept still remains a sound solution to helping consumers shop for less expensive groceries. Now that doubts have been raised over the prices, action needs to be taken to rectify the flaw before consumers lose faith in what could be a more frugal way of living.

The obvious step to be taken is to revise the prices, coinciding them with the RM40 million government subsidy provided for the Kedai Rakyat. An explanation on the price differences between Kedai Rakyat and hypermarkets is also vital in restoring consumer confidence.

Shahridzuan Azali
Shah Alam

Career Advancement

2011-11-11T21:04:00.001+08:00

Photo Credits to Baggage Point

Today's khutbah (sermon) delivered something which, in one way or another, gives me comfort in taking things slow as I strive to build my career. We are creatures of habit, be it petty, everyday behavior or huge, bizarre actions. We are slaves to what we have been doing over the past decade.

That's probably why it's always a rat race when it comes to climbing to the top of the working realm. Reporters fight to be the best. Lawyers battle one another to be highly in-demand. Hell, every job in every corner of this world is bound to be a pit for rivalry. The only difference is the degree of that competition. We all keep pushing to be the best and be given the best position in the company. The higher the position, the higher the pay and the better we feel. That's the common philosophy.

The khutbah may not have totally changed how I view the career world but it has certainly got me thinking. Those who attended the session were advised to not demand for job promotions. Instead, accept them with an open heart when offered. With promotions come the responsibility to account for both success and failures.

If we demand for career advancements, there will be hurdles ahead. However, if we work hard and vow to give our all when given those advancements, without us asking for them, God will help us through the hardship. That was what I understood from the Friday's piece.

To a certain extent, it shed some light and eased some of my concerns. Given that I am still in the phase of establishing a stable career to garner, as most people put it, a bright future, that small bit of advise is pretty relevant. Looking around me, friends getting rather high salaries and on-the-go jobs, I sometimes doubt my capabilities. Am I not as good as my friends? Will I be able to craft the future I have always dreamed of? Will I be able to advance in my career? The questions can go on and on.

But now, I'm thinking...perhaps I should seek comfort in the sermon's words. Focus on performing better at work. As cliche as it sounds, hard work pays off. Rather than worrying about faring with my friends, why not spare my energy on something more beneficial, say my own job? That makes total sense but again, it's in the human nature to feel inferior to someone else's achievements. Plus, I think I have inferiority complex. Sigh... Besides, why distort the happiness I am experiencing with my current job simply because of my silly confidence crisis?

So much so, maybe we should stop worrying too much about getting to the top of the organizational structure. It's always good to count our blessings than to count the blessings which we have yet to get. Personally, I'm still working on doing that. Career advancements will come when the time comes. Just a thought...

Got me checking my watch

2011-10-30T01:35:00.002+08:00

Photo Credits to 80millionmoviesfree

When my friend asked me to watch this movie, I thought it was going to be a love story. You know, given that Justin Timberlake is considered a hottie by many girls, I sort of assumed so. Turned out I was wrong and I am not the slightest bit sorry. In Time is surely a movie worth watching - for its originality and out-of-the-box idea. Plus, it has a realistic message hidden behind the creative concept.

A little background

You know how rich people are always portrayed as being to buy nearly anything in life? This movie underscores that myth, perception and what not in a rather interesting way. As far as In Time is concerned, time is life and life is time. People live by the minute and they have these born-with clocks on their hands, representing the minutes, hours, months, years or decades left before the clock turns zero. When it does, life ends!

I applaud Andrew Niccol for coming up with such an idea. Who would have though that time, and I mean it literally, could be the currency in life? The characters live on a day-to-day basis, working for extra minutes. They pay bus fares with minutes and hours, people rob each other for more living years...Really, you've got to watch it to understand it.

It's time to watch our clocks

Creativity isn't the only element which makes In Time a good movie. Again, Niccol should be applauded for his critical analysis of the ugly reality in life and how he weaves it into a great movie. Having lots of money gives us the privilege to buy all the things in the world. In the movie, the rich get to live for eternity, so long they keep topping up their clock minutes at the expense of the poor. Timberlake, who plays Will Salas, vowed to change the entire clock system for the better after his mother timed out (again, you need to watch the movie to understand the term - it really makes sense).

The message is simple. Money does not mean everything. While it can craft a luxurious life, happiness does not necessarily come along with it. Like in the movie, the daughter (played by Amanda Seyfried) of an extremely rich man with a million years, wasn't truly happy despite that her father was practically an immortal. Translate this into our very own lives. If we work like hell, to earn that extra million Ringgit, but we don't have the time to spend it, wouldn't that just be a waste? Wouldn't that be a life of no quality? A life with cash value but not value at its ideal form...

I still think money is important, don't get me wrong. But I am also of the notion that only when quality life comes with money will cash be truly ours. So much so, have a thought and while at it, go watch In Time. LOLS! If you would excuse me, I've got other stuff to do for now. I don't have all the time in the world. Tik Tok! Hahaha...

Change is good, but not always...

2011-10-15T22:27:00.001+08:00

Change is constant. From seconds to minutes, minutes to hours, hours to months and yada yada yada. It's the human law to applaud changes for the better and despise those for the worse and I couldn't agree more. We're given the luxury to choose to change and to decide how we want to change. Yes, amid the richness of options in life, some struggle to remain stagnant, poised in the current position without the slightest desire to make even the smallest of differences.

I'm intrigued and frustrated at this ability we all have - to change into a better person, into someone who appears to be forgetting the roots or to refuse to change. A guide book with regards to this matter would serve us all good, I reckon.

Photo Credits to Career Hub

Success changes people

Any degree of success or something accomplished can make us change. If we used to be so timid that we refuse to speak to anyone in the classroom, being able to speak one full sentence to one classmate might be a great achievement. And that may result in two possibilities:

We could begin thinking that nothing is impossible with confidence.
Or... we could also start getting cocky... we would speak more and more everyday. Soon, we would turn into a world-class debater and when that happens, God knows... we might totally forget about the person in the silent bubble we once were. Soon, we could be laughing at another timid girl or guy. Because we simply forget about being in those very same shoes.

Success is good. We live to be successful. We go great miles just because of the possibility of being successful. And progress suggests such accomplishment. Progress may motivate us into striving for greater heights.Unfortunately, progress can make us, unknowingly, act like we are better than some of those around us.

My philosophy is simple. It's fine to think that we have an advantage over others. In fact, it may be good to think that way because optimism launches us to great lengths. But I'm a little less cool about people who, at times, change from this simple guy into someone who appears to be a little cocky at times. While the perception of the change remains subjective, I find it not so commendable.

Being constant can be a pain too

Yes, changing from good to bad or bad to worse is a big NO-NO. But refusing to change when change is really needed is also a pain. Bad habits should be thrown away. And by habits I mean anything. The one example I have in mind is the habit of lame cover-ups.

I really am not a fan of those who initiate a situation in which it could reveal his or her embarrassing whatever. When the scenario is triggered, being afraid of letting the cat our of the bag, the person uses a cover up tactic which does little to mask the truth. Even worse, it makes the truth that much more obvious. Years pass by but still, the person sticks to that habit. No change.

Long story short, change is like the river. A slow shift of tide brings calm to the senses as we listen to the smooth-flowing water. But a sudden current change means raging splashes along the bank, a rather worrying event. Human change is not that different. Don't you think so?

Good memories don't necessarily make you happy

2011-09-26T20:40:00.002+08:00

If you think that images of the past which make you smile or laugh are good memories, you may be right, you may be wrong because that's not always the case. While good memories can make your day, they can bring you down to tears, or push the button on your life that's already not going so well, or simply make you feel so damn frustrated.

I define good memories as those which I can hardly forget. Be it heart-wrenching yesterdays or joyful past. So long I have them glued to my mind, they are good memories. Because why else would I remember them if they are nothing more than a piece of junk?

I've always been afraid of opening up in my writing and perhaps that's part of why I am still where I am. Unpublished. So, I reckon it's about time I at least try to put some honesty in my writing (not that I have been a total fake all this while). For a start, here's an anecdote...

This is one of my memories which, unexpectedly, came greeting when I didn't quite expect it. I was on my way home from work, in the car, listening to the radio. It was a segment during which callers ring up the DJ to talk about their dilemmas, problems...whatever. So this guy called up and said that his girlfriend is breaking up with him but she wants to remain best friends. He sounded upset...like duh! But whatever, his problems are the least of my concern.

What moved me was that his story triggered a distant memory of my own. Back in high school, I used to date a girl. Probably monkey-love. I don't know for sure. But even up to this day, after being in relationships a few times (not too many though), she's still the freshest in my mind. Does that mean that I still like her? Or that I have feelings for her? Only God knows. And that's bitter sweet, come to think of it.

You see, on one side of the story, I can proudly say that I used to date her. She was attractive to my eyes then, and she is even more attractive now. On the not-so-cool side, she's no longer mine. And unless the scripts of life have been written in such a way where we'll get back together, the two of us can only be friends, really close friends at the most. And now that I'm still single, reliving the memory is not exactly honeymoon, if you get what I mean.

So that's my point. That memory is a good one. It left a mark in my life and made my past that much more interesting. But it also reminds me of how ignorance or immaturity can cause us to lose something that we might later miss. Memories are so subjective, as is this life. How I wish there's a pause or rewind button. Wouldn't it be great to relive our memories? Yes, it would but it's impossible...

As movies have their own soundtrack, here's one for this post...

If you don't watch your mouth...

2011-08-08T20:58:00.002+08:00

Photo Credits to One Year Bible Blog

FYI, this is the second time I'm writing this entry because, much to my frustration, I had it all churned out yesterday when the server failed and the auto save failed to function. Arggghhh!!

Moving on. I can't stress it enough that we ought to learn to control our mouths. If it operates 24/7, there's bound to be occasions when what we say would trigger the bomb in other people. In translation - people would get mad.

Uttering comments whenever we feel like it, criticizing others, complaining around the clock...that's plain idiocracy, not democracy. You see, doing that would affect how others act. Some may move in secrecy just to avoid being judged upon, even if the action is of one's ultimate right. Forget world peace, even our personal actions are bound by the laws of stereotype and perceptions. Why so? Aren't our actions, when nothing unlawful is involved, completely ours? Why should we stop doing something simply because that freaking someone would bitch about it? Probably because we are afraid of losing our temper. Reasonable enough, but still it deprives us of our freedom to act on our own intentions.

Things talkative people say that makes us feel like punching them in the face

Judging one's friends

This is such a bummer. Since when do we have the right to judge other people's friends without having the right grounds? Jumping to conclusions, criticizing the friend of your friend, or the friend of a stranger...what a pain in the ass right? Here are some of the words uttered in such occasions:

"Oh your kawan, kecoh giler!"
"Why dia tak drive sendiri? Kenapa u nak kena amik dia pulak?"
"Bla bla bla"

Unless you're being dragged into the situation involving the person's friend, you ought not to comment or judge that person. Just...how do I put it..?? Well,just shut up!

Commenting on one's choice of actions

Another bummer. God created human beings as unique individuals. No two people can think 100% alike and therefore, preferences differ. So, for the love of God, stop criticizing actions of others simply because we would do it differently. I'm talking about occasions when it's none of our concern. To put it simply, don't be a kaki kepo. If one wishes to use that certain short cut to get to point A, but you normally use another route, and one is the driver, shut the gap. Don't be a jerk. Let the driver decide. Speak only when you're spoken to.

I have a lot more to say and the list could go on and on. But since I'm too frustrated as my initial post was gone with the wind, I'll stop here. My point is simple. Respect others. Giving advice is fine but criticizing for the sake of criticizing, that's being a nuthead. So, know when to shut up and when to speak. Don't be a talking machine which people would be more than happy to smash. Learn to shut up. There. As polite as I can be.

Fluidity

2011-07-26T22:00:00.006+08:00

Photo Credits to NewNatureWallpaper

Fluidity

We are not stupid but yet so clueless

We smile and smile and get so careless

The sun won't shine to keep us satisfied

It goes away when comes the night

Trails of joy are indeed magical

But one snap and it turns tragical

Our hearts...they are bombs of emotions

They give no clues for multiple transitions

The river is strong for the current it brings

We sit by the bank wishing we had wings

When the flow shifts from North to West

We stand up and leave, forgetting the rest

Scripts in movies they change so often

We wish to direct but the plot seldom soften

At times it eases but sometimes it sours

Leaving us injured in lonely hours

We hunger for our smiles to be stagnant

But fluidity is the one that's permanent

As humans we can only live

We take what life is willing to give

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II

2011-07-25T22:05:00.001+08:00

The BEST installment ever! Hands down.

Photo Credits to a clustereffing mess of words

I'm glad that I managed to get myself into the cinema and watch the closure to the Harry Potter series. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II is a package of breath-taking scenes and perfectly knitted plot. I shall not overshadow the essence of its greatness with my crappy words. A list would do it justice...

4 Things I Like About HP 7 Part II:

Photo Credits to SCOOPS point

1. Anxiety

Bravo to breath-taking. David Yates, you are brilliant! Right from the very beginning, the movie was filled with scenes which drew me into the plot. It was one of the few times when I felt a degree of panic in me as Harry and his allies faced their final phase of Voldemort's nightmare. When they were under attack, I felt their fear. When they crept into silence, wary of possible threats, I sensed the suspense. Anxiety. That was what the movie gave me and I loved it!

2. Tears

I have always been a fan of melancholic, tear-calling scenes and this seventh installment was the most emotional of the lot. It's amazing how the journey had come this far and how it brings all of us into the characters' shoes. I felt for those who cried over the dead. And Harry's guilt for the deaths of those around him was translated into effective scenes. Oh, and when Hermione cried...man...what a melt...Allow me to be frank, I had tears in my eyes during certain scenes...to me, when that happens, the definition of a good movie is justified. Move the audience and the movie is a success!

3. Choreography

Who could have thought that waving wands could be so full of style? I felt the urge to imitate the actions of Harry, Hermione, Professor McGonagall...them waving their wands, casting spells was choreographed so realistically that it made me wish that Hogwarts existed. The movements of their wands, the way they maneuver on their brooms while using their wands, the style in which they dock and counter-spell Voldemort's army...marvelous.

4. Plot

At the risk of stating the obvious, JK Rowling proved that magic does exist in writing. Her story was magical in itself and I have no idea how she managed to weave all the plots of the preceding novels into a great showdown in HP 7. She twisted little details into major components which made the story turn a 360 twist. Characters were brought together, the unexpected was made even more unexpected and hell, Rowling was one hell of a writer!

Bravo, bravo, bravo! That's all I can say. If there will be a new adventure by Rowling, chances are I would indulge.

In time for death

2011-07-21T20:41:00.002+08:00

Tik tok. Time is constantly running out. Isn't that obvious already? At the train station, we chase the train that's about to move, even though we know that the next one comes in less than five minutes. At the mall, we rather take the stairs than wait for the elevator, and cut the queue than line-up like a civilized person. All that and more because we are afraid of time. We are afraid that we won't have enough seconds to do this and that.

I, for one, would love to know why we act the way we do. Why do our actions suggest that we are going to die tomorrow? Are we? If so, how do we know that? There's no way of telling for sure. Even if we're on the sick bed, battling cancer with our last ounce of strength, there's still no way of telling. Only God knows. I ask again. Why do we act like tomorrow we'll be gone?

Walking into heaven...

Perhaps we are chasing after the things that we desire, those must-haves. We want them ASAP so that when we die, we can die calmly. Fulfilled. Satisfied. Though we run at top speed, the journey of seeking and realizing our goals seem a far stretch. Sometimes, if feels frustrating and sometimes, it even whispers the calling to give up and settle with what we have. Taking the high road would mean being shot at and still move on. Taking the safe and simple road would mean accept what we have and silently loath the path not taken for stealing our dreams away.

Is there a soup to drink to keep us going until our to-have list is all checked? Again, no way of telling.

My very own to-have list

1. A girlfriend to be made my future wife

Those around me seem to get into relationships pretty easily. How... I ask. They seem to be in love with the right person and if they're not, they end the relationship but before I know, they're in a new one. And some end up getting married. Bravo. So why in the world am I still searching? Or rather...why in the world is no one looking for me? LOLS!

Perhaps it's hard for me to fall in love. I very, very seldom find myself attracted to a girl. In the few occasions that I have, they were either taken or simply not into me. I'm 24. I plan to get married by 28. That's four years away. Is that possible? Seriously, not so sure. Jodoh (Malay for fate in relationships) is unpredictable. But if there's one thing that I can say confidently is that finding jodoh can be freaking frustrating. Not that I'm mad at fate. Not at all.

2. The status as an established novelist cum writer

I envy writers. I want to be them. I envy the amount of pages they write and the amount of books they sell. I envy the way their thoughts flow beautifully in written words and I envy the big screens which transform their words into motion. When will I be them? I try and try and I can hardly get my blog to be read by a large audience. What more have my very own novel in the bookstore. Hell, I can't even complete a draft.

But this isn't as frustrating as number 1. At least, this is more tangible or more definite for that matter. There are sites on how to be great writers. There are blogs to inspire. Stories to learn from. Writers to be role models. While tips on getting the ideal girlfriend exist, none can dissect my heart like I can. Having said that, I have not given up my dream of becoming a writer. If I have, there will be no blog...at all.

3. A nice home and sufficient money

Very cliche. But note that I'm not looking to be a millionaire. That's too ambitious. For me, at least. All I want is to be able to afford a nice home, decorated to my likings and appropriate to nourish a happy family. I want money enough to do that. Don't need loads of cash notes in the bank until I find it difficult to spend. Too many to things to buy, too many things to decide to buy because there's too much money. This may take a very, very long time given that I have just started working full time. Darn...I barely make monthly savings.

There. That's probably a much shorter version of my desires. If I were to list all of them down, you would see MPH bookstore, TGV, New Zealand, Subzero Jeans and loads more in the list. I guess death is uncertain. And so is achieving goals. Setting them may be reasonably easy. Planning how to get there may be too. But to have it fulfilled is an entirely different matter. And to have that done before we die? Even more uncertain. We'll never know.

Looking on the bright side, our goals give us a reason for living. We sleep at night imagining that we would wake up with life partners beside us. When we do wake up for real, reality hits us hard and we get up, go to work and try to make one step closer to the ideal destination. Without that, we would get up, see nothing and feel nothing. Because there's no direction to follow. No place to go. So, good luck striving for success!

The Fatal List - Girls' actions that turn guys off

2011-07-20T20:24:00.004+08:00

The girls might curse me for this. As for the guys, I'm not quite sure if we share the same perception.

A teaser...

Credits to SS2Productions

Things girls do that bugs guys

1. Being fake (my most hated characteristic)

I truly understand that we are bound to be shy at certain points in life. But to put on a mask almost constantly and be fake? To me, that's plain annoying. In fact, rather stupid for that matter. You see, as much as some girls claim that they know fair too well what guys think, guys can say the same.

Instances: When a girl who's into a guy asks the guy why isn't he with that particular someone, isn't that like a trick question? Or perhaps the bridge into telling the guy that she is head over heels over him? One simple policy - if you like him but you're too shy to say it (totally understandable), it's better to keep quiet and not ask such questions. Very annoying because it's pretty fake as guys can tell. Still, this may differ from case to case. It depends on how the girl acts actually.

2. Materialistic

Classic. How shallow can a person be? Looking for guys who lives in a mansion or drives a series-i'm-so-rich car. Jumps from one guy to another with all of them being tagged with cash. It does not matter if the girl's pretty or not. The fact that materials are her only concern is a big turn off. And... trying to appear rich by doing what rich people do like parading in designer brands for the sake of parading is just as annoying.

Some guys look for maintenance levels when it comes to choosing his other half. Does she require monthly exquisite, five-star dining? Does she not eat anything else apart from fine western or gourmet? Will she leave me if I don't own an Android phone? Guys with loads of money may not be worried about these but for those who don't, it may just be an influential factor.

3. Way too clingy

Love do not need us to be glued by "gam gajah". Imagine spending your entire dating life beside one another and see no one else except one another unless seeing that someone else is in the presence of one another. Sucks, huh? Of course it does. Socializing is inevitable, taken or single. Married or not. So long boundaries are not crossed, what's there to worry. Come to think of it, this do not apply to girls only. Some guys are as just as clingy. See, at least I'm fair. Or trying to be...lols!

4. No principle

Like "lalang", when the wind blows her right, she sways right and vice versa. I'm not sure if this occurs often but personally, girls who tend to fall for a guy just because he makes it clear that he is attracted to her is pretty pathetic. I'm referring to cases where the girl did not even know the guy in the first place. That's seeking plain attention. OK. Love at first sight do exist. Obviously, I'm talking about scenes when that's not the case.

And one more. The girl is involved with a guy and she says she loves him with all her heart. And along comes another guy. Just as charming, inside out. Then she questions herself - who do I choose? OMG! You're freaking in a relationship. (I know..I know...guys do this too. My rationale for highlighting girls in the topic: I'm conveying my thoughts from a guy's point of view...perhaps...perhaps).

So much so, it's difficult for a relationship to blossom or continue to blossom, for those already established, if those above occur. Guys want sincerity and reality, not fallacy and materialism. Guys want openness and respect, not pathetic hints (acceptable ones are fine) or belittling remarks.

I have to admit though. Guys have their own share of nonsense which girls find very annoying. Anyone care to churn that list out?

Try these...interesting...

"Plastic" is SO darn overrated!

2011-07-19T20:15:00.006+08:00

We have way too many "plastics" around us - in colleges, universities, schools...argghh...even movies! Enough already...

Plastic, in the context of my post:

Fake, snobbish, wannabes who think that their money and SO-CALLED looks place them higher than the rest of the world. Not being sexist but the magical term is, more often than not, associated with girls. Maybe for guys we don't call them that. We name them something like... JERKS! There..fair and square.

Without a doubt, those I regard as being plastic fall under my non-favorite list. I believe there is no need for elaboration because since such people are flooded here and there, we would all know who...or what I am referring to.

Plastics in Life

"Don't snap your fingers at me! And stop shooting me that look! Don't walk like you're Tyra Banks, you're not!"

Woohooo! Wouldn't it be cool if I could say that right in their faces? While being bold and confident enough to stand up for who you are or want to be is commendable, being plastic is an entirely different picture. Just because you're beautiful and you look like you were born from a Mattel factory, neatly packaged beside Ken, it doesn't mean that you are better than those around you. You may have the looks, and the money, but don't go around stabbing other people. Or even uttering words of criticism when not needed, even if they were true.

And one more thing. This bugs the hell out of me sometimes. I'm a mass communication student (or rather was - graduated) and being in that field means being exposed to urban, urban-like, wannabe-urban chicks. Some are pretty, some are not, some try to be, some really are and extremely proud of it and some look like they have a dozen make-up artiste at home. The annoying thing is... some act like being a mass comm student means being bitchy/overly ladylike (in Malay we say GEDIK!)/totally fake. The typical ideology - mass comm students must be sexy, hot, sociable like HELL and talkative. Wrong! Mass comm is not about all that. What utter rubbish. Still, the point is, seeing such people just irritates me at times.

Of course, there's no point writing like I'm soo perfect because I'm not. If I think I am, then I'm plastic too. A little suggestion. Why not be happy about the wonderful attributions we have but stay aware that there's always someone better than us out there. Stop being someone that we are not just because the crowd seems to be doing it. Forget typical looks and standards of who's hot and who's not. Let's all be nice to one another.

(I know...I'm probably not making much sense but... no harm expressing...)

Plastics in Movies

HAH! This I am pretty sure about. A decade ago, having "plastic" characters in movies and shows may infuse the story with humour and variety. It would have probably been dull if the prince and the princess sealed their love with a kiss without the bimbo getting her next-to-not-wearing-anything body in the way.

But now, there's just too many of those in movies and it gives me the urge to throw a bottle at the screen. I've come across movies which do not even need such characters. So, what the hell? Why does a ghost movie need a "plastic"? No connection. And why must a story relationships have a typical "gedik" cheerleader? That. Is. So. Yesterday.

Why not toss in a nerdy girl with the world's darkest intention? That's a brand new life to movies. Enough with plastics.

In A Nutshell

Being plastic won't take us far, at least that's what I think. The most is we attract those who are plastics too. Being individual while acceptable...that's living with style. It's not easy but it could win us many friends...true ones.

So, to hell with plastics!

If you're not sure what type of plastic I was referring to, maybe these might help:

Life sucks without sadness

2011-07-18T21:10:00.003+08:00

I hate sadness. We all do. But life sucks without it. Errr...me? Crazy? Not quite. Watch this...

That's a trailer for "Sekali Lagi", to me a superb,well-written story acted by a talented cast. I particularly liked the movie because of the sad emotions it stirs. The emotional scenes could have melted my heart and who knows... bring tears to my eyes (if some annoying pests did not ruin the scene - read my previous post).

Perhaps the sad scenes appealed to me because they made the story realistic. Filled the film with impact. I hate to admit but life is very much the same. Happiness feels greater when it comes after a blow of sadness. Ring a bell? I'm pretty sure we have all experienced it but as creatures of habit, when happiness comes, the initiative to sit down and give yesterday a thought slips away.

A little background on the movie

Arman (acted by fabulous Shaheizy Sam) was once in love with Shiela (pretty Lisa Surihani). Unfortunately, life takes a drastic turn and leaves Shiela without her lover while Arman was diagnosed with an illness believed to be autism. Prior to that, Arman made a move which caused Shiela's hard to break into pieces, hating Arman for what he did.

As life is woven into one big circle, they were brought together but Shiela was overwhelmed by her pain and her anger for Arman refused to take flight. It stayed with her all along, although she was shocked to discover that Arman was no longer the guy he used to be. He resembled a kid. Innocent and clueless of the dark history they once shared.

Sekali Lagi weaves this story line with heart-wrenching scenes, bringing our hearts and that of Arman and Shiela together. Imagine meeting the person you once loved and left you for a very cruel reason, only to discover that he or she is now an adult with a child's personality. How do you cope with your anger, the leftover of your love and the thoughts of what could have been? That's what this movie is all about. And bravo.

Having said that, sadness is part of life. The sour cream which goes together with crunchy nachos. I've had my fair share of ups and downs but I am still here. Not because I am strong. But because life forces us to get up and carry on, which is good, because only then we would be stronger.

What if life has no sorrow but only pure happiness? We would all be smiling and laughing till the day we die. Damn, that would be a stagnant and flat graph. Where's the peak? How do we say "FINALLY...WHAT A RELIEF...". There will be no finally. Only forever.

As I write this, I figured that happiness is created by sadness. We smile after we cry. Laugh after we bury our hearts in the shadow. We rise after we fall. Very cliche, I know but to a certain extent, very true. My point is simple:

Be sad when we have to but try to get back up because life is such, and it will never change. Only we can change.

What the hell am I doing with this motivational post? Very, very random. Maybe I'm trying to motivate myself. :). Anyway, let's all have a great life. Cheers!

More on Sekali Lagi

Photo Credits to: Fajridil

Shaheizy Sam

Photo Credits to: ABPBH

Lisa Surihani

Photo Credits to: Girl Pictures

I love this song...OST of Sekali Lagi....Enjoy...

Cinta Itu Milik Kita - Dakmie

Things idiots (or the equivalent) do

2011-07-15T23:01:00.002+08:00

Yes, I feel rude putting that as the title but I can’t seem to find a better way to express my annoyance.

Don’t you wonder why some people just act the way they do in public? What happened to “being considerate”...or was there no such thing?

This is a list of things I’ve seen, heard and experienced. Believe me, if I have a choice, I’d probably shove my used socks into the mouths of those I “dedicate” this post to. But... we’re bound by human laws, so I keep my sanity.

Things they do that could earn them a taik-kwando!

The classic NOT QUEUING UP at LRT stations

This is so overrated. Yet, it still happens...all the time. I really have no answer as to why people forget, refuse to, or simply don’t know that such rules exist (quite the impossible). What’s so difficult about queuing up? Being behind someone means you’re kissing his ass? Or did you foresee a disaster which would fall upon you if you miss that train? Uuuu...because if you did, maybe a new movie to rival Final Destination would hit the big screens!

Half the job has been done with arrows and lines indicating where to line up. All we need to do is stand and calmly get into the train. OK. Maybe you’re in a rush. Fair enough. But to cut the queue? Blocking those inside from getting out with your pathetic body? That’s just plain idiotic and self-centered!

Solution to be more of a civilized human: Freaking line up!

Sight-seeing on the left hand side of the escalator

Ahhh... I guess people just love testing patience anywhere near the LRT stations. Poor administrators. Proper signs have been put up to remind us to stand on the LEFT hand side of the escalator and leave the right path clear for those moving forwards. But... expecto stupido patronum! People can’t resist standing on the RIGHT hand side even if they don’t wish to move forwards.

This happens almost every day when I head home. The best part...wait for it...wait for it... even when the train has arrived, they still wouldn’t budge, blocking the path like nobody’s damn business! Oh, my bad. Maybe it wasn’t their train. So what do they have to care? I apologize with all my HARD!

Solution to not be self-centered: Stand on the LEFT, unless your brain has the size of a peanut.

Bringing oh-so-lovely kids into the cinema

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. Kids are cute. They’re fun. Cheerful. Lovable. But they’re kids, right? They’re not always cheerful and lovable. There are times when they are bound to protest with their own versions of rally.

I’ve seen, and unfortunately experienced, parents bringing these less adorable kids into the cinema. Lucky me, I was sitting in the same row. Transformers 3. 3D. It turned out that the 3D feeling wasn’t the only effect. This one little girl kept going in and out, crossing in front of me throughout the show. I don’t blame her for needing to go to the loo. What I am pissed off about is that her parents were nicely tugged into the chair, enjoying the movie, while their small son (only a few years older than the little girl) had to accompany her. Way to go responsible parenting!

Solution to not be brainless adults: Be considerate. If your kid is way too young to stay seated AND quiet in the cinema, we have DVDs sold almost anywhere.

“Budak sekolah baru nak up”

Know the phrase? Those youngsters trying to act cool when all they are doing is presenting themselves like shallow jerks? I so waited to watch Sekali Lagi, given the touching trailer and talented cast. It was a great movie but... I could not entirely indulge in the emotional scenes because some school students who sat right beside me acted like it was their first ever movie in the cinema. Was it?

Do you go “perggh...pecah kepala” LOUDLY when a guy holds the girl in the arms in a romantic scene? Like...DUH! Dozens of movies have those. What’s the biggie? Feeling excited is fine until it is announced in the cinema. For the love of God, shut the hell up and speak softly if you must. Don’t try to “outsound” the speakers. Some of their other phrases:

· “Untung kan dapat berlakon macam tu..pegang-pegang...”

· “Sengal!” – many times.

· Laughter that’s rather loud it sounds FAKE!

Solution of being considerate cinema-goers: Grow up! You’re young but the cinema wasn’t built yesterday!

Phew! What a way to get it out of my system. As much as it sounds like I’m bashing the general public, I’m not. It’s the fact. Plus, putting it in words only reminds me not to make the same mistakes.

Let’s together strive to be a considerate person.

A similar blog post:

Blog Make-over

2011-06-14T20:51:00.002+08:00

I guess it's about time I implement some disciplinary action on myself. I've been having an on-and-off relationship with my blog...yeap... the affair is pretty complicated huh? LOLS!

OK. For want of an upgrade, or rather an infusion of fresh spirit and soul into my blog, I'm set to deliver the contents in a new manner -new concepts, more frequent (and regular updates), more well-defined clusters and what not.

I have a few ideas in mind but have yet to pen them down. I'm promising myself..and those who are kind enough to drop by, that once I have the time to truly work on the "renovation" of my blog, I'll keep it going and hopefully, offer interesting stuff.

As often as I lack motivation to update my blog on a regular basis, I am still married to my writing passion and the ULTIMATE dream of being THE writer. Fingers crossed, let's hope that my upgraded blog crafts a more defined path and a more diversified platform for us to share knowledge and the essence of life.

Cheers.

Passion is Prime in Motivation

2011-05-07T17:42:00.006+08:00

From the idea to create a post on this topic came a self-created life formula - PPM (Passion is Prime in Motivation).

The formula in translation:

The best way to get ourselves motivated is to pursue something we are passionate about. Hence, PPM.

As I may have made it pretty clear, my passion for writing goes a great mile. I dream of being the number one best-seller, a prominent script writer with my very own range of movies and dramas, a song writer with liquidity in lyrics...

Notice that though they are different forms of contents, they are still writing-related. Simply for the love of putting thoughts into words, I am pretty much opened to any kind of job that has got to do with the art of writing.

My current job is writing-centered. Yes, I admit that the contents may not be my ideal choice but for the record, I am enjoying the job and I hope to achieve greater heights in the near future.

Perhaps sharing a little of my experience may paint a more vivid picture on what the hell I'm trying to say. I've come across areas/topics which I have no interest whatsoever in. I have come across words which seem pretty foreign to me. And I have come across countries which I barely know anything about.

STILL, I find it interesting. Of course, because I love to write, I somehow found a way to get a hold on those areas. I'm still learning but I wouldn't say that it is a burden. Why, you ask? Because I am motivated to master my job and motivation came like wind. Again...why? Because I love to write and regardless of the content, so long I get to arrange words and write sentences, I can smile and heave a sigh of relief.

PLUS, I can finally strive to expand my general knowledge. I may not remember everything but on a regular basis, I believe it would equip me with better knowledge of the world we all dwell in.

My point really is simple. Passion defeats all other purposes in generating motivation. Yes, some may work hard for the money. And some may work hard simply because they do not have a choice. While those are "valid" motivating factors, none of them give the kind of experience passion does.

With passion, you constantly try to be better. In the midst of doing so, there will be moments when you will feel satisfied even if it is a tiny bit of achievement. Even though exhaustion may get the better of you, when you're energized, you will be geared towards going through the same circle all over again. For the love of it.

Skills can be developed. Knowledge can be acquired but passion, it comes from within. What's yours?

Judging others before we judge ourselves...?

2011-05-04T19:54:00.006+08:00

A minor, on-the-spot incident inspired this particular post. I am not sure why but some people are just too quick to judge others. They fall into one too many categories. Some give the look the moment they spot you in an outfit that doesn't seem to live up to their standards. Some utter harsh comments about that "him" and "her" who don't seem quite suitable for each other. And some... trash people they don't even know, claiming that they are doing something against the religion.

Now, now. The last example may just present myself as someone who couldn't careless about such matters. Wrong. That wasn't what I was trying to deliver. It is good that we are on the lookout for individuals who tend to stray from the ideal religion path. Even offering words of advice to a friend is commendable (if the action is done without an agenda).

BUT, I personally don't think that claiming someone to be a shame to a religion and saying it out loud in a nasty manner is appropriate. Specifics- using words like"bodoh","sial" and the likes of it. I mean, come on. We were not born perfect and human beings are bound to make mistakes, religion-related or not. So, who are we to trash someone, especially strangers, simply because we take a glance and perceive them to be doing something wrong?

If the comment was made in a humble nature, fine. If it was just a matter of stating a POV, also fine. What bugs me is the fact that some people judge others like they are the MOST FREAKING PERFECT SPECIMEN in the whole damn world.

One word, menyampah!

My opinion, we are all creatures of mistakes. Trying to make someone a better person is good. But before judging someone else, we should look into the mirror and ask ourselves...

Am I any better than that person?

Have I ever done what she/he did?

Am I just as bad...or worse?

Self-awareness is the prime ingredient in being humble. Gloating, on the other hand, is the translation of a pain in the ass. (Pardon my language, this topic seems to be putting me on the edge).

Putting aside my annoyance, I am pretty curious as to why people judge others. It turns out that there is a psychological explanation:

Why do people judge others?
(PositiveArticles.com)

Some blogging thoughts:

How Do We Really Judge Other People?
(entry on My Super-Charged Life).

Maybe, just maybe, we all need to have a small mirror in our pockets all the time. So, if the urge to judge others comes out way, we can grab the mirror and take a look at our reflection.

If the person in the mirror knows exactly how to judge and the grounds on which the judgement should be made, then... I say, go ahead!

Life is a risk-taking journey

2011-04-29T23:36:00.005+08:00

I have come to realize that regardless how hard we run away from risk and possible threats, we are bound to face a portion of them somehow or rather. Given the twisted and winding roads we are forced to travel on, chances are we will be faced with situations where anticipating the worse is inevitable.

If only there's a vivid line or a set of visible guidance we can follow in opting for the best solution and garnering risk-free environments...I'd be the first on line to purchase the so-called package/item/whatsoever.

At this point of my life, I'm faced with two "risky" situations (the inverted commas indicate my uncertainty of whether or not they should be labelled risky) - to step into the ocean of committed relationships and to invest my time and money with no 100% guarantee of personal ROI. LOL!!!!

Let's break them down to mild details:

i. To commit in a relationship

Frankly speaking, I've been wanting to have someone whom I can eventually call my life partner but it turns out that planting the desire is easier than actually making it happen.

Despite physical proof, I've sort of searched high and low for my "soul mate" but it is not like buying a tee at the price of 3 for RM50 or getting a cup of smoothies at the ice-blended parlour. Identifying the girl and making a move towards her AND succeeding in the action plan is way beyond that. Long story short, the complicated task leaves me with the big letter "S" followed by "ingle" (you do the math).

I wonder, when will I ever settle down. Candidates do exist but it's a matter of whether they would take my hand and whether I would want them to. The simplest way is to dive right in and toss any doubts away but THAT'S a risk I've got to take.

ii. Career opportunities and possible fraud and stress

It's not that the world is filled with demons but they do exist and by demons I mean dishonest individuals. In the career world, anything can go wrong and anyone can pull a trick. It's getting harder and harder to tell if one is genuine or not.

I'm in the midst of acquiring a career penetration but it turns out that there might be a degree of not-so-credible deal. Given that I'm new in the line and it's my initial attempt, it's only logical for me to consider that I might just be taken advantage of.

The career opportunity may help me to build a platform in the field I have interest in and as a plus point, it may enable me to generate cash. But with shifting fees and blurry procedures, how am I to know if the opportunity is one of a long-term benefit?

Again, it's a risk I've got to take. My call - to go with it and take it easy.

Trimming it down to keywords...

Life - risks - decisions.

What do you think?

Battle: LA

2011-04-10T01:59:00.006+08:00

If I were to personally sum it up in words, Battle: LA is another version of War of the Worlds. A sci-fi which puts you in a seat and serves you the biggest catastrophe that could possibly be imagined. It was probably one of my better 'lucks' to actually feel satisfied after watching a movie which I never even knew existed. It didn't take long for the movie to kick-off and that's very much SHZ-flavored. I can't stand draggy movies....

Photo credits to The Movie Analyst

Ratings...? Probably 3-4 stars out of 5.

While War of the Worlds had Tom Cruise, a civilian, as the hero of the day, Battle: LA makes room for the military to take the lead. It's a man vs alien kind of movie but the LA backdrop gives a more realistic setting. To me, it helps the audience relate to the characters' suffering.

I loved the action. Meteor showers to kick-start the plot. Bombs here and there, guns shooting off like nobody's business. Civilians running after their lives. Soldiers fighting with bravery. OK. I suck at reviews. LOL!

What I truly liked about the movie was the fact that the director injected not only action, but suspense and emotional impact as well. There were moments when everything went silent and all of a sudden BAMMM!!! Boy, did my heart jump! And there was this one scene which I actually had tears (just a lil). These days, action films go way beyond shooting and fighting... and I like that!

My only critic - as much as the action keeps the movie exciting, the motive is rather empty. I did not find a solid motive as to why the catastrophe began in the first place. I reckon a slightly comprehensive back story would give a better plot structure to the movie. Just an opinion though. Not that I'm a movie expert. Haha!

So... the question... To watch or not to watch???

My opinion:

It's not a loss if you decide to pass, it's not a waste if you decide to experience it first hand.

The end.

Talk about the future.

2011-04-05T21:23:00.006+08:00

It often feels like chasing dreams is an endless journey. One which can either be an adventure or a series of frustrations. I, for one, would like to know what the future means in the minds of different people. The answer... I have yet to obtain.

My current life is pretty much, to sum in words, at the defining stage. Some explanation - I've just started a new job and have yet to learn the ropes, I am 23 going on 24 without anyone special in my life and I am an embryo or a fetal when it comes to financial status.

My future is rather blurry and undefined.

Out of curiosity, what defines a great future? These questions have rested on the shelves of my mind es but the answers are still absent.

1. The career path not taken - If one studies a certain field and ends up working in another, is it a waste of academic years?

2. The money matter - If one's salary isn't exactly up to current living standards, will there be a financial guarantee? (actually, I sort of feel that this question makes no sense. Salaries increase, don't they? DUH!)

3. Love and what not - If the age is increasing but the status of being solo isn't undergoing an upgrade, will the tag "loser" be given as a free gift?

If I inject an amount of self-confidence before answering those questions, I would probably say "Hell no!", "It will be enough over time" and "Leave it to fate" for questions one, two and three respectively.

But, as you might have anticipated, I have doubts myself which is why I posted those questions in the first place.

I have come to realize that this post is as vague as the future. So, pardon me for being vague but seriously, shaping the future is a TASK!

Escapism: A Mode Of Survival

2011-02-28T21:10:00.003+08:00

I recall the words uttered by Bree Van De Kamp of Desperate Housewives... it sounded something like this...

"I put my emotions in a box and deal with it later when I have the time"

It doesn't matter if I got it right because it boils down to the same message.

If we are all capable of putting those words into practice, or if such a box exist, we would all be happy creatures jumping on the face of Earth without the slightest stain of sorrow.

TRUTH BE TOLD, SUCH BOXES DON'T FREAKING EXIST!

So, we opt for the second best choice in life - escapism.

Try to sit down and give it a thought. More often than not, we succumb to distraction to toss the awful emotions we have binding our fragile hearts.

When we feel rejected, we either jolly all night or fill the minutes and hours with chores. When we are hit by the ugly breakup, we listen to sad songs and what not or ring our friends up for a get together.

You see, we fail to go through the mile without having a shoulder to rest on. That's the way life is. We, humans are not made of steel but rather fluid emotions that go all degrees possible. So, we are left with no choice but to try hard not to think about the awful bits of our lives. Hence the use of escapism.

I realize I have no clear direction with this entry but to be blunt, I really don't care. Sometimes, pure expression is the best way to craft a message.

Don't you think so?

Love: Too Much Salt, Too Little Sugar

2011-02-20T23:34:00.003+08:00

It often feels like a recipe gone wrong. No matter how hard you try, it just wouldn't turn out as perfect as you pictured it before hitting the button on the oven. It is always either too salty or too tasteless.

So, why the hell indulge?

The reason for my title is pretty justifiable if you think about it. Love is complicated and hence the sub title that follows. We seldom have control over where love leads us to, or which route it makes us choose. I, for one, would be happy if love is as certain as maths. It's either 1 or 2...even the fractions seem fixed. ALOT UNLIKE LOVE!

I have hereby gathered/created some categories of love that might ring a bell or two as you read them.

1. A spoonful of confusion

It takes two to tango but the lines and the posture of the dance would all go horribly wrong if neither one knows which foot comes before which.

Love is not much different.It would only blossom in the presence of mutual sincerity and longing. When neither party is able to idenfify whether or not they have been touched by the wings of romance, it would be a long-winded story that have yet to meet the final chapter.

This = frustration.

2. The hope that once existed

Making the first step in winning the heart of the person you're interested in is always the hardest. When you do, and the light shines in, bravo!

But...what if that light comes and goes in a flash? Or at least it's departure is as quick as it's arrival? Boy...it steals all confidence away.

For one second, you think that she might just be yours but the next thing you know, it feels like she's into another person. Not so bravo huh?

And of course, you have the occasional "materialistic", "bimbo", "perasan macho guy" and what not.

I think I've had my point delivered. But please don't take it as if I'm love's number one enemy. I am certainly not.

Again, though recipes are hard to turn out perfect, with the perfect blend, the finest cuisine could be served on the table and it would be bon appetite!

Mass Comm Is Not ONLY About Talking

2011-02-03T11:22:00.005+08:00

The communication myths/negative associations I too often hear....

He can talk, he should be in Mass Communication.
Mass Communication easy what, talk only.
I like to talk so I decided to study Mass Communication.
Why of all courses you chose Mass Communication?

First and foremost, Mass Communication is called Mass Communication and not Mass Talking for a reason and a very good one. You see, everyone can talk. Truth be told, even five year-olds can utter sounds out of their mouths and may be regarded as "Hey, he talks!".

BUT, not everyone can communicate well and that's what Mass Communication is really about. So, the misguided perceptions, it's about time people clear their minds off such fallacy.

I'm not saying that I'm an expert in this field but as one of the students taking up the course, I know for a fact that talking alone would not cut it. It takes more than uttering words to excel in this field of communication.

Perhaps I can toss in a whole load of definitions and principles but that would just clutter this post and that's not what I'm aiming at. Rather, here's how I see Mass Communication and I hope it paints a clearer picture on "what the hell" it is all about... LOL!

1. Talking is required, WITH SUBSTANCE, not rubbish.

I do not deny that the ability to speak helps a decent mile in the field of communication but one can talk all he wants...without facts and solid messages, chances are those uttered words would go to waste. Like tossing the empty bottle in the bin. It creates noise but that's that, no outcome.

So, based on my experience, you need to develop speaking skills to convey messages. To a certain degree, it needs organization of how the message is to be delivered. How is this different from the myths, you ask?

Many people talk but it's not always that the other person gets the message, is it? Well, there it is. That's talking, not communicating. Mass Communication is a platform on which we learn how to speak with structure and a clear idea on where to head the communication to.

2. The many branches apart from talking.

Mass Communication is a large field and hence it has several sub areas. To name a few:

Broadcasting
Advertising
Public Relations
Publishing
Journalism

And here are some of the new majors which I personally feel are rather relevant, given the developing industry.

Interpersonal Communication
Instructional

I reckon by simply reading that list would enlighten you that Mass Communication isn't just about talking. Am I going in circles? Pardon me... because that's really what I want to say.

Mass Communication is not only about talking. I could do a thorough research and dissect each and every major but...I'll be blunt! I don't have the time or the motivation to...LOL!!

I do hope however, the concept of Mass Comm = Talking would no longer be the common perception. At times, it can be annoying, especially for us students in this field. Come on. We learn more than just talking. FYI, there are subjects like Economics, Production and writing-related majors. So, talking is just part of the course, not the course.

I would provide some links to substantiate what I have just stated but in this case, there are way too many hits at Google. So simply "google" it and you'll get the answer.

Happy communicating!

The Kind Of Spirit We Seldom Have

2011-02-01T00:40:00.003+08:00

I teared. And you probably would when you view the video. It's ironic how some people who have gone through hell pick themselves up and keep their heads held high when I find myself sulking over minor falls...

As always, I was streaming videos of Britain's Got Talent and I came across this very one. It was heart felt and, if given a deep thought, could be very inspirational.

He sang with his heart and the story behind the song... wraps the heart with deep emotions....

I don't need to write further for the video itself says it all... just watch it...

Khurafat

2011-01-29T00:39:00.005+08:00

It looks like "seram" is back in the market. Horror movies give me a reason to get my butt rested in the cinema and since Jangan Tegur, not many movies of that genre hit the big screen. Not many movies that is, until Khurafat made its appearance.

Photo Credits to Khurafat.

Syamsul Yusoff, a local director synonym with his previous piece of art, Evolusi KL Drift, decided to venture into the realm of horror. If you asked me how was the movie, at the top of my mind, I'd say... not bad.

It's good that besides the ability of the movie to scare the hell out of some people, there is a certain degree of learning values sewn within. As clear-cut as it is, the movie says a big NO-NO to forbidden superstitious acts known as khurafat. Want a clearer idea on what 'khurafat' is? Click till you drop!

Back to the movie. One of the characters succumbed to khurafat simply because the desires of the heart were not met. And... when you meddle with works of the dark, that's what you get in return.

Storyline wise, I've probably seen better ones. The element of suspense, well... it definitely made my heart jump at the respected scenes. Acting? Not bad. Was I blown off my feet by the movie? Not exactly but there was one scene which will probably stay in my mind until a more horrifying one makes it into the cinema.

This is probably the first movie with a man carrying a dead body, wrapped in "kain kapan", in the middle of the forest, with no one accompanying him whatsoever, WITH all the haunting going on in his life. Honestly, I don't think such bravery exist in real life, unless we're talking about a really, really, really religious individual. That image is going to remind me of this movie and I say bravo for coming up with that scene.

If you're feeling that you need to witness first hand the scene I have just described, then buy a ticket and get YOUR butt rested in the cinema. Watch it! And you'll know what I mean.

Here's the trailer for your viewing pleasure.

Here's another trailer sent by a friend of mine. I'm definitely going to watch this movie!

What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger

2011-01-18T23:14:00.006+08:00

I had this adrenaline rush or a boost of spirit or maybe an escalation of enthusiasm... whatever. The point is that it triggered me to ponder the famous saying:

what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

I may have mentioned in my previous post that I am currently on the hunt for a job. The process can be rather torturing if you fail to keep your cool. I am doing all I can to keep my sanity WHILE giving my best in getting the desired job.

It happened when I was driving along the LKSA highway. For some reason, this positive thought came to live, telling me that if I really do want to excel in life, be adventurous. Get out into the world and spread my wings (or arms), welcome anything and everything. That thought told me that the best way to obtain experience is to toss away all fears and just get on with it.

Come to think of it, it makes perfect sense. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. I have had rough days and they came in all sorts of tastes and flavours. Yet, I don't see myself being buried six feet under the ground. I am still freaking alive and breathing. Yes, I may have broken down and sulked and cry and whatever there is to do when one feels miserable.

BUT I AM ALIVE!

OBSTACLES HAVE CLAWED MY SPIRITS BUT AS LOW AS I GOT, I GOT MYSELF BACK ON MY FEET.

So, I don't see why I should be afraid in exploring the possibilities of crafting my career. At this point, I am trying hard to keep my head held high and be bold to face whatever challenges that might get in the way. It's the only way for me to smell the fragrant of success.

I truly hope that this brand new spirit would get me one step closer to finding that ideal job.

I wanted to enhance my post by suggesting sites that might interest you but little did I know that I would be captivated myself.

Have a taste of these motivational articles because I believe, they help.

(For the record, I use to think that positive thinking is crap but that has changed. It's starting to grow on me)

The Power of Positive Thinking by Remez Sasson

Sasson writes perfect sense. Positive thinking IS contagious. The story that he shared alleviated my aim to be a positive thinker. Plus, give his practical instructions in thinking positive a go. They might just work!
How to Think Positively

A treat to even more inspirational quotes, accompanied with rational tips on how to keep the positive mind active. The quotes... I love them!
5 Ways To Think Positively Through Rough & Tough Times

A lighter article for your reading pleasure. Sensible tips that might just do the trick in thinking positive.

I could go on with the list but that would mean doing it till the day I die! LOLS! Just type the words positive thinking and you'll get a hundred hits. So, if you wish to add on to my list, just do the click and let the net perform the trick. But YOU have got to do the reading... and the positive thinking!

All the best!

How to Write A Good Novel?

2011-01-14T23:55:00.005+08:00

I'm back to using simple, clear-cut headers for my entries (well, at least for this particular post). I'm not sure if I have ever mentioned this before but I bet I don't need to. Publishing a best-seller novel has always been my dream and despite the occasional lack of commitment, I never tire from striving to realize that dream.

Nope. If you think that I have finally made it, all I can say is "I wish". But... I am still holding strong to that dream and God willing, it might just happen one day.

Reading tips on how to write good novels does boost my enthusiasm and better still, it often provides me with insights on how novels should be written. Occasionally, I browse for such tips and mind you, the results are indeed interesting.

I am certainly not credible to offer tips of my own, but as a blogger, I believe I am capable of sharing good sites and that is exactly what this post is all about. Here are some articles which I feel would be of good use to those of you who are planning to publish your very own novel.

I always say... dream a little dream, and make it happen the big way!

So, this might just be a good start. Happy browsing!

Enjoy!

The Analogies in Life

2011-01-13T16:56:00.005+08:00

I was facing my laptop without a clear idea of what to do next and the urge to express what's been bugging me lately. So, I decided that since I wanted to get back into my blogging "business", I might as well kill time,and hopefully frustration, by adding yet another entry. And that's when I figured that perhaps putting some of the photographs I've captured to good use might just enhance my blog.

Ever heard of the term analogy? You see, sometimes life requires us to sugar-coat the things we wish to say. It's not always that we get to shoot the not-so-pleasant words right in the faces of the people we hate. Sometimes, we so want to spill everything out, every single gory bit of our lives but sadly, the consequences of our actions prevent us from succumbing to such options. My point is, analogies give us the leeway of doing such things without so much of the ugly outcomes.

First let's clear things up. Analogies are figurative representations of things. You may regard them as symbolic representations of subjects and what not. I may have my very own style of using it in this post but that's because the only reason I brought that term up is to provide me with a medium to release what's been bugging and to prevent me from pulling my brains out.

Enjoy this photograph!

Yes, it looks like a meal well prepared. That was one of my suppers but "menu of the day" is not the prime subject in this post.

Notice how the noodles intertwine in that plate? That pretty much paints a rough picture of my life right now. I said rough because there's no way that my life looks exactly like that. Yeah, there may be some complications but that doesn't mean there's nothing in my life that makes me smile. There. At least I'm staying positive.

Back to the not-so-nice part. Noodles. Intertwined. My life. I've always heard that seeking a job is a challenge but now that I get to experience it first hand... PHEW! The hell it freaking is! Everyday I hope for good news to come ringing on my mobile and believe it or not, that's exhausting. What with currency running out... (if you know what I mean).

Looking into that from a larger perspective. Life is and will always be noodles. There are moments in life when the noodles separate themselves and we can have a joy shoving them into our mouths, tasting the smooth texture and the fine spices that go with it. At times, the noodles get so tangled up that our chopsticks are having a hard time getting a grip. When that happens, it takes a while before we get to enjoy the meal.

Do you get my point? Do you understand the analogy I've just made? Life. Is. Complicated. Not always but it is. Not to say that there's not way out of the complications but trust me, new ones always come.

I did not write this to stir frustration or anything of that kind. It's just a way for me to get creative with what I have (my photograph), what I have but I hope would soon go away (frustration) and what we should know about (analogies).

For the record, I'm waiting for my life to be as cool as this...

Done.

"Hanyut" Flooded AJL 25!

2011-01-10T22:28:00.006+08:00

Photo Credits to AJL 25 Official Website.

I have to say, Faizal Tahir is probably one of the reasons why I still look forward to view Anugerah Juara Lagu (AJL). With indie bands and reality show singers popping into the industry rapidly, the award has witnessed a shift in criteria.

It used to be mostly about great vocals and good songs but now it seems to me that it may be more about popularity. I may be wrong but that's what I think. Fortunately, singers like Faizal Tahir, who obviously deserved the "Persembahan Terbaik" award, never fails to bring something new each time he performs in AJL.

With his hit number, Hanyut, the "superman" walked away with the best performance award and viewing his performance, I can't help but admire his creativity. He did not need dancers neither did he need excessive props. Simple but what a blast! Bravo! If you have not watched it, do so...like NOW!

Even Faizal's another number which was not crowned a position in AJL 25 managed to, yet again, make me bow to his ability to think out of the box. Selamat Malam was performed with the help of well known celebrities like Fatimah Abu Bakar and Aziz Satar. It was another simple but meaningful performance by FT.

Honestly, Malaysia needs performers who are able to bring such "wow" factor. I, for one, am very much into gimmicks and dances. Perhaps that justifies my liking of FT's performances. He always has a trick up his sleeves. Congrats to FT!

Life as I know it... right now.

2011-01-09T13:09:00.004+08:00

Life after education sucks! At least that's what I'm feeling right now. Job hunting is a chore, delegating money between the many, many things I want to do is a challenge and keeping up the confidence despite the yet to arrive career opportunity is a task. In a nutshell, this is another phase of the I-don't-feel-too-good session of life SHZ.

However, in the midst of juggling all those messy fragments of life, I have not run out of the urge to enjoy. Na'ah. Never. Yesterday was an outing marathon. Day to night. Klang - Damansara - Klang. Yes. I murdered my petrol and gave my back a good ache but I figured the fun was worth the pain. HAHA!

For what seemed like the hundreth time, I headed to Greenbox in Klang for a karaoke session with a bunch of my secondary school mates. You know, sometimes it's good to catch up with old friends. It makes life that more exciting. This journey forces us to meet new people, both good and bad. We expand our social web on a regular basis but never lose track of the old "him" and "her". Trust me. The treasure in life is to be opened to new friendships and to hold strong to old ones. It makes life that much more exciting.

Karaoke - done! I drove from Klang to Damansara to meet up with two of my uni mates who happen to be two of my best friends who happen to know a whole lot about my life. LOLS! I have to say, I missed them. Gosh! Hope they don't stumble upon what I have written or they'll toss their pride right in my face!

I may have mentioned this a million times but UiTM has introduced me to amazing friends and some of whom are now my really, really, really best friends. They would know who they are if they read this. Speaking of which, I hope these friendships last a lifetime.

OK. Damansara - done! I headed back to klang to meet up with the same bunch of school mates I met during the karaoke session and we decided to grab a McD take-out and enjoy the meal at a nearby park. A brief "makan" and chat session. Then we called it a night.

Can't wait for my next outing but I am still hoping to get a job soon. Like... REALLY get a job soon!

Harry Goes Serious

2010-12-19T22:51:00.004+08:00

Photo Credits to Mendelson's Memos.

Just as the casts have grown, so has the movie itself. With the seventh transformation from novel to screen, Harry Potter (HP) is no longer a kid’s fiction but rather a compelling story which is shared by people of all ages.

It has been a long journey since Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone and I find myself getting more engaged with the story, now more than ever. HP7 puts you on a seat on which you are able to witness how much Harry and his friends have grown. In that seat you experience the escalation of the dispute between Voldemort and Harry. It was once a less complicated conflict but the situation has taken a 360 degree turn, extending far beyond the walls of Hogwarts.

The stakes are higher now with Dumbledore gone and Voldermort getting stronger. Harry finds himself faced with bigger challenges as his companions risk their lives in the war which he regards as his own. The action kicks right in from the beginning of the movie. I personally felt my heart beating fast during the first few scenes when Harry was on an important journey with his companions. You have got to watch it to feel it. In the middle of the messy tussle, emotions run high and friendships are put on the line. HP7 lets you share the hearts of Harry, Ron and Hermione as well as many others with heartfelt scenes.

For more details on the movie, feel free to browse the official website of HP7.

Even if you have read the book, don’t be on the losing side by not watching the movie. In fact, if you have read the book, all the more reason you must watch it on screen and best do it in the cinema. Part 2 will be coming soon and I personally hope it would be an explosive finale.

What makes a man "gentle"...?

2010-11-26T19:50:00.005+08:00

Haha. If you're thinking that this post is about what you're thinking (you know what I mean), sorry to disappoint you. I had a conversation with a couple of my buddies and the idea of this post sprang right into my mind. I'm referring to the classic term of "gentleman" and what does it take to be one.

I reckon it's always a task to be able to pull the perfect-man trick off. As much as we (soon to be gentlemen I hope) wish to possess all the desired characteristics of a true man, obstacles always get in the way. By obstacles I mean the lack of knowledge or exposure, the complications at the time of attempting to be a gentleman and perhaps anything you and I can think of. Long story short, this entire thing is a task.

Here are some of the many sites which share similar insights to what you would be reading later in this post. You might want to check them out. Their titles definitely are catchy:

I, too, have my own set of things which I think make a gentleman. There's no clear cut definitions but these are simply my take on the issue...

Photo credits to Men's Flair

Things Men Do That Make Them Gentlemen

1. They are brave enough to handle face-to-face situations.

Whether it's proposing or breaking up, I believe men should have the nerve to do it in the physical presence of the other party - girlfriends, future wives, future ex-girlfriends, soon to be girlfriends, bla bla bla. I know this is hard as I have yet to pluck up such courage. But hey, we really should be able to do so, if we want to be regarded as gentlemen that is.

2. The basic "ladies first".

Cliche but I think it helps. Opening doors, pulling the chairs and what not. These may seem and sound a little cheesy but I believe women get flattered by such things and when they get flattered, it means we have done something right. Perhaps that something right is being a gentleman.

3. Caring and caring.

Whether they admit it or not, the ladies... they love to be cared about. Think logic. Which woman on Earth likes her man to NOT care about her? Simply asking how's her day going is, in a way,the translation of I care about you, which in turn, is the other way of saying you mean a lot to me or I love you. Hence, a caring man is a gentleman.

If you have any add-ons, feel free to comment. I am no guru at this and I'd be more than interested to hear it from you.

Cheers!

Trials in life: An Open Discussion

2010-11-06T03:17:00.005+08:00

Let us begin with a quote I came up with:

The trick in life is to learn the tricks of life, but the tricks in life makes it all tricky.

Reading what I have written above makes me want to laugh and sigh simultaneously. Life is a sea of demands, forcing us to meet personal desires and those of others. Some of which we are happy to work hard for while some we simply hate to. And for some... we appear to be unsure of whether or not we should make it happen. All these contraries make life, at times, frustrating but then again what's life without its essence.

I have hereby gathered a list of scenarios @ issues which I reckon we all face at one time or another. The solution...? I have yet to identify... but I figured there's no harm sharing what's left to be sorted out than to keep what's not sorted as a rotten dilemma.

1. Cutting that piece of cake into equal slices.

Life blesses us with the opportunity to meet strangers, craft new networks, bond with close friends and create a fantastic circle of life. Unfortunately, there's always a catch. When it comes to matters of the heart, the minimum number of hurt is ONE HEART. Yes, there will be at least the heart of one close person who would get hurt by the things we do.

I know I'm speaking in symbols and codes but I can't help it. That's the nature of the message I wish to convey. Keeping a balance in the time we spend with our friends is not easy. Giving full attention to that one person and indirectly neglecting the other would put the feelings of the neglected at stake. The ugly truth - IT FREAKING HAPPENS ALL THE TIME!

Sometimes, it's not that we wish to act in such a way but circumstances are such. Plus, we each have our own way of socializing and our own approach towards friendship. The trick is to make that approach an effective one. Am I not right?

Looking into that matter through a larger lens, dividing our time between family and friends may also be a task. It depends on the individual and it depends on any possible factors you can come up with. Again... am I not right?

2. Is that blossom in the heart the growth of a new flower or simply the illusion of a rose?

Love (or romance, crushes, admiration, etc) is extremely complicated. There's no fixed way of telling whether or not we're in love. There are moments when that trigger in the heart may seem like it's the sign of love but there are times when it turns into a web of doubts. The price... tormented feelings, exhausted minds and bored hearts. If only there's a set of ABCs to such matters.

3. Painting today into a guaranteed tomorrow.

First it was to determine which path of academic journey to take. Now that its approaching the end (more like the end IS here), the task is to get a grip and be sure of where to go to. The moment we complete our studies, we wish to have the ideal jobs but of course, life isn't that oh-so-lovely.

I have yet to get myself a job, let alone a career. It would be much easier if I know EXACTLY what I want to do. Errmm... I do know what I want to do - Be an efficient communication lecturer, earn money of my own, work on whatever novel I wish to and strive to get it published. Unfortunately, its the journey of making that happen which makes this entire picture rather complicated. We know where we want to go but the problem is how DO we go where we want to go...

The trick in life IS to learn the tricks of life, but the tricks in life makes it all tricky. I am making sense right? Am I not right?

When friends help reduce pressure

2010-11-02T12:22:00.006+08:00

There is no running away from stress.

The further you run away, the closer it gets to you. So, the best way to get your way through it is to handle it. I know how freaking hard it is to do so because I've been there, done that. I have yet to learn the tricks of remaining calm in a disastrous situation but am doing all I can to improve (am I??? LOLS!).

Don't close this page just yet. I am not about to bore you to death with my 10-ways-to-handle-stress stuff. Instead, this post is to share the wonders of having close friends who not only make your day but alleviate stress as well. I must say, friends can sometimes be the 8th wonder of the world, if you get what I mean.

I've been in a rather awful situation lately and the not so best part of it is that it comes and goes every now and then. It's currently sweeping away and I hope it never returns. BE GONE YOU FOUL PRESSURE! I must say, my close friends have done their share in helping me through such hard times and I can't thank them enough. To illustrate my babbles, here's a list:

The Infamous Methods of Friend2Friend Stress Buster

1. The conventional lending a tentative ear.

This happens all the time. When we feel down, or mad, or sad or insane, we seek for a friend to talk to. More often than not, those close to us would listen almost obediently and offer feedbacks. I have no valid theory on this but to talk figuratively, them listening to us kills 50% of the stress. I always feel better right after spilling out my thoughts and feelings to my friends.

2. The quirky but effective craziness.

Talking about crazy friends! Gosh, it helps! Imagine yourself drowning in a web of worries and dissatisfaction. Now, imagine your buddies acting foolishly with a million and one jokes. Imagine yourself joining in and imagine yourself laughing your head off with them. Sounds fun right? It freaking is! Trust me, hilarious friends, like laughter, are the best medicine. I have a bunch of friends who are very distinct from one another but they all make good companies.

3. The temporary teacher role.

They listen to us, they make us laugh and... they teach us. True friends are brave enough to tell us the ugly truth. And some are bold enough to even scold us for the better. I say bravo! Friends like this are hard to get and I am not letting go of them. They help you see when the clouds are before you. They help you climb when your legs feel like falling apart. Stress comes when we have issues and friends... they are frank enough to tell you what they think of the issue and what they think you should do to solve the issue.

I believe you too have your own bunch of buddies. Cherish them today and keep the friendship till forever. Not for the sake of having a set of stress busters but for the sake of appreciating what's great. Here are some links on stress if you'd like to take a look:

R-E-S-I

StressCrazy.com

Goodluck on having a stress-free life. Cheers!

When the going gets tough...

2010-07-26T19:58:00.005+08:00

Allow me to quote the beautifully crafted lyrics of Whitney Houston's One Moment in Time:

To taste the sweet, I face the pain...

Perhaps those are the words I need to hold on to... if I want to survive this journey, that is. Recall my words on saying goodbye to student life as I "prepare" to step into the real world?

Well, abrakadabra!

I. Am. In. The. Real. World.

Not officially so but very much similar. I am currently undergoing my internship at a local media chain (that sentence sounds so resume-flavoured) and boy it is tough!

The first few weeks were like hell and trust me, at this point of time, I have yet to settle down. There's tons to learn and a whole list of things to improve on. You see, my job requires me to work fast, stay alert, be outgoing, be assertive and bla bla bla. Toss in some technical requirements and there you have it... my practical training!

I am given the task of a broadcast journalist but I've got to get hold of the new ME before I can call myself a broadcast journalist.

Perhaps a brief list would do the trick of illustrating the nature of my training. I am required to:

1. Be part of the production crew during the live telecast of the programme.

2. Go out on assignments, interview the respective "Him" and "Her" and write scripts.

3. Edit the raw footage and compile them into the perfect order within the suitable duration.

Notice that I have put the first four words of Number 3 in bold. That's because executing technical stuff is SO NOT ME. But... when you have to do it, you have to do it.

I am doing all I can to take in and handle the pressure. I am trying my best to be positive, think positive. God willing, the outcome would be positive too. Still, there's always that certain degree of fear, or that certain level of breakdown when things go wrong, when I receive the oh-so-anticipated "You've made a mistake!" and when I simply fail to think fast and work fast.

Gosh! What a challenge it is. But like I've mentioned, I'm working on it. I'm trying to be cool and adapt to the new environment. I am freaking trying to! LOL!!

Wish me luck!

How Much Pain for Beauty?

2010-05-30T13:55:00.012+08:00

Photo credits to invisalign.

Most things are getting more expensive with the growing years and truth be told, even beauty has a price. It may not be that bad if "price" is merely "price" literally. Unfortunately, there's more to it. While we can bargain for cheaper costs in enhancing our teeth, getting perfect facial treatments and hair care, there's nothing much we can do about reducing the pain in some of the treatments. Apparently, I'm planning to scale my teeth and get myself my very one braces...BUT.... a very huge 'but' right there... the possibility (or fact) that I would experience pain is seriously holding me back. I truly want a nice set of teeth but whether I'm going for it is yet to be decided. Sigh...

Alright. Forget about me for a second. Despite the fact that beauty has a price, many people go for it, don't they? With the vast technological advancement, beauty treatments take the form of many faces, from minor processes to major surgeries. Still, people opt for these options. I'm thinking, when would it be my turn @ when will I have the guts to scale my teeth and get myself the braces I need? LOL!

I reckon people are willing to endure the pain because if the "price" is paid, the outcome is worth it. Here are some of the reasons why I think they do it:

1. Beauty gives confidence.

It does, doesn't it? Half the time we get intimidated by those who are way better looking than us. Well, maybe I'm exaggerating but there is a certain degree of truth in my words. I have had minor experiences whereby my confidence level failed to escalate simply because I feel that I do not have the ideal looks. I'm a Mass Communication student majoring in broadcasting, and believe me, in such line, appearances may play major roles. Personally, a good appearance keeps me confident and with the absence of it, I feel like I just don't quite cut it. So, let me do the math:

Pain = beauty = confidence.

Confidence = pain + beauty.

2. Everyone else is doing it.

This may not be a personal reason but I'm proposing it on the basis of logic. People follow people when it comes to fashion, socializing and sometimes, even food. So why can't beauty treatments, no matter how painful it is, be included in the list? Perhaps you might not experience the need for scaling but a friend could easily influence you into doing it. Logic? Of course it is. Plus, looking at the sparkling teeth of your friend would make you go, "Hell, I want your teeth...like.. right now!"

That's my take on the issue. As for you, how much pain are you willing to endure to earn that beauty?

Here are some website which might be of your interests:

Feel free to add on the websites...

Cheers!

Hate To Bid Farewell

2010-05-28T14:35:00.005+08:00

It sucked! Seriously... it did! I'm glad that I'm off the hook as far as exams and assignments are concerned but to say goodbye is the total opposite. I've met people in UiTM and some of these people are simply amazing. It took a fine degree of "endurance" to bid farewell to my close buddies.

Despite my initial reluctance to pursue my degree in UiTM, the entire experience ended up being one of the best moments in my life. I was given the chance to get to know and be BEST friends with individuals who are not only hilarious but big at heart too. Firstly, thanks to my classmates - MC223 A - for being crazy, fun and helpful friends. Knowing you people has made my "stay" at UiTM a fun ride. Let us be in touch for many more days to come... The PD trip was extremely amazing! We so rock!!!

My fun and crazee classmates...

Taking the mood of my post a notch down, it is hard to accept that I am no longer able to hangout with my best friends like we use to. Fariz and Lan have been two of the best people I've known throughout my life and now that they're back in their hometowns, the fun seems to be fading away. It's not that life totally sucks but it's just that they make great memories and I am seriously looking forward to hangout with them when I have the chance.

To Fariz and Lan... thanks for being my true friends and I hope we will always be best friends for the next 20 years and more....

My best friend, Fariz...

My best friend, Lan...

Also to Zuhdee and Farah who have been pretty close to me, thanks a dozen...

The one in blue is Zuhdee...

Farah...

This post is a dedication to my classmates, Fariz, Lan, Farah, Zuhdee and my UiTM friends who have all brighten up my days. We shall meet again when life opens the path and crafts us the chances we deserve... All the best mates! Love you guys!!!!

You want confidence? You can have it!

2010-01-10T15:09:00.034+08:00

I believe we have all gone through situations where we were belittled by those around us. Perhaps they were not entirely responsible for the effects they had on us. Most of the time, it is us who scare the living hell out of ourselves by thinking negative.

It's my final year and I'm off to practical training next semester. The idea of stepping into the broadcasting industry really gives me the creeps. I'm afraid that I might not fit in well among the other employees, I'm worried that my technical weaknesses might get the better of me and I'm concerned about the tasks which I would have to complete during the training. What if they hate me? What if I make a joke out of myself? What if I simply screw up? Wouldn't that be the end of me?

So much what if and I figured it's time to toss all that into the bin. Feeding my brain with negative thoughts would get me nowhere. So, I intend to ignore (or at least try to ignore) the negative "ideas" and instead, concentrate on identifying ways which could help me succeed in the near future. Here are some of my personal takes at how to think positive and be confident. They may or may not work but trying wouldn't hurt, would it?

1. Use past experiences as a motivator.

Of course, if we have great past experiences, that would serve as a good motivating factor. If you have served in a PR agency and have achieved great heights, use that and God willing, you'll reach even greater heights. But that's not what I intend to put forward in point number 1.

On the contrary, I'm referring to negative past experiences. I used to work as a waiter while waiting for my SPM results. The first day was a living hell. I was freaking nervous and it showed when I was taking orders. Plus, due to lack of skills, I dropped a tray of glasses which fell crashing onto the floor. I could immediately feel the heat on my face as many pairs of eyes were fixed on me. Gosh I was embarrassed! But... BUT... I know for a fact that if I ever decide to work in a similar industry, my first day may not be as bad. Now that I have learnt the proper way to handle a tray of glasses, my next attempt may indeed be successful.

Another example which I reckon would better illustrate my point. I underwent my diploma practical training at a production house. Pathetic me lasted for ONLY 1 WEEK. Sad, huh? I failed to blend in, I failed to do what I could have done and most importantly, I failed to be confident. That was the prime mistake - I was too timid, way too timid. Nevertheless, if you were to place me in that very same production house NOW, I believe I would do so much better. I have identified that lack of self-confidence puts a barrier between myself and success. I wouldn't want to let that happen again.

So, bad experiences are good motivators. But of course, always strive for the best even if it is your first time.

2. Treat the experience as a learning process.

Practical training is a learning process. That is why the word "training" is used in the first place. If I was to think logically, it is only natural for someone who is "learning" to make mistakes. Hence, why in the world am I afraid of screwing up? Perhaps because I like it or not, the industry is tough. If you don't cut it, you won't make it. However, the bottom line is I could, if I want to, treat the practical training as an opportunity for me to learn new things and gain new experiences. People don't become professionals in one day as success always begins somewhere. The best is to start at the bottom and work all the way to the peak.

I have a feeling that this method might just work. When I think less of screwing up and focus more on learning new stuff, I tend to perform better. There might be some psychological explanation... I don't know. Hey, maybe you could google that and post your very own entry. Tell me if you do, alright? LOL!

3. Just go for it.

Think less, feel less and just go for it. You see, the more we think of what might happen the more we fear of what might happen. Isn't it better to simply dive into the pool and enjoy the refreshing water rather than staring at the pool thinking about what would happen if you drown? Same goes to living our lives.

Sometimes, it's better to suspend thinking and just do the task. If you have an interview, just go for it and give it your best shot (but of course, prepare yourself before the big day). If it's the first day of your practical training, just step into the office with a smile and start making friends. Really, just... go... for... it! Think about the outcomes later. Just ride on!

There you have it. My personal ideas on how to be more confident. I hope they have, to a certain extent, boost your confidence. I wish to put those words into practice too. Wish me luck!

Related sites:

People Don't Know People Unless They Want To

2010-01-06T22:50:00.039+08:00

This idea had been playing around in my head for the past few days and I FINALLY have the motivation to put it down in words. I'm 22 going on 23 this May, which means that I have lived long enough to come across people who judge other people. I am not saying that it is totally wrong to judge others because more often than not, there is a fine line between what's right and what's wrong. But I am curious though, as to what you think of judging other people. In my opinion, here are some of the reasons why people choose to NOT suspend judgment.

3 Reasons Why People Judge Other People

1. Judging others seems like a good way to be on the safe side.

We are smart enough to know that this world is filled with both good and bad people. The latter is perhaps the reason why people tend to judge others. Like the saying goes, better safe than sorry. So, we might judge others to ensure that we don't get involved with anyone who may cause us harm.

Example:

A girl who spots a man dressed in torn clothes immediately walks away because she's afraid that the man is a criminal. Maybe she's right but maybe not. What if the man is completely innocent but simply too poor to buy proper clothes? What if the man is all dressed up for a play in the musical? (OK. This sounds silly but come to think of it, nothing is impossible, right?).

So, what do you think of reason number 1? Does it justify the need for us to judge others?

2. Human nature, human nature, human nature.

I've read this line somewhere and somehow it fits this post:

"We are creatures of habit."

We are, aren't we? It is so darn difficult to stop doing what we have been doing for the past 10, 20 or 30 years. Have we ever thought that perhaps, judging others is indeed one of our habits as human beings? Again, not saying that this reason makes it all right but maybe, just maybe, that's why we do it. College students judge other students even if they do not know that person... at all! A heated discussion (or rather a gossip session) can begin simply with an unknown person passing by the cafeteria. Co-workers assume that Mr. A gets promoted to a higher position because he has been kissing the boss's you-know-what.

Now, does this reason make the act of judging others a necessity in our lives?

3. It is better to judge than be judged.

Insecurity... the trigger to all forms of evil deeds. Some people feel good by making others feel bad. Sounds familiar? I read something similar somewhere (like...AGAIN! HAHA!). It does make sense though. The principle is this - "Before they judge me, I might as well judge them.. HAH! I'm faster than you people!"

You see, the fear of being criticized by others may cause an individual to land negative perceptions on those around him or her. It's probably a sort of "psychological defense mechanism". Because of this, we tend to judge others and it becomes a habit as we grow. That, brings us back to reason number 2 - human nature.

Again, does this reason make the act of judging others free of all chargers?

As stern as I may sound, I am guilty of such acts. Of course I do not do it all the time but sometimes it just happens. Nevertheless, I'm constantly trying to suspend judgment, at least until I'm pretty much sure what I have in mind is the fact. Many bonds can be formed and networking can be greater if we all suspend judgment. This world is filled with good and bad people, yes... but getting to know people before judging them can make this world a better place to live in.

Those are my opinions. What's your take?

Related sites:

Do You "Censor" Your Blog?

2010-01-04T23:56:00.023+08:00

I reckon blogs are supposed to be the space for people to reveal their thoughts and what not. However, I still find that there is a certain degree to a blogger's freedom. The boundaries are set by personal values and legal restrictions. I intend to address the former because the latter is not exactly my field of expertise.

I have discarded many ideas for my blog simply because I was concerned about the effects they may have on my readers. It bugs me that despite having my personal space, I am not able to write too freely because my conscience constantly warns me of the impacts of my entries. Hence, I choose to keep the more sensitive thoughts to myself and blog about the less sensitive ones. My question to you is... do you do the same? While you give that question a thought, here are some of the reasons why I "censor" my blog.

3 Reasons Why I Censor My Blog

1. Sharing details on my personal life is fine but giving out too much is just not that cool, is it?

My blog isn't one to focus solely on personal events but as you can see, I have a mixture of posts - general issues and personal activities. When speaking of personal events, I do not exactly favor revealing all of my thoughts. I don't have a particular reason but I just don't feel very comfortable doing so.

I am aware that I could simply change the setting of my blog to "private" but that's not what this blog is for. If I want to spill all my emotions into this blog and make it private, I might as well grab a diary. I blog because I love writing and I like sharing what I have written. Feedbacks from friends, other bloggers and even anonymous visitors motivate me to keep on writing. If I privatise this blog, it beats the entire purpose.

2. Talking publicly about another person, even if the name isn't mentioned, might give that person a hint and all hell might break lose when that happens.

In my old blog, I used to address issues which made me mad and frustrated. If I hated what Mr. A was doing, I posted it on my blog.When I felt like Ms. B was annoying, I made that another post on my blog. However, it has dawned on me that people have feelings and they certainly have brains. It's only a matter of time before Mr. A and Ms. B realize that my posts are about them (OK. This part sounds malicious but I don't mean it that way). Plus, if they do discover the truth behind the coated words, my relationship with them might be affected and I don't want that, thank you.

3. If I think rationally, no one is perfect and so am I. So why the need to blog about other people's weaknesses?

I have to admit that when I'm mad, I often disregard this fact. But don't you think that we should at least try to pardon their mistakes? Well, maybe at least pardon them enough to not blog about them.

Sometimes I feel like it is fine to talk about them in a very general way. In a way, they inspire me to come up with various blog topics. I don't know... I'm really on the fence this time. What do you think?

Even after listing out the reasons, I still fail to give a definite answer to whether or not we should censor our blogs. The issue is totally ambiguous to me. So, if you have any takes, feel free to share them here. Drop a comment and we'll take it from there.

I survived the night at Scream Park!

2010-01-03T14:13:00.022+08:00

Photo credits to: Sunway Lagoon Official Website

Photo credits to: Super Pages

I paid RM15 (they had a price promotion - not too sure on how long will it last) for a scare at Scream Park Sunway Lagoon and I've got to say, it was worth my money. I came out of there alive (fortunately) and sweating! Does that give you any idea on how scary the attraction was? It took my friends and I nearly 15 minutes to decide whether or not to go for it. How pathetic was that? HAHA! Lucky us, we braved the fear because if we didn't, what a loss it would have been!

A Brief Walkthrough

I don't intend to reveal all the details because it would kill the fun if you're planning to experience it first hand. But here are some of the attractions which I think would make you say, "I've got to check that out!"

Again, I'm resorting to a list because as I have mentioned in the post on Cirque Du Freak, reviews are simply not my forte. The ghost house is a 4 in 1 attraction and here are some of the "services" they offer:

The "ghosts" are live human beings and they scare the hell out of you by making "sudden appearances"!
The setting of the ghost house is superb - walkways and props complement the entire journey.
The effects are one of the best I've experienced, hands down. Man, the Terror Tunnel 3D was brilliant. I really felt like everything was spinning and towards the end, I thought I was going to fall! That was my favorite part of the attraction. I reckon the ghost house in 3DX was the best.
Ranking second is the Prison Break where we had to walk through an asylum-like room filled with steel fences AND LIVE INMATES WHO PROVOKED THE FEAR OUT OF ME! The blinking lights made all of us dizzy! Dizzy... but fun! (I think Prison Break and the ghost house in 3DX both deserve to be ranked 1st)
The last part was Night at The Museum which,at one particular point, shocked the hell out of me!

OK. Enough details. Anything more and I'd be screwing up all the fun. I'm telling you, go check it out! Sorry for not having more pictures to go with this post. Silly me did not bring my camera!And pardon my writing style. Not good at writing reviews, remember? LOL!

The vampire's assistant did not disappoint.

2010-01-02T00:23:00.022+08:00

Photo credits to: Full Movies Online Free

I have read the entire Darren Shan Saga, I have watched the first movie on screen and I can't wait for the sequel. So, what does that tell you? OK. Perhaps I'm exaggerating... just a little because I'm such a big fan of Darren but if you have read the books, you have got to watch the movie. If you haven't read the books, awww.... so sad... GO AND GET THOSE FREAKING BOOKS RIGHT NOW! LOL!!

What the hell is the movie about?

I hate writing synopsis because I don't have the writer's touch when it comes to such things. But I guess giving it a shot wouldn't hurt, would it? OK. Here goes...

Darren and Steve are two best friends. Darren is obsessed with spiders and Steve is crazy over vampires. Despite their close friendship, they have opposing personalities. Darren is the family's boy (listens to mum and dad, going against the rule - a big No-No!) while Steve is more... rebellious? You get my point, right?

So, the Cirque Du Freak comes to town, bringing along its entire circus of freaks. Darren and Steve, obviously, decides to take a look and that is when the real excitement begins. Ironically, innocent Darren takes a detour in his life by stealing a spider from one of the cirque's crews who happens to be a vampire (Larten Crepsley). With that one mistake, Darren's life changes forever and... so does Steve's.

What happens to Darren and Steve? The only way for you to find out is to read the book or watch the movie because I ain't telling. I suggest you do both...

For a better-written synopsis, visit The Internet Movie Database.

6 Reasons why Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant is worth watching.

If you have read the books, witnessing the story being transformed into a motion picture is simply thrilling.
Great casts with great talents.
The main events of the story kick off almost instantly - no crappy dialogues.
You get to see how freaks run their show in Cirque Du Freak.
This is the introduction to possibly an amazing chain of Darren Shan's movies.
I am a big fan of Darren Shan!

My only criticism.

The movie is too short because many interesting details from the book are left out. Perhaps if the movie adapts more portions from the original books, it would blow the audiences off their feet.
But I'm still a big, BIG fan of Darren Shan!

I know my so-called movie review doesn't say much. That's probably because I suck at writing reviews. HAHA! But seriously, read the books AND watch the movie. Check out the official Darren Shan site and you will know what I mean.

What If Men Read Chic-Lits?

2009-12-31T11:31:00.034+08:00

I do! There... I've said it. I read chic-lits. I'm curious though, as to what people think of men who read such books. Although I strongly believe that it is high time the society discard stereotyped perceptions - the overused "OMG! You read chic-lits? Are you gay?" - I bet there are still some people out there who find it hard to accept when guys read books which are meant for women. Personally, I don't see why not.

I am crazy over fiction as much as I am crazy over writing. These two passions... they make great partners. So, I read all types of fictions from romance to thriller and from horror to chic-lits. I would love to address this issue slightly further but first, let's have a general idea of what chic-lits are.

There are many websites which offer definitions on chic-lits, perhaps too many that it is nearly impossible to browse through all of them. I've done some reading and this is my take. My idea of chic-lits is that they are initially written by women for women. The story-lines pretty much revolve around women (the main characters in the story) with varied "spices" to make the narration somewhat unique. I came across a forum discussing chic-lits. You might want to check it out:

Mommy Savers

I must say, however, I disagree with the notion (if there is one) that only women should read chic-lits. I mean...come on! Some of these books have very interesting plots and why should men be left out of all the fun? Reading should be a universal activity and so should the types of materials to be read.

I have read Mike Gayle's "Brand New Friend" and "His 'N' Hers" and they both had interesting plots to keep the readers going. Others might not share the same opinion but I find his approach to writing fiction somewhat similar to that of chic-lits. So, again I would like to ask, are chic-lits meant only for women?

Here are some of my favorite chic-lits by Cecelia Ahern which are neatly resting on the shelves:

Photo credits to: Irene Carole

Photo credits to: Books4Charity

If you're looking for information on your favorite authors, here's the place to go:

Find Me An Author

Long story short, I opine that women introduced chic-lits to the world but they can be read by both men and women. Reading is good and why should good things be stereotyped?

What is your take?

A zine can be as good as any published book.

2009-12-30T15:20:00.039+08:00

A fanzine by my friend, Ben.

Maybe I am my mother's 9th son. I don't really know. My childhood doesn't start in this house.

That sentence made me realize that I was about to discover something about my friend, something which I was never aware of. The thought of how ignorant human beings can be sort of crossed my mind as I continued reading the article. Ben's words were simple but somehow he managed to make his story captivating. My plan was to browse through the first few sentences and then treat myself to a nice bath. But man, his article was so engaging that I read to the very last sentence before taking my bath. To Ben, you made me postpone my bath! HAHA!

I have learned that Ben has been producing his own zines for quite some time and I thought why not make this the next blog entry. His zine, Conscious is after all inspiring. I was never one to know the existence of fanzines or zines. If you are like me and this is the first time you have ever come across such a word, zines are, in one way or another, siblings of magazines. But the thing which makes them unique is the do-it-yourself (DIY) part. Zines are produced independently by the writers. I think of them as their own editors, their own writers and their own distributors. But they do have a community of their own though. If you wish to take a look at more zines, here's the place to go:

Shaded Out Press

I didn't write this post to bore you with a free lesson (which you probably didn't even request for) on what zines are. What I am dying to share with you is Ben's story of his search for his real brother because to me, that article is capable of taking a reader through an emotional journey. Just the fact that Ben is an adopted son makes him stronger than anyone else. I know him as a friend but now I know him as more than that. To me, Ben is cool on the outside and strong on the inside. He's currently pursuing his degree in journalism and I have to say, he has what it takes to be a great journalist.

I do not want to re-narrate Ben's story because he's the only who can tell the tale in the most engaging way. But his story has reminded me, and I hope it would remind the rest of us, that life will never be easy. It is what we do with our lives that creates the path we lead. I admire Ben for his courage, his perseverance and of course, his writing skills. I can't really say much. So, if you want to experience what I have experienced, you should read "Conscious".

Remember this... Just because a zine can be produced by almost anyone, it does not mean that it has little to offer. Mind you, I have found the quality of honest writing through Ben's zine. You go Ben!!

If you have any enquiries, feel free to contact Ben at:

sacredletters@gmail.com

The article which nearly brought me down to tears.

Ben's honest story-telling makes his zine all the more worth reading.

Read a zine lately? You're more than welcome to share your views. Cheers!

How To Be A Good Blogger?

2009-12-29T16:49:00.001+08:00

How successful bloggers pull it off is totally beyond me. I've been trying practically forever to be a good blogger, one whose blog is "alive' with traffic and comments from loyal readers. But, as you might have anticipated it, I have yet to achieve that dream. I often ask myself these questions:

Is the template appropriate and attractive?

Are my language and style of writing appealing enough?

Are my contents captivating?

Will my blog ever be successful?

Trust me. I am dying to be the blogger. This particular blog is one of my many, many attempts at becoming a good writer. Despite my slow progress, I am not about to give up. As a matter of fact, I have done some reading and it wasn't a waste of time at all. It turns out that the more I read about ways to improve my blogging skills, the more enthusiastic I become (even though I am currently feeling a little drowsy due to my medication).

I wanted to write a post on how to be a good blogger but I figured that's not my cup of tea. However, I could share a couple of information which I came across throughout my "click and read" process.

There are hundreds and perhaps thousands (or millions) of sites offering tips on how to be a good blogger and there is no way on Earth I will read them all. I did take note however, that most sites emphasize on the need for a blog to be niche. If your passion is in animals, you should blog about elephants and cheetahs. If you're head over heels over movies, you should write reviews. Basically it means that your blog should have a common theme for all of your posts. I find this rather challenging because apparently, my blog is a mixture of all sorts of topics.

Some sites propose that the style of writing should be conversational in order to attract readers. That I can work with. I used to be overly concerned about my selection of words that my posts turned out to be dull and oh-so-boring! I intend to make slight adjustments to my way of writing. Speaking of which, how am I doing?

OK. Enough of my crap. Let's get down to business. Here are some of the sites which I think would do you good if you read them:

Quick Sprout

Copyblogger

Pro Blogger

I am still learning and striving to excel through my blog. At this point, you may find that I am pretty much amateur and that my blog has no defined direction. Frankly, I've sort of considered starting over... AGAIN! But I know better than to do such silly things because I've done it before and it's one hell of a tiring process. So, my plan is to constantly improve and hopefully, you can be the witness as my blog matures.

Learning through observation can be quite effective. So, click on those links right away and start learning how to be a good blogger. All the best to you.

Cheers!

Have you ever felt like reading a murderer's diary?

2009-12-29T12:24:00.000+08:00

A snippet from one of my fiction stories: Monologues of A Murderer.

I think killing is a must and I have no idea why the rest of the world regard killing as a crime. That is plain ridiculous. This life is filled with crime because there are too many people breathing, walking and committing crime. That's the REAL reason behind the existence of crime. Killing is THE way to stop or lessen the amount of crime to say the least. Yet, human beings are too naive to acknowledge that fact.

Read the full series at Fiction Me.

Enjoy reading... Cheers!

Big Investments For A Big Xmas

2009-12-24T22:33:00.000+08:00

Yeap, that guy in the middle is me! At the entrance of Pavilion.

Has it always been a trend in Malaysia to go all out with deco during festive seasons or is this year's Christmas simply more magical than the ones before? Wow! Judging by the sizes of the Christmas trees in Pavilion and Times Square, I have to say that Malaysia is seriously reaching for the sky when it comes to impressing the world. I am putting my hands down in agreement with anyone who has ever claimed that Christmas is the most outstanding holiday season when it comes to decorations.

My friends and I decided to head to KL to get first-hand looks at the much talked about Christmas decos and I have to say, the journey was worthwhile (although exhaustion is getting the better of me as I am posting this entry). It was a tiring journey, yes... but not one to regret though. Here are some pictures for your viewing pleasure.

P/S: Pardon my photography skills...LOL!!!

Pavilion

A line-up of reindeers greet the public at the entrance (there were lights attached and I'm assuming that the night view would be breath-taking. Too bad I didn't have the chance to see it).

Giant-sized Christmas tree (there were bigger ones inside the mall).

Santa Claus at the main entrance (mind you, that's not a statue. It's a breathing human being dressed in Santa's costume).

Floating reindeers at the main entrance.

Elegant stairway with majestic Christmas trees.

Berjaya Times Square

Snow drops.

I know I should have captured more photographs on the deco but I was too busy taking pictures of myself. HAHAHA!!!

Anyways, Pavilion and Berjaya Times Square have invested huge amounts of money in making this year's Christmas another amazing deco experience. Thumbs up to Malaysia's Xmas deco of 2009!

Very, Very Witty Choral Speaking

2009-12-23T23:40:00.000+08:00

I was bored and as usual, I did some streaming. That was when I came across this amazing video on the Seri Insan choral speaking team. Man, they blew me away with their humour and presentation. It brings back high school memories when I was involved with the Malay choral speaking team. It was fun, fun, fun. Well, those were the days... Anyways, you have got to watch it!

Enjoy the vid!

Seri Insan Choral Speaking 2009 - National Level

Video by lixtralite.

2012 - End of the world?

2009-12-23T20:20:00.000+08:00

Photo credits to: Ticket2U.biz

So I guess I'm never going to get the chance to watch 2012. Believe me, I won't! I went to the cinema for God knows how many times and every single time I wanted to watch the movie , the slot was freaking full! The last time (today) I checked the papers, the movie was no longer in schedule. Hence, any plans to watch it on the big screen is definitely out of the list.

It is pretty much obvious that the movie depicts the end of the world or, for want of a better term, apocalypse. No, this isn't a movie review. Come on... how am I supposed to review something which I haven't even watched? I intend to make this entry one which we could all ponder.

Have we ever thought, even for a brief second, what it would feel like to know that we are living the last days of our lives?

We have witnessed the creation of various disaster-centered movies but honestly, I don't see much changes in this life. Violence is happening all over the world and a young girl was recently found dead, adding up to previous similar cases. If there is one goodness out of such movies, it should be their ability to make humans evaluate their actions.

I am not implying that I'm an angel but as a matter of fact, I'm categorizing myself as one of those who often fail to acknowledge the fact that death might come any day. I have no idea when the end of the world would arrive and I'll leave that in the hands of THE ONE ABOVE. But my point is that if we don't start making this world a better place, it might be too late.

Let's not think big. Here are some of the things that I think we are all capable of doing:

Say no to back-stabbing.
Gain respect by respecting.
Be considerate.
Be polite.
Stop judging others.
Corporate.

Of course, those are nothing compared to what the world has become but I believe such small changes can make our lives that much better. I can't stress it enough that I am nowhere near as good as I may sound through this post, but perhaps after posting this entry I might be that much closer towards being a better human being.

All the best in making this world a better place to live in.

Cheers.

One Hell of A Fourth Semester

2009-12-23T14:13:00.000+08:00

Loads and loads of assignments. Seriously, you'll never know what "being a student" really is until you've stepped into the degree world. I don't recall being extremely occupied and overloaded back when I was pursuing my diploma. I'm telling you, my fourth semester was practically holding me by my throat. I mean, come on... I broke my student record by not sleeping and that was so not me. I used to go to bed at 11 pm (or 12) but the fourth semester made that impossible.

Despite that, I have to say that I truly enjoyed producing programmes and coming from me, that's saying something (I never thought I would enjoy being a production crew). Anyways, a rundown on the programmes we were required to produce:

Talkshow

With my guest panel, Fariz.

Entertainment Show

With my production crew and lecturer, Pn Hayati.

I was the camera man.

Sitcom - To Kampong With Love

The talents.

During the production.

The set.

Costume and makeup.

There were a couple of other events which filled my days at UiTM but I reckon that's enough to sum up the entire semester. I hate to admit the fact that with the completion of the fourth semester, I have one more to go before undergoing my practical training and that means I have very little time left to spend with my amazing faculty mates.

I am going to miss you guys lots after graduating! My classmates, Mass Comm mates from Interpersonal, Advertising, PR, Journalism, Publishing... all sequences. It has been an amazing ride and I wish to enjoy the rest of it.

Do keep in touch OK? It is a must!

Cheers!

Starters...

2009-12-22T01:43:00.000+08:00

I thought I'd kick off my blog with some videos of my favourite dances. Enjoy!

Katte and Joshua - Contemporary

Chelsie and Mark - Hip Hop