Feeling like a fool

You know what is worse than looking like a fool?

Making a fool of yourself to the very person you don't want to appear like a fool.

Period.

The Land Before Time Soundtrack - If We Hold On Together

I recently got this song from a friend and listening to it brings back alot of memories. I loved dinosaurs back then and naturally, this was my favourite cartoon. I had the video and I remembered watching it lots of times - over and over. I even had part 2 but I didn't manage to watch part 3 and 4 (I think there were four movies).

Anyway, it is a beautiful song.

Ulu n' Terpencil

I had an event at the Pick n' Brew today. The place was rather nice I think but it's rather secluded - thus not many would know about it. It's deep, deep into one of the corners and is adjacent to the connecting door for One World Hotel. I have been to One Utama countless times but I've never even gone remotely near that particular place before.

Two words - Ulu n' Terpencil

Yes, those were shots from the camera in my new phone :)

Peter Gabriel's 'Down To Earth'

The song is fantastic. I think the lyrics are superb and the pensive mood it brings fits well with the movie.

China cheating in Olympics?

I have not watched the Beijing Olympics but nevertheless, I found this abit disturbing when I read about it. According to an article by the editor of AskMen, China is allegedly cheating in the prestigious event. I have not watched any of the sports event (apart from the feeble Malaysian attempt for a gold in badminton) and thus, I can't form much of an opinion.

For the record, I would like to state that I'm no fan of China (anyone who knows me personally would know why) and I think that the Chinese, of all people are the most competitive - making this not unlikely. However I feel that since it's coming from the USA, the credibility of the accusation is laughable.

They may be right but who's gonna sympathize with or believe allegations formed by a country that is in second place in the medal tally? A case of jealousy gone bad?

Then, I googled the term 'China cheating in Olympics' and my my, I got an eyeful of different opinions by various blogs, websites and forums.

I know that the home country usually gets a boost to their medal haul but to this extent where disgruntled opinions are being flashed everywhere?

Did stuff like these get raised in previous Olympics?

When it ends

The 2008 issue 3 of my magazine has been closed and it will be out in September. It has been a journey for me working all these months. What more with being understaffed. I'm the only in-house writer at the moment and I'm proud that I have been able to handle everything that has been handed to me. It really has been crazy for the last couple of weeks with work being everywhere in my life. Now it is time to relax and come up with ideas for the next issue.

Look out for my magazine in September. It has my name splashed around in alot more of the pages.

:)

AI will soon take over the planet

The GPS system in my new phone is fantastic. I was abit apprehensive at first and it took great will power to go against all skepticism I had for listening to a device with AI. However it proved to be so accurate that I'm now a firm believer that machines are definitely gonna rule the world soon. :D

Not only did it give accurate directions, the voice direction it provided was unbelievable. It was like having a personal guide sitting right beside you while you're driving and telling you what to do. For a fact, I've never had driving companions this omniscient about road directions before!

It provided helpful voice directions like:

- At the first possible turning, turn left
-After turning right, keep left
-After turning right, make a sharp direct turn to the left
-After 250 metres, turn left and then continue along the road for 500 metres before keeping right

Ok, I did get lost a few times but it was really because I was reading road signs and somehow it was contradicting the GPS. Thereafter I realised that the GPS is always right. But never fear because if you do happen to take the wrong turning (due to your own pigheadedness no doubt) the system automatically maps a new route from where you are now. Fantastic isn't it?

The only drawback is that the GPS can't tell which roads are to be avoided because of bad traffic. I made the mistake of following its instructions on my way back to KL and somehow it took me into all the small roads that are inexplicably jammed and that I would never in the whole world would think to attempt such a route.

Well you win some, you lose some.

The morning after

I found the experience of the graduation ceremony rather anticlimactic. Barely three seconds and it was over. Delayed gratification? Most likely not.

I think the excitement and pleasure came more from meeting the people you actually miss since leaving that part of your life behind. My stoic junior (thanks for the card and flowers), my patient senior (who actually left work early to come and see me), my roommate for 2 years (a saint - he survived living with me in close spaces all that time) and my research partners (pleasant memories of pulling our hair out while moaning about failed experimental attempts).

So little time for so much catching up in so short an afternoon.

The worst of both worlds

I was reading this bit on a website on Native American zodiac animals and I was surprised that I did not fit in with the general description of my animal sign. Could it be inaccurate? So I read the description for the animal of the group before mine since I'm so near to the cutoff point anyway. And I realized it was not accurate either. Then I realized that if you put the negative traits of both signs together, you get an apt description of me. LOL

By the way, the salmon looks so cute. Reminds me of those itty bitty ikan bilis I gulp down with my nasi lemak for breakfast. I might get a tatoo of it someday. How cute is an ikan bilis tatoo? :)

Salmon: Jul 22 – Aug 21
Electric, focused, intuitive, and wholly creative, the Salmon is a real live-wire. His/her energy is palpable. A natural motivator, the Salmon's confidence and enthusiasm is easily infectious. Soon, everybody is onboard with the Salmon – even if the idea seems too hair-brained to work. Generous, intelligent, and intuitive, it's no wonder why the Salmon has no shortage of friends. This Native American animal symbol expresses a need for purpose and goals, and has no trouble finding volunteers for his/her personal crusades. In a supportive environment, the Salmon is stable, calm, sensual, and giving. Left to his/her own devices, those that bear this Native American animal symbol can be egotistical, vulgar, and intolerant of others.



Woodpecker: Jun 21 – Jul 21
Woodpeckers are usually the most nuturing of all the Native American animal symbols. The consummate listener, totally empathic and understanding, the Woodpecker is the one to have on your side when you need support. Of course, they make wonderful parents, and equally wonderful friends and partners. Another proverbial feather in the Woodpeckers cap is the tendency to be naturally frugal, resourceful, and organized. In a nurturing environment the Woodpecker is of course caring, devoted, and very romantic. Left to his/her own devices the Woodpecker can be possessive, angry, jealous, and spiteful.

July is a shitty month to be born in

Yes, because all the retail discounts you get for your birthday month is pretty much redundant with the Malaysian mega sale going on...

When graduates go wild

In The Star today, a complaint was published with regards to the fiasco of collecting graduation robes on Monday in UM.

It came as no surprise that an issue like that would surface as a it was indeed a big fiasco and in so many ways more than just the morning rush that happened. As much as everyone would like to look good graduating, it was a big surprise for me when I heard from a friend that people were actually queuing up at midnight to secure the right size robes - particularly the 'S' ones.

Naturally, graduating is a big thing for most people and the ceremony, an even bigger event. However so, I think that it is very sad that students are no longer able to see the bigger picture.

There was a big upheaval not long ago too when UM announced that some of the graduation ceremonies would not be taking place in its main hall (Dewan Tunku Canselor) but instead at various halls around the different faculties. Students got so worked up about it that there was even talk of a peaceful demonstration to show solidarity against such a move by the university's administrators. I didn't see what's the fuss back then and I still don't see it now.

In my views, graduating is a thing to be proud of regardless of what you wear and where your convocation is. As much as I do hate the robes (I think they're appalling) and as much as I think the ceremony is a chore, I am proud to say that I'm a graduate. With or without the ceremony, one is still a graduate and that is what that matters most.

Students should stop being so hung up about their university life and start growing up. Maybe if they would have stopped nitpicking at every little detail in their life, they would have already gottten a job. I'm sure the ones in the fiasco were majorly the ones that are currently part of the thousands of unemployed graduates.

And for those who excuse themselves and say that they just want their parents to be proud of them on their special day, I say to you:

"My parents will still be proud even if I have my graduation ceremony in a cow shed wearing a potato sack!"

It is not where you graduate from that matters. It is how you're acting as a graduate, in life that matters.

When it just eludes you

I really don't get this no matter how many times I read it again and again....

PETA is taking it to a whole new level

Apparently I have been linked in a comment for a feminist's post regarding PETA exploiting women for their publicity campaigns. I have nothing much to say about PETA and of the near nude women posing in their ads but I do feel that sometimes, feminists really need to relax and not get their panties in a bunch over a seemingly harmless way of getting messages across.

The comment linked my post, 'When Men Go Nude' and while I'm totally alright with that, it also said that the following picture could be found on my blog. Actually I have never seen the aforementioned ad picture for PETA and I have not posted it on my blog.

The thing is, I liked it. It certainly makes a statement. So here you go.

Probably I'll be linked to the Pope's blog for this? I can almost imagine the title of the post , "Die you sinners! Thou shalt burn in hell." Or something similar in context...

Oh my nuts!

I was browsing through the AskMen.com articles when I came across this in their Manly Vegetables writeup.

Walnuts

They’re not veggies, but they’re just too manly to overlook. Walnuts have been used for millennia to enhance rock-hard maleness, if you catch my drift. More recently, scientists at the University of Malaya in Malaysia have developed a potent love potion from walnuts that rivals that famous blue pill performance-wise. The natural supplement, which contains the equivalent of 3.3 kg of walnuts, boosts performance for up to four hours. Still, eating a few walnuts every day has added benefits. They’re loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, a protective fat that has been shown to boost brain power, protect your cardiovascular system and stave off the worst effects of rheumatoid arthritis. They are, however, high in calories, so limit your intake.

Certainly not bad huh? Well, the thing is I really disliked the lecturer who spearheaded the research. In my opinion, he is one crappy lecturer that had no ability to teach whatsoever. It didn't help that I hated the subject he lectured on too. And oh yeah, I felt that he was one of those typical Chinese lecturers that resembled all the things I dislike in the Chinese in general.

Being reminded of him when I'm surfing a US men's website is something totally unexpected.

A book review: The Camomile Lawn

I seem to have a thing for British writers. I find their writing exceptionally beautiful and Mary Wesley's The Camomile Lawn is of no exception. Masterfully written, it vividly describes the tale of five cousins in wartime London and Cornwall - of despair, of hope, of sexual comforts and of lost innocence. The story reflects on how the uncertainties of war affects every aspect of life and how the heightened sense of mortality sheds inhibitions on love and values.

In my opinion, it is a book worth reading. It's actually a rather intense tale and I found it hard to put the book down after opening it up. Surprisingly though, there was humour to be found in the book with candid moments that I think is refreshing in a tale about war. It kept the story balanced, saving readers from being bored.

To balance the unlimited was to make it limited

It was just perfect. It couldn't get any better. I was so pleased that I actually couldn't believe my eyes when I saw it. I mean, could something free be that good? Well apparently it can be.

Yes, it was the most perfect seats. Dead right in the centre - not too close to the stage and yet not too far either. I was pleased that I could get free tickets for such good seats.

Then I saw the musical.

To be fair, I would say that it was not really my kind of thing. The humour, the pop culture references and the songs were just not right for me. I am sure alot of effort was put into it and it was a commendable work. However, the musical scores were not original (they used melodies from popular songs) and I found that abit corny. To make it worse, the humour was forced and it seemed like they were trying too hard to make you laugh. I felt the entertainment value was abit limited.

Performance-wise, it was good but other than that I can't say anything more positive about it.

Good seats, bad musical.

A rather good balance don't you think?

Accrued Benefits

I have been sleeping alot more lately. When I was a student, I only slept for about five hours a day and it was, surprisingly enough for me to function. Of course, I slept in lectures too but that's beside the point. Now, even ten hours a day is not sufficient for me to feel rested.

I scoffed at others that have an early bedtime before and look at me now - I'm asleep everyday at ten. It is kind of sad thing when you think about it.

Oh, I know, sleeping more is a good thing. Studies are showing that you can even lose more weight if you get sufficient sleep each day. Nothing like some beauty sleep, eh?

I got the sleeping part down to pat alright.

When does the beauty part kick in?

Lukewarm at best

I'm feeling a little disgruntled at the way I was treated today. I may not have been to many events since I started my job but I think, I have been to enough to tell that the company was not treating us right. Fine, maybe they thought focusing more of their attention on the retailers is the wise thing to do. Nevertheless, we, the media are the ones that not only will be reporting on your product launch but writing about your product. I think I shall give a lukewarm writeup at best, as I was received that way.

Alcoholics Anonymous

I feel like crap.

I had too much too drink yesterday at an office drinks session yesterday - and maybe a little too much too eat as well. Came back with a heavy head, totally inebriated and a full stomach. Fell asleep for a while and got up to hurl. Yes, hurl. Now I know why it is aptly called hurling. The flying projectile when rather far and with a rather great force. I could actually feel my stomach constricting totally as it emptied everything I had. Luckily I made it too the loo.

I can't really remember much but I think I did text a few people when I my brain was in shutdown. I hope I didn't say anything inappropriate.

Can't blame me. I had a bad day yesterday. Blame the horrible day?

Now, I'm nursing a bad hangover.

And everyone wonders why I don't drink.

Creative Coma

I think I'm suffering from writing overdose...

Too much of a good thing is bad.

Help?

LOL

Actually I wanted to write something about my day doing some men's beauty product research at the Pavilion and Suria KLCC but then somehow lost the will when I was trying to put together sentences. Am I desensitizing my creative thoughts to mental stimulation? Will that creative spark eventually burn out?

Crap. I'm raving and I totally don't know where I am heading with this post.

It's gonna me Monday again tomorrow. Join me lapsing into a coma?