Amazing sport... that nobody knows?!

Oh my... seriously?

And after decades of promoting the sport of sepaktakraw, it's still in the 'unknown' segment in the world of sports.

As a Malaysian, I don't know whether to laugh or cry with the headline for the posting in Failblog, taken from Reddit. Started so promising with Sepaktakraw : The Coolest Sport - until it got to the part... Nobody Knows.

Adoi... pikiaq positif jek lah. Given the thumbs up, I guess it's a good thing. At least people think it's cool. Small baby steps...

Now only if we can be the best at it, and keep Thailand away from being better.

Read More

Pencalonan baru!

Kalau anda sempat menonton Muzik Muzik musim ke 28 petang tadi, mesti perasan Penghibur Jalanan sudahpun tercalon masuk kan?

Since every radio station is playing the song and the song is getting a lot of support, here's hoping korang sanggup lah undi 20 kali sehari lagu ni kat website Muzik Muzik 28.

All you have to do is CLICK HERE. 

Lepas tu cari nama Amir Jahari - atau lagu Penghibur Jalanan yang duduk di 19 sebagai lagu baru yang dicalonkan - dan tekan UNDI 20 kali. Kalau tak keberatan, wat lah tiap hari.

Undian dibuka dari 6pm pn Saturdays dan tutup setiap Rabu jam 12 tengahari, so pulun undi please and get this song the momentum we had on radio!

Read More

恭喜发财

Tajuk posting tu acah je. You guys know I can't write in Chinese. But basically it means Gong Xi Fa Cai (bukan marah orang Fai Chai ye seperti entry sebelum ni).

Biar Gong Xi Fa Cai ke Kong Hee Fatt Choy... in whatever dialect, it means the same thing - and I wish everyone a happy year of the snake!

If you guys follow me on Twitter you would have noticed that I shared some traditions, customs and superstitions with regards to the Chinese New year celebrations. So I'm going to do a compilation of it, and hope you guys can enjoy learning about the customs of the Chinese. To non-Chinese, hey... it's learning about the practices of another race, so it's not a bad thing is it...

So enjoy... here's all I can recall. I may have left out some - if I did, share in the comments below.

Here's my list of things to observe in the Chinese New Year period...

1) Dilarang cuci rambut pada hari pertama Raya. Juga jangan sapu rumah tau.Tu seolah buang 'ong' atau rezeki mendatang. So get your haircut, or clean your home thoroughly before the Chinese New Year kickstarts. Cutting your hair, or cleaning out the house on New Year day is symbolic of shortening your life, or throwing away the live of your loved ones.

2) Keep all the cleaning apparatus like brooms and such hidden. Semua benda seperti penyapu dan sebagainya simpan wei. Tak pasti sebab, tapi betul logik kan kan... takkan orang mai umah nak beraya tengok penyapu posing kat tengah umah.

3) If you have to sweep (germaphobe katanya tak tahan kotor, sweep the dust inwards into your house in a pile. Don't step on it (pendekkan nyawa dan suwei - selain kotorkan kaki nak pijak merata kena bersihkan umah lagi - lawak hambar). Sapu semua ke satu sudut, dan pungut (I don't know if vacuum cleaners apply to this rule). Apa habuk atau sampah pada tempoh ni, kena di buang belakang rumah melalui backdoor. Jangan bawa keluar dari pintu depan.

4) Seeolaknya tunggu sehingga hari kelima untuk apa apa aksi pembersihan kalau da tahan sekalipun.

5) Don't swear! Jangan guna perkataan mati especially selain ucapan apa yang tidak elok. Words like death and other negative words should be frowned upon - as you want the start of the new year to signify the rest of your year. Dan juga termasuk jangan nak feeling nak kongsi cita hantu dan seterusnya...

6) Please settle all your debts before the Chinese New Year dawns. Jangan mulakan tahun dengan berhutang. Tak elok tu...bukan sahaja kerana orang lain nak gak berhabis duit yang ko tak bayar-bayar... tapi as applied to the general rule, mulakan tahun baru dengan keadaan yang seelok mungkin.

7) Jangan menangis! Jika anda menangis pada hari raya yang pertama, menangislah anda sepanjang tahun gitu.

8) Don't wear black. Even white is not welcomed. Wear yellow or everyone's favourite during the Chinese New Year period - red. Lucky colours! Colour blocking fashionistas will love this.

9) Jangan tegur orang dalam bilik tidur. Malah jangan duduk dalam bilik tidur pada hari tahun baru yang pertama. Seeloknya dok ruang tamu.

10) Elakkan penggunaan pisau dan gunti atau apa benda yang tajam yang sewaktu dengannya. Everything sharp should be kept away to avoid 'cutting' your luck for the new year.

11) Ni penting sebab ramai suka wat lawak bagi - nak angpow. Tak lawak pun. Basi. Hanya orang yang dah kahwin leh bagi, dan hanya mereka yang single boleh menerima. Senang gitu je. Siapa yang kira melalui raya kali pertama sebagai pasangan suami isteri kena bagi double! Tapi tak silap aku ada pengecualian dalam kes tertentu.

12) Pada detik tengah malam, pintu dan tingkap digalakkan dibuka. This is to allow the old year out and the new year in. Semua lampu rumah harus dipasang untuk meraikan kedatangan baru tahun baru. Mercun juga dipasang to welcome the new year, as well as to scare off evil and bad things.

13) Jangan beli kasut dalam tempoh Raya (iaitu 15 hari). Juga jangan beli buku. Tang ni sebab dalam bahasa cina, kasut bunyi seperti kasar dan buku bunyi seperti kalah. So if you don't want a rough new year, or one to lose everything - avoid buying shoes or books during the period.

14) Digalakkan makan segala manisan dan benda yang manis. Jangan sampai kena kencing manis da la...

15) Ada adat yang tidak mengalakkan makan daging pada hari raya yang pertama. Tapi ini bukan dilayan semua... ada segelintir saja yang masih ikut adat ni. Tapi digalakkan makan ikan sebanyak yang leh sebab tu untuk rezeki.

16) If you're eating noodles dalam tempoh raya, jangan 'potong' mee tu. Kira hirup je la pastu kunyah. Tu lambang panjang umur, tak dipotong pendek.

17) Teguran pertama anda pada orang pertama anda jumpa pada pagi raya, akan menentukan perjalanan tahun anda. Jadi mulakan dengan kata-kata seindah mampu. Jangan buka mata je gaduh maki orang ek.

18) Kalau ada tumbuhan atau pokok yang hidup yang da kering nak mati dalam rumah atau dah arwah tu, cepat buang dan ganti sebelom raya. Living things, plants or otherwise should be healthy symbolizing the rest of the year for you.

19) Try using new bank notes. Duit yang da koyak bagai tu, gi lah tukar kat bank. Permulaan baru biar segalanya baru, terutama tang rezeki tu.

20) Anak-anak diwajibkan hidang teh (kopi pun boleh... jangan serve arak da lah) kepada ibubapa tanda hormat dan taat pada mak dan ayah.

21) Pineapple mean luck. So jangan pelik kenapa orang suka sangat ada nenas ni.

22) Anak-anak digalakkan stay awake mana mampu. Lebih lama mereka jaga malam sebelum masuk Tahun Baru, adalah waktu yang 'diberikan' kepada nyawa orang tua. The belief is simply that the longer the children 'guard the years' of their parents, the longer the life of the parents...

And those are just some of the Chinese New Year customs I still recall that was taught to me by my parents and family, almost all of which I observe until this day.

To my non-Chinese friends who may get confused - ini soal adat dan budaya kaum Cina. Tiada apa kena mengena dengan soal agama. For the millionth time, I may be Christian, but I am of Chinese ancestry so these are customs of my race.

The list is to help everyone be more aware of the beliefs and practices of others. Like every festival in multiracial Malaysia - we all have our own set of beliefs, and I think while it may not be directly relevant to others, it is no big feat to actually equip ourselves with this knowledge so we know how to respect others and live in harmony.

For example, I had one Twitter follower who didn't have a clue black was offensive and she probably thought it was chic to wear a black cheongsam on Chinese New Year. Major faux pas! Sama dengan seorang mamat ni mintak angpow dari aku, and when I explained - dia balas - "ko kan Cina kena bagi".

Ignorance is never a good state to live in, so I hope, somehow, someone out there got something out of this.

Also to my fellow Chinese around the world, let us not forget the customs of our people. Remember who we are?  龙的传人

So to everyone Kong Hee Fatt Choy, have a happy and prosperous year of the snake, and may you be blessed with long life and abundance.

新年快乐!!!

Read More

Fail!

Wow! Hebatlah. Kerajaan negeri... mengucapkan apa tu?

Gong Xi Fa Cai dalam bahasa Mandarin, Gong Hey Fat Choy kalau Cantonese dan sebab aku Cina Hokkien, sebut Kong Hee Fatt Choy.

Mana wujudnya Gong Xi FAI Cai ni? Typo kecik? Dalam bahasa Cina ni salah sebutan, maksud terus lari. Benda yang elok pon leh jadi bahan ajak gaduh. Jadi gila salah eja, rasanya?

Gong Xi means 'congratulations'. So in the full sentence tu, maksudnya tahniah atas  rezeki anda or something to that effect. Congratulations on your prosperity.

Fai Chai maksudnya - useless bum. Orang yang tak berguna, atau sampah masyarakat. Erm... jadi poster tu sebenarnya ucapkan apa? Tahniah sampah masyarakat?

Lain kali kalau nak sangat pakai bahasa orang tu, buat lah bebetul.

Read More

Blackberry Z10

Tak sabar... tak sabar... tak sabar. Can't wait to get my Blackberry 10 - Z10. Kurang dua minggu lagi saja!

Pada siapa yang se-excited aku, here's a teaser kat atas. Ini iklan Blackberry Z10 masa Superbowl. Memang kerek gak lah sebab iklan dia stressed that 30 seconds was not enough to show what the phone can do - but enough to show what it cannot do.

And here are four other commercials yang aku rasa for UK and/or Canada sebab dia sebut Z10 'zet' dan bukan 'zee' cam orang Amerika.

Can't wait for February 20. Ugh!

Read More

Unicorn riding, anyone?

I hate Groupon. I don't know... just think it's overrated. Offer meka ni kekadang mengarut nak mampus. And true enough, yesterday was alerted of an offer (sadly expired now), offering a whopping 58% discount on unicorn rides in Ulu Yam.

Sila gelak ye...

Cool or what... exactly. I thinking of the 'what' too.

Don't believe this ad existed? CLICK HERE for the link. Thanks OhBulan for the heads up.

Read More

Hack The Planet

Pertama sekali nak sambung cerita Psy ni.

Semalam keluar lah berita kisahnya Psy ni dibawak oleh syarikat swasta, bukan kerajaan. Jadi kira tak bazir lah duit kiranya.

Soalan aku seperti berikut :
1. Kenapa pada awalnya ada saja yang rajin wakil mengatakan patut tak kecoh soal ini kerana membawa Psy ni ibarat hadiah dari kerajaan pada rakyat? Kalau ditaja, takkan nak anggap dari kerajaan. Betul tak?
2. Bila di kata, pelik pula rasanya - siapa yang sanggup 'taja' sampai berjuta?
3. Rupanya syarikat bernama Mega Ultimate yang bawak masuk. Meka ni promoter, walaopon haram aku penah dengar nama meka. Sebutlah Galaxie, Livescape/Rockaway, Pineapple, Clockwork dan sebagainya, sebagai orang dalam dunia hiburan aku tau lah. Rupanya meka ni buat konsert K-Pop banyak. Tapi publisiti tahap manja. Camna meka mampu ek? Sedangkan syarikat lebih gah tak mampu?
4. Diskodeng, rupanya banyak event meka ni ditaja bersama dengan Magnum 4D. Yang lain, belajarlah persoalkan sendiri.

Sebenarnya aku sedih bila perkara ni aku ketengahkan.

Aku berkali kata - JANGAN POLITIKKAN ISU NI!

Ada yang nak dengar?

Nasib baik pembangkang kira gentleman la gak ngan kerajaan ni kata, takpe, gi lah event tu. Acara rakyat.

Tapi tak bermaksud aku setuju. Sama bangang tuk aku statement tu.

Aku tambah panas, masih ada yang tak paham beza Korea dan China kot.

Kaum Cina dan Korea berbeza. Malah Korea lebih dekat asal usual mereka dengan orang Jepun. Tiada persamaan atau perkongsian budaya Cina dan Korea. Balik pada isu - jadi kira kita mata sepet je sama ke?

Sampai ada blog cybertroopers ni yang kutuk libatkan politik dengan pembangkan dan keluarkan statement "Cina dengan Cina pun dengki ke?". Soalan aku satu je - ko ni bangsa apa yang bodoh sangat? Ko kulit tan ni kira ko Latino ke? Maori ke?

Some people can be so shallow.

Sebentar tadi, wujud lah kecoh sikit. Kisahnya - website SEGi University College kena hack. Dan bukan tu sahaja, Malaysia Productivity Corporation punya website pun kena godam! Ini dua pesanan yang sama pada dua lama yang lain.

 

Masih ada yang tak faham ke ramai rakyat kurang senang situasi pembaziran ni. Apa rasional menjemput orang luar yang takde kena mengena, sambil berhabis berjuta ni.

Ridiculous.

I guess the reactions on social media are now the real reflection of the feeling of the silent majority now. If not, they will be sooner or later as people wise up. After all, semua dapat rebat beli smartphone ni semakin ramai lah online...


Credit : Original source from Amanz

Read More

Rest In Peace

PETALING JAYA: Malaysian Claudia Theophilus, 42, a journalist with Al-Jazeera, was shot dead in Baakleen, in the mountains of Lebanon at 2.30am (Lebanon time) on Saturday.

She was with two other friends. One of them reported the matter to the police who alerted the Malaysian Embassy in Beirut.

Ambassador Ilango Karuppannan confirmed Sunday that she was shot dead but said that details remained sketchy.

He said that her body had been taken to a hospital in Baakleen and an autopsy had been done.

“We are on the way there now,” he told The Star.

Rest in peace Claudia. You were a great mentor to me throughout my time at The Sun when I was just learning the ropes to be a journalist. You pushed me, put up with my crazy and always told me to be myself. With you, Arfa, Sharon, An Nee, Reen, Ghee, Buvi, Hamidi and the rest... I learnt the basics of everything I needed to be a good reporter, journo and writer.

You always told me to keep asking, never be satisfied with answers and pushed me to think out of the box.

We haven't met in so long, and it's sad that I have to come across you in such a manner through such sad news. I love you, sister. I pray that God will bless your soul. Rest well, and we'll hit the party in the sky together soon. Much love...

Read More

Lu Pikirlah Sendiri

Jadi... duit siapa? Memang Psy datang untuk Future Music Festival Asia di Mac bawah penganjur persendirian. But who is paying for the performance at the open house? Dapat diskaun apa sangat sampai mampu ni?

Malas betul... memang benar. Anak seni tempatan juga macam PENGEMIS saja jadinya. Siapa nak call confirm silakan.

Untuk baca posting asal promoter ni - KLIK SINI

Read More

Psy-cho

I respect Psy. He works hard. People think he was an overnight success because of Gangnam Style, tapi hakikatnya dia kerja kuat. Dah enam album baru rezeki dia sampai nak dikenali seluruh dunia. His arrival however was in style. Kerana tu aku hormat anak seni macam dia berjaya dengan usaha sendiri.

Tapi hari ni sumpah aku sedih dengan perangai orang kita.

Kisahnya, Psy will be performing for the Barisan Nasional open house come Chinese New Year.

Sebelum aku cakap apa-apa, ni disclaimer. This has NOTHING to do with politics! And forgive my rant in both English and Bahasa Malaysia. I think and speak like this in real life.

Aku terkilan dan terpanggil untuk komen hal ni because firstly, this is a CHINESE New Year celebration. Why is a Korean for Chinese New Year? Do the organizers think we look the same? Kira bangsa Cina dan Korea ni meka ingat sama ke? This is merely an assumption - but if that is so - that is just FUCKING racist! Siapa punya idea bangang ni lah...

It's Chinese New Year. Not Seollal (Korean New Year).

If they called him because of his popularity, he was already on the way to our shores anyway for a show. Plus, not to mention - what else do you know apart from Gangnam Style to justify tens of thousands (guess in which currency) which he will be paid? Plus, Gangnam Style is SO 2012.

Takde ke artis Malaysia berbangsa Cina nak dipanggil? Kalau nak sangat panggil orang luar, panggil lah yang betul-betul darah Cina. Ni perayaan bangsa Cina kot. Psy has NOTHING to do with the celebration of our customs and traditions. Yes, I am Malaysian Chinese.

It is sad to see this happening.

Ingat murah ke harga Psy. Bulan tiga ni he'll be performing at the Future Music Festival Asia and I know Psy's price range. Bukan murah. Siapa yang nak bayar? Duit dari mana? Dia di bayar ikut USD. Bukan RM. Dahlah baru keluar berita kata nilai matawang negara akan jatuh berbanding dollar Amerika...

Biasa kalau show kerajaan, nak bayar artis tempatan, susah sangat nak keluar bajet. Always the same thing, that we don't have the budget to pay. Tapi tang orang luar saja, laju je dihulur apa diminta hanya kerana nak sangat orang luar mai.

Habis tu? Anak seni Malaysia nak letak mana? Sudah tak ada artis Malaysia ke yang nak panggil? Lagi relevan panggil anak seni berbangsa Melayu dari anak Korea untuk sambutan rumah terbuka Tahun Baru Cina. Bukan ke Shila Amzah sendiri semakin naik namanya di China? She is being paid a lot to perform in China, while we bring in a Korean to perform for our Chinese New Year celebrations. Anyone can make sense of that?

Artis Malaysia berbangsa Cina pun ramai yang dah menempah nama di luar. Kenapa tak gunakan duit untuk memanggil mereka pulang untuk sambutan ini?

Baru kecoh orang menari Gangnam Style ketika Thaipusan kerana tidak menghormati adab dan agama. Ini nak buat rumah terbuka panggil Psy. Siapa punya kerja ini. Aku mintak sangatlah pihak penganjur Barisan Nasional yang prihatin dan peka terhadap kebodohan yang ditunjukkan dalam tindakan memanggil Psy untuk jadi tamu khas rumah terbuka Barisan Nasional.

Listen... listen... listen! Kera di hutan disusukan, anak di rumah mati kelaparan!

Read More

Blackberry 10 - The Dummies Guide

Yesterday night (11pm - Malaysia time) was the worldwide launch of Blackberry 10. The new Blackberry platform.

And there is SO much that's new about it. First of all - introducing two members of the Blackberry 10 family. The Z10 and the Q10.

Now here's what you need to know.

1. First of all. Research In Motion is now officially known as just - Blackberry. There is no more RIM. The tagline for the company is now 'One Brand, One Promise' to refocus its strategies.

2. The Blackberry 10 is a complete overhaul of the Blackberry operating system. Meaning, it won't function as what you know of the normal Blackberry that you may already own. It will be familiar - but a big change from what you had. So until you get to test drive a Blackberry 10 - don't compare it with what you know based on past Blackberry experiences.

3. The Blackberry Hub is now a key feature. Bringing together your email, text messages, BBMs, and various other notifications from social networking sites and the calendar - integrating it all with the execution of the newly introduced Blackberry Flow that means you will never really leave the screen.

4. There is no home button! It's all swipe motion. This brings on Blackberry Peek. Think of your Blackberry now as a book, you can flip to any page - without having to close the other. Hard to imagine? Watch a demo video online or try it out. It makes things so much easier.

5. Blackberry Time Shift. This has been one of the outstanding new features I've been waiting for. You take a photo, and someone blinks or smirks or whatever. You just click on their face - and go BACK or FORTH in time before you took the photo to choose the right 'face' that you want. On the spot editing, no need to take like five different pictures to get the perfect picture.

6. Blackberry Story Maker is amazingly a surprise. Didn't hear about it until the launch event last night. Basically, your Blackberry is built in with a movie maker! You can edit you photos, images, music together to make an instant movie.

7. Predictive text has always existed. BUT you NEED to see how it works on the Blackberry 10. Crazy! No phone does this.

8. There are variations in the two models of the Blackberry 10 family so far. 

First, the Blackberry Z10. It comes in two colours, both black - and white. I usually hate touchscreen devices because it can be so bloody hard to type. But the new Blackberry Flow, Peek coupled with the new capabilities of the predictive text function allow everything to be done - with just one thumb. Seriously. This is... yummy. The back is no longer cheap plastic. It is a durable rubberised soft grip feature that is really luxurious and gorgeous!

The Q10 offers a familiar look like the Blackberry 9900 but with a larger screen allowing the capabilities of Blackberry Flow and Blackberry Peek to make it more amazing.

9. BBM offers new features. Voice Call via BBM was introduced, and now - you have Video Calling available on your BBM service as well. Awesome demo was done at the launch, and it is definitely a bonus.

10. Screen Share is another feature that is pretty awesome. Imagine you want to show someone who's not by your side what's on your phone. Now that's possible via screen share, where the other user can be invited to take a peek at your phone to share pictures or more.

11. Blackberry Share allows you to partition your Z10 for both work and personal use making it physically impossible for the two sides to share data (such as photos). This will apply more for enterprise users.

12. How does the Blackberry 10 family stack up against competition?

BlackBerry Z10 vs. Samsung Galaxy S III vs. iPhone 5 vs. Nokia Lumia 920

	BlackBerry Z10	Samsung Galaxy S III	iPhone 5	Nokia Lumia 920
Screen Size	4.2 inches	4.8 inches	4 inches	4.5 inches
Resolution	1,280 x 768	1,280 x 720	1,136 x 640	1,280 x 768
Weight	4.78 oz	4.7 oz	3.9 oz	6.5 oz
CPU	Dual-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4	Dual-core 1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 (in the U.S.)	Dual-core Apple A6	Dual-core 1.5 GHz Snapdragon S4
Storage	16 GB + microSD slot	16GB, 32GB or 64GB +microSD slot	16GB, 32GB or 64GB, no card slot	32GB, no card slot
Connectors	microUSB, micro HDMI	microUSB, HDMI adapter not included	Apple Lightning, HDMI adapter not included	microUSB, HDMI adapter not included
Operating System	BlackBerry 10	Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean)	iOS 6	Windows Phone 8
Battery	305 hours standby, 10 hours talk time (3G)	790 hours standby, 11:40 hours talk time (3G)	225 hours standby, 8 hours talk time (3G)	300 hours standby, 10 hours talk time (3G)
Camera	8MP, LED flash, autofocus	8MP, 3,264x2,448 pixels, autofocus, LED flash	8MP, 3,264x2,448 pixels, autofocus, LED flash	8MP, 3,264x2,448 pixels, optical image stabilization, autofocus, dual-LED flash
Networking	Wi-Fi, 2G, 3G, 4G LTE Mobile Hotspot	Wi-Fi, 2G, 3G, 4G LTE	Wi-Fi, 2G, 3G, 4G LTE	Wi-Fi, 2G, 3G, 4G LTE
Price	$199 (estimated)	$199.99 + $35 carrier fee	$199 for 16GB, $299 for 32GB, $399 for 64GB	$99.99

As you can see, battery life which everyone bitches about has been greatly increased. The Blackberry is one of the major challengers when it comes to that now. As is pretty much the whole hardware.

In fact, if we were to go by hardware alone - the Blackberry 10 is neck and neck with the Apple and Samsung challengers. Windows phones are pretty much paperweights right now.

And that's not taking into account the software. Blackberry 10's QNX technology is amazing, but again, with all the new functions and user interface, it has to be experienced to get an idea of what it's all about. I have had the chance to try to both the Alpha Developers A and B - the test units of the Blackberry 10 and I can see how amazing it is. Note, despite being a fan of Blackberry - I have tested the iPhone, HTC, Samsung and Nokia. So when I say amazing, I am saying it by comparison - NOT by just preference alone.

Now...

The magic question. The Blackberry 10 that everyone's talking about - which has seen the likes of Alicia Keys, Neil Gaiman and Robert Rodriguez join the Blackberry family to promote it.

14. When will the Blackberry 10 family come to Malaysia and how much will it cost?

Officially - Blackberry Malaysia have announced the grand launch of Blackberry 10 on 20 February. 

No price has officially been announced, or the actual date the phone will hit the shelves, but I believe it will be immediate after the Malaysian launch. 

The UK gets theirs today, some territories get it by 15 February while the US will get it by March. Why 'so long'? Easy. Telco and provider issues I guess.

At any rate. I'm getting mine. Expect to see my personal review of it in three weeks. My only dilemma now is - do I get it in black, or white.


PS - There are other functions like Remember. But honestly, it's just loaded with new stuff.

PPS - More than 70,000 to begin with but more apps are coming. Meanwhile Blackberry World has much more. 

Read More

Amazing

The music industry can deal such a cruel blow to you with their brand of reality. Looks are so often, the measure of whether someone will make it in the business.

And yet, like this video, it proves that sometimes... having someone to believe in you is enough to guarantee a reversal of fortune. Better still... the loyalty of friendship, is something that will will make you more respected and loved.

Do watch this video. Sumpah sejak semalam aku tonton video ni, aku inspired gila babiks. These kind of stories give me faith and belief in human nature. Simply... amazing... in more ways that one.

Read More

Nazmi oh Nazmi

Tuh dia. Kaki delete tweet dah minta maaf. Dia ni dah masuk episod kedua dah perangai dia nak tweet tak pikir.

Kali terakhir sibuk kata kena hack bagai. Kali ni dah kena carut mesti dia keluar alasan kena hack, dia cepat-cepat dalam masa beberapa jam terus delete. Yang terbaru... baru tadi, dia dah keluar lak statement mintak maap kat Aidil. Jangan salahkan katanya... siapa yang salahkan...

Ko gak yang kata dia bersekedudukan, sponsor minah ko gilakan tu. Gila lah bebudak skang ni.

Tu la... umur muda merantau feeling football superstar - SPM pun tak abih. Sibuk kejar kerjaya takpe, ni dok meroyan kat Twitter, pastu cepat-cepat delete pas mengaibkan orang. Pastu mintak maap gitu je. Sharifah Zohra betul lah perangai dia.

Ish ish ish...

Lain kali pikir dulu sebelum nak tweet.

Read More

Berani buat, tanggung kena screencap

And here we go...pagi tadi online ada member tweetkan follow drama swasta Twitter yang tengah japan. Kisahnya, melibatkan Nazmi Faiz tengah meroyan online. Nak dekat 4 pagi ni nak meroyan apa agaknya. Ye lah... international timing katanya kan.

Hantar jauh-jauh main bola, rupanya ni keja...Ke kena 'hack' lagi pengakuan selepas ini. Pernah dah pun mamat ni meroyan, tiba-tiba mengaku Twitter kena hack. Alasan paling klise dan common today.

Anyway, here are the sequence of the tweets I screencapped.

Nak kata benar atau tidak ini kata-kata dia, aku tak berani nak komen. TAPI - one thing aku boleh cakap - kalau macam ni lah standard English bebudak kita, lain kali bagilah habis SPM bebetul dulu baru nak feeling berjalan. Bahasa tahap darjah lima camni...

Itulah... bak kata Usop Wilcha - "Itulah pentingnya English edukesyennnnn" *wat lambai-lambai tangan...


PS - Dah heret nama orang lain masuk, bersedialah ko Nazmi...

PPS - As of 9am tadi, semua tweets di atas telah dipadamkan berserta tiga empat tweet yang lain selepas itu...

Read More

2013 - full steam ahead!

Sudah lama tinggalkan blog ni. Selama ni update pun malas. Well, bukan malas lah actually. Just apa masa aku ada terluang, terlalu mahal untuk nak melekat online saja. Nak online pun bukan macam dulu. Kalau dulu blog saja. Sekarang dengan Facebook, Twitter, Instagram bagai... pening siot nak update semua.

So where do I start with actually trying to make an effort to update my blog again that once documented my life proper.

So let's start with some thoughts in my head.

All these while, aku tak pernah merancang lebih jauh dalam hidup aku. Sejujurnya, semua aku lakukan ikut gerak hati. Apa aku rasa MUNGKIN yang terbaik bagi diri aku.

Not the most mature way to go about things.

Still, I haven't done too bad.

2012 however has taught me a lot of life lessons.

Let go of the petty bitterness of disappointments and frustrations past. No matter what you went through, or how unfair it was - get a grip and move on. And I've been trying to do that.

Also, while I've always been a spontaneous sort of person that has lived by making snap decisions - now I've decided to mature just a little bit and be more focused in achieving set goals.

My aim in life has never been to get rich.

You want to know what I think life is all about? Making a better living for my loved ones. My father, my mother, my sister - and my son.

Through that motivation, I've also been more focused into leaving a legacy. Think of it. Everything you've done or achieved... kalau esok kau di panggil kembali - will people even give a fuck that you ever existed? Will anyone remember?

That realization came saat pengkebumian arwah Yasmin Ahmad. People from all walks of life, came - not only to mourn her, but to celebrate her life. She had left such an amazing impact on the lives of so many, termasuk diri aku - that at the end of the day - no one will forget her.

I'll probably never achieve that - to be someone so full of love for other people... but the least I can do is try my best to live for a reason, a purpose - apart for just myself.

So in the later part of 2012 - I  have been laying the foundation of my path for the future (however long that may be). Life's too short to whine or complain alone. Affirmative action sometimes is the best.

I also have taken on more responsibilities to be more mature. Damn... nak umur 37 nih, walaupun jiwa dan semangat tetap macam budak belasan tahun, I can't keep living recklessly and just forget I do have responsibilities to execute. Dari dulu, I haven't been the sort nak wat paperwork, nak meeting orang corporate bagai. Well, guess what... I'm finally learning being creative is one thing. I've got to learn how to handle the business side of things more better.

Selama ni, kengkawan gelak aku. Kata aku Cina yang gagal... sebab tak pandai wat duit. Asyik nak wat percuma sebab nak bantu orang. Selama ni wat camtu, kena pijak kena hina kena amik kesempatan. No more. Time to work for myself and my loved ones, and those who deserve that helping hand. No more, no less.

My goal for 2013 is simple. I want to make more music. I want to get my studio built and develop more new talents. Not for money, but a balance between commercial appeal - and art - which can bring our music further in the eyes of the world.

Time spent with Yuna and Zee have been eye opening. Learning more from them makes me believe more in dreaming bigger. Nothing is impossible, if you don't set limitations.

Yerlah... nak mimpi je satu. Usaha pun kena sama gak nak capai apa dikehendaki kan? So praying that my plans slowly fall into place...

I see a revolution coming in Malaysian music. The new sounds of the future are playing today if you just listen close enough.

In 1 1/2 years, I'm happy a boy living in a 'surau', makan dalam RM3 sehari, cari makan sebagai penghibur jalanan - sudah mampu nak berdiri sama tinggi dengan orang dalam industri muzik Malaysia. Of course I'm talking about Amir Jahari.

Selepas Anugerah Juara Lagu, second single dia, Penghibur Jalanan pun dah mendapat sambutan hangat kat semua stesen radio. I'm proud semuanya menjadi. Our target was never to make money solely, cukuplah segala makan minum pun dah ok.

Yang pentingnya, nak ketengahkan seni... seni anak muda yang berusaha, walaupun serba kekurangan nak berlawan dengan industri ini yang memang money power tu penting. It's ok. Everyone has advantages, and disadvantages.

By the way, the picture above was taken by a friend. This was how it was supposed to look. Not bad kan? Cuma ye lah... bila TV production, camera angle, lighting memainkan peranan. Idea aku terlalu rumit nak ditunjukkan kot kat TV. Tapi at least kita mencuba sesuatu yang baru.

Lari topik. So after Amir, I have dreams to build more quality talents, and we'll see if it happens.

Minggu ni, dengan izinNya, I have a meeting that could just make or break my plans for the studio and art center I want to build to develop more young talents. Semuanya bergantung pada satu mesyuarat ini. Aku nervous gila sebenarnya sebab harapan terlalu tinggi untuk perancangan aku menjadi kenyataan.

At this point, aku dah temui ramai 'kawan' yang pentingkan duit, dan lupa niat asal mereka masuk ke dalam industri ni... sehingga berkiblatkan wang Ringgit. Tak apa... itu pilihan jalan masing-masing. Biarlah orang dengan cara masing-masing. Aku tetap dengan pendirian aku...

I am slightly disheartened at this point, but I look forward to a future with more colour, more music and more art.

Hopefully... my random musings in this entry will bear fruit in the near future.

At any rate, aku nak rajinkan dire balik kat sini juga. Hope I still have somebody... anybody reading...

Kalau tak ada pun... I guess it feels kind of nice to be venting, as I'm learning how not to bore people with my life anymore. Kadang-kadang diam adalah lebih bijak.


PS - I am SO lucky I've had amazing companies like Blackberry back me up all this while. Korang tau tak set untuk Anugerah Juara Lagu untuk Amir Jahari disponsor mereka? And all the performers, the vocalists, the band (including members of Go Gerila!) and the stompers in No Noise Percussion pun tolong gila babiks punya? Belum lagi keluarga Kasi Gegar Entertainment. Syukur seribu kali syukur ramai masih percaya in my dream...

Read More