Dancing As Hologram

When We Were Young

2011-03-05T12:44:00.004+13:00

A kid from 2P9 sang Malique's song in class today. I told him that it reminded me of myself when I was his age. My buddies and I performed Too Phat's "Anak Ayam" on Teacher's Day.

Later that night I felt like revisiting my 14-year-old hip hop phase. Downloaded D12's "Devil's Night" and to my surprise, a decade later, I could still rap along to those psychopathic but fun songs. Word for word.

Lead

2011-03-05T12:30:00.004+13:00

Noel Gallagher's first words to the band that would later become Oasis : "Let me write your songs and I'll take you to superstardom, or else you'll rot here in Manchester".

RZA from what would later become hip hop legends Wu-Tang Clan devised a 5-year plan in which he promised if he was given total control of the group, he would "bring them to the top".

I feel like as a teacher you'd need to take inspiration from these promises. Earn students' faith and convince them that if they let you show the way, you will lead them to betterment. Hopefully I can do that.

The Benefit of Blogging

2010-12-30T06:53:00.004+13:00

and nobody actually following your blog : You can post embarrassing stuffs like this.

Happy New Year, Miss Love of My Life! You're awesome, too.

It's That Time Again

2010-12-08T08:49:00.004+13:00

...for my birthday. I got a Nintendo DS from Dzeti two years back and a brand new phone from her last year. It feels like these happened yesterday. When I turned 18, my dad surprised me with a guitar, my first ever. Some irresponsible douchebag borrowed it and lost it in 2007. I still imagine having that thing laying around here somewhere.

But things change and time waits for no one.

"I'm 23 and I'm already hazy,
What am I gonna,
What am I gonna do?"
- The Starting Line.

Astro Rock

2010-12-05T05:00:00.002+13:00

...is a term coined by Brave Saint Saturn (another favourite band of mine, consisting of former members of the defunct but legendary Five Iron Frenzy).

It refers to their own breed of rock, which is entirely anchored in astronomical concepts. So far spanning across 3 full-lengths, their lyrics revolve around tales of astronauts’ struggle (and at times, failure) to survive in space, all the contrasting emotions that rage inside them as they hover alone million miles from Earth and the sense of accomplishment and victory in their homecoming. It is not an occupation for the timid and it’s really interesting to hear astronauts' trials and tribulations being told in a form of rock music. (Recommended sample: “Daylight”)

It just dawned on me that a few of my other choice rock bands could be considered astro rock too.

Bad Astronaut is an off-shoot band consisting of punk rockers from different bands. They assembled with deep-rooted spirit of punk rock, took inspirations from places beyond the atmosphere, added some mellow heart-wrenching sensibilities with strings, pianos and acoustic guitars, injected some masterful and versatile songwriting, and poof! – you are gifted with a rare gem of original music. (Recommended sample: “Autocare”)

Growing up in the late-90’s, Blink-182 played a huge part in introducing me to guitar distortion and power chords. Plus, I never imagined such immature silliness from an adolescent’s viewpoint actually had a place in music. It was really refreshing, at least for me. Almost a decade later, Tom Delonge grew way older and his musical outlet widened with Angels and Airwaves. Characterized by uplifting melodies and huge U2-inspired guitar works, layered with futuristic electronica that aliens in space might bop their head to, he seems to do the refreshing thing again. (Recommended sample: “Call to Arms”)

And off course I can’t lecture you about my definition of good music without mentioning Coheed and Cambria. This band bases their whole career on an epic tale of cyborgs, space ships, as well as cosmological conception and destruction as penned by geek-genius Claudio Sanchez. Claudio Kilgannon (his own character in the story) is cursed with a power to bring an end to the Keywork galaxy he lives in. Off course he uses it to battle an ominous army and seek retribution from a high-ranked villain with undisputed supremacy who caused deaths of his semi-robotic parents. (Recommended sample: “From Fear Through The Eyes of Madness”)

So if I ever feel like laying on a field, watching the stars, wondering if there are lives out there beyond our reach, I would play my favourite astro rock music. Maybe E.T. will stop by and have a chat.

While It Gently Weeps

2010-12-04T22:38:00.003+13:00

Some incidental benefits of me playing/having a guitar.

1. Protruding fingernails make it really unpleasant to play. I'm forced to keep them well-groomed.

2. Sweaty and grimy body leaves dirt ingrained in the guitar surface. I'm forced to bathe often.

3. Oily palms can harm the finish. I'm forced to wash my hands regularly.

4. Guitar hates humidity. I'm forced to close the windows. So, no more runny noses.

5. Guitar is a powerful dust-magnet. I'm forced to tidy up my room.

Now I just need another hobby to force me to do about 1450 other things that I need to do.

Let Me Bring Her There

2010-12-03T19:19:00.003+13:00

I don't care about anyone else. Not even myself. I don't have the need to attend the convocation there. It's just that it has been my dream to bring her there. After all that she's been through, nobody deserves it more than her. I remember driving in the midst of unparalleled beauty along South Island lonely roads and each time I saw something like this, ...

... I thought "My mom would love this in front of her eyes".

Big Head and Small Shoulders

2010-12-02T22:34:00.007+13:00

Dzeti gave me a bottle of mysterious shampoo (No, not the one referenced in the title of this post. Or is it?) before I left IPBA since my hair had grown unpleasant visually and aromatically. Now, my hair looks silky smooth and smells glorious, though the fact that I had shaven it nearly bald might have given it an additional shine. I also love how the shampoo eases my headaches no matter how bad or why, be it overheating, oversleeping or overthinking, among other things. It works wonders!

My niece is having a time of her life lately. I guess any 2-year-old single child would be. I watch her receiving undivided love from people surrounding her, getting new toys and enjoying these prized precious possessions until she's all exhausted and sweating. It reminds me of myself at her age. I got everything that I wanted and I owned the world. I'm glad she has the chance to experience such wide-eyed joy and excitement. I just desperately hope that it never comes with a price that she'll have to pay later when she's all grown up.

The price that I have to pay.

Perhaps I need to go shampoo now.

"Cliche Guevara"

2010-12-01T00:44:00.004+13:00

I spent the day reading Tom Gabel’s blog, tracing my way through the posts in rewind. I recently got into Against Me! and found the man to be quite interesting. I don’t want to be singing praises or displaying my (totally heterosexual) fondness of the guy here, though. It just that it reminds me of how I did the same with Claudio Sanchez’s (for a brief period since it hasn’t been updated) and Jason Mraz’s blogs. They really got me hooked and I enjoy reading about their yarns, opinions, personal struggles and fun times as much as I do watching movies and TV series.

There’s something about the fast-paced life of a touring musician that fascinates me. It’s not just about earning money doing something you love, visiting new places and making new acquaintances each day. I want to know about the unpredictability of life on the road, the changes it causes to the artist as a person and how the whole experience teaches them and defines their overall outlook on life and everything.

I also love reading about the attitudes and philosophies that they stand for. These people are autonomous men who think on their own feet. While influences from others are apparent, they don’t actually seek for endorsement from others since they truly believe in themselves. For so long, this has been my ultimate hope of my upcoming adulthood. I desperately ache to change. I want to be the guy in the future who, when he meets my 23 year-old self, would be ashamed that he knows me at all. I want him to shake my 23 year-old self and scream at my face ruthlessly, “What the hell are you doing!?”.

At this point, my lifestyle is the direct opposite of sophistication. I am not social person, I don’t read, I haven’t got my finger on the pulse of the world and I don’t think much except for morbid destructive things. In short, I am a little useless sad guy who resides in the lowest and furthest rank possible from successful touring musicians. Even if they just happen to have an interesting job and are actually ordinary people with their own everyday ups and downs.

Like a kid wishing to be their favourite superhero, I really like to live these people’s lives. At such time when (for undisclosed reasons) I feel my life has already been dragged to a halt before it commences, I feel the need to daydream about something real that someone else is experiencing at this very moment. Being a touring rockstar is certainly not a fairy tale and this resonates with me. The interesting eventful life is something that I wish for but on the other hand, the frustrations and hopelessness that they can’t escape reminds me that my own frustrations and hopelessness might not be exclusive to me.

Sullivan

2010-11-30T00:50:00.000+13:00

We don't share continents
Or worlds for that matter
But he gave me something
It pulled myself together

He never did know my name
Or a name like mine
The other day he died
It made me think for a while

I read about it out of nowhere
I was silenced by a phrase
It didn't freeze my blood
But my sight dimmed for a day

Saw his life through a peephole
Felt his energy through sound bites
The other day Sullivan died
It made me think for a while

.

2010-11-30T00:47:00.001+13:00

I’ve seen your secrets. I wish I’ve never dug them out.

I’m trying so hard each day not to resort to hate since I can’t bear regretting it later. Yet, I could not muster another feeling for you. I am confused. Should I put on an endearing smile as if everything is alright? Should I keep on looking for the bright side of things and ignore everything that lurks in the shadows? Or should I not think or feel at all and just accept things as they are?

I don’t know. You tell me. You’re supposed to be the one with the plan. It’s just hard to believe that desperation has actually been a part of the plan all along. You’re supposed to be the example for me. It’s just hard to accept that all that I should be is everything that you’re not. You're supposed to be many things that you're not. So, you tell me.

How I wish that you’d tell me. I believe I am man enough to face the truth, no matter how ugly it is and no matter how it contradicts each aspect of what I have been picturing my past, present and future to be. I’m strong enough to overlook told lies and receive the hidden reality. I’ve grown and am ready enough to find that my whole life so far has only been the sweet and colourful icing of a rotten moldy cake. I’m well-prepared to see that my future will not be bathed in shiny sunlight as I have hoped it will be. I’m strong enough to discover that this bullshit is endless.

But I’m too frail to find out from anyone but you yourself.

The Importance of Being Idle

2010-11-07T09:58:00.003+13:00

"Lonesome is the only way that I truly feel free"
- MxPx, Lonesome Town.

(I think Twitter is lame but I haven't been inspired to write longer posts for quite some time. Way to go!)

She Would Turn 34 Today

2010-10-27T20:50:00.002+13:00

I have so many things to tell you,
So many stories to share,
I wish the door would open and you would walk in smiling,
But you'd never be there.

*Al-fatihah for Allahyarham Riza Marina bt Abd Razak, my dearly beloved and deeply missed sister. It has been 2 years and I miss her so damn much.

Sebulan Aje Lagi

2010-10-25T18:26:00.000+13:00

False alarm, it wasn’t the end,
Seems we meet each other again,
Heave relief, it isn’t so bad,
Another year will wait around ahead

Another year is just a blur
Can’t figure out what I’m after
More hours in my hands than I need,
But I’m slowly releasing the grip.

Inertia tosses me
As time accelerates
I’d regain my poise in a minute
Except I never did

These are our good old days
Moments we’ll wish to retrieve
But I’ll finally see it years too late

In our hazy sight, tomorrow waits,
And our footprints left behind will fade.

Record Producer at Work

2010-09-18T04:47:00.001+12:00

Gotta hire the best

Maaf Zahir Batin...

2010-09-07T11:10:00.002+12:00

...and Selamat Hari Raya, everyone.

Do have fun. Celebrate. Feel glorious. Be grateful.

Unless we don't really deserve it.

-Hisyam

These Are The Good Old Days

2010-08-20T18:45:00.003+12:00

First and foremost, Coheed and Cambria was two weeks ago. This blog has been devoid of updates since my laptop is really messed up lately. Anyway, the gig was great, despite a few shortcomings which I have already gotten over (and not worth mentioning). In the previous post, I talked about a guy who I envied for meeting the band at the airport. Well, turned out that I met him at the gig and hung out with him and another die-hard fan throughout those few exhilarating hours. After the show, I approached the tour manager to find out whether we could catch the band on their way away at the airport. Their departure time was very untimely since I got to be in IPBA in the morning but the other two new friends endured the exhaustion and waited for them at KLIA. The result was photos of them with the band having a good time and me being miserable looking at the photos. Haha. So, that was the end of my fanboyism episode.

Anyway, lately I've been thinking about these last few months as a student. Soon, I'll be completely out of my comfort zone into total adulthood. These are the good old days that I'll remember later but I don't know if I'm prepared. I suck horribly at coping with changes and I succumb to misery when life passes by too fast.

Fanboyism (Current Level : Unbearable Excitement)

2010-08-01T03:09:00.003+12:00

Disclaimer: This post will be filled with childish remarks. Fanboyism, when not treated, could inevitably cause this. Keep your distance if this kind of thing irks you (as it does to even me).

I was surfing Facebook (using Dzeti's account. I've let her reset my password and keep it as a secret, for reasons not to be revealed). Checked out Coheed's page and there's a picture of a Malay dude welcoming them at KLIA. Dang! Jealousy elevates skyward.

I'm preparing myself for the big night, which turned out to be tomorrow (I thought it would be on Monday till Dzeti reminded me this morning) so I'm maximizing the Coheedistic spirits in me with some rituals such as ironing the band T-shirt (which has been worn a thousand times, as most probably noticed by people around me), sliding the ticket and KillAudio hardcover neatly into my bag, preparing photos to be signed during meet and greet and once this is all done, I'm impatiently waiting for these 18 hours to lapse, all with nothing but Coheed discography in endless loops in the background.

As evident here, fanboyism can also result in run-on sentences. And I'm quite surprised that I managed to type without caps and multiple exclamation marks.

OHMIGOD COHEED'S GIG EEZ TOMORRROOWW!!!!!! OH MAN I CAN BARELY CONTAIN MYSELFF!!!!

Damn! Almost.

Fanboyism Part 2

2010-07-27T22:38:00.002+12:00

Some exciting updates from Junk website. Love Me Butch will open for Coheed. Yay, I only get to get glimpses of their energetic performances through Youtube all this while. And another thing, Coheed will hold a meet-and-greet session before the show. Meeting Claudio for the third time! Can't wait for 1st of August.

This Kinda Coo Yaw

2010-07-27T22:33:00.002+12:00

The other night I wanted to prepare some character cards to help kids learn about "Phantom of The Opera". I intended to make something like those Pokemon or Marvel trading cards that I used to treasure as a child. I wondered if they were templates online and I discovered this really cool character trading card generator.

Check it out at http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/trading_cards/ and do see what other stuffs ReadWriteThink has to offer.

While-Reading Activity

2010-07-21T22:14:00.002+12:00

Instruction: Read the blog post and answer the following question.
===============================================

Each time I stride away from the classroom, I'm a gentle man.

Gentle. Man.

I speak femininely since my throat is worn out from all the straining of voice. I walk tenderly since each ounce of my energy has been depleted. I'm a warm person who smiles at everyone since the ferocious half of me has been let loose to run riot.

Each time I stride away from the classroom, I'm a gentle man but moments ago, I was a whole different being.

I was a carnivorous animal that preyed on kids.

Reading Comprehension Exercise
========================

The last sentence suggests that the author...
A. was extremely fierce in front of kids.
B. was not in his human form in the classroom.
C. literally ate kids for lunch.
D. had pedophillic tendencies.

You get a smiley ( :-) ) if you answer A.

Che'Gu

2010-07-21T02:18:00.003+12:00

Hari-hari che'gu tidur,
Che'gu sudah tidur,
Mari kita main.

Fanboyism...

2010-07-17T05:02:00.001+12:00

...is costly.

Roboticize

2010-07-14T05:31:00.006+12:00

I have spent so much time, years in fact, thinking about making changes that all I am capable now is thinking. I have indulged myself in the dark for so long that I have grown accustomed to it. I have spent too much time in escapism that it's all I need to escape from.

I predicted, no, I hoped, that my new pattern of everyday life would give me a good whip on the butt and drive me forth. It's ungrateful to say that no steps in that direction have been made. I'm grown-up enough to notice the little positivity grasped along the way. But I'm also dubious enough to realize that things are actually hauling me in deeper into the quicksand. Illusions of strength are shattered. Hidden flaws are eventually undisclosed. And are aplenty. A logical sequence of thought would attach all of these to the whole journey of self-finding and self-improvement. But logic is not my strong point. Let’s say your mind games have already rendered a significant part of your being worthless, useless and purposeless. So when all what’s left of you are proven by the unforgiving force of reality to be defective, what is really left of you?

So here I am with a solution. More like a theory. One for me to try to validate myself. You take inspiration from robots. Roboticize yourself. Gather all your emotions and all the thoughts that can stem from emotions. The self-loathing thoughts, the distraction thoughts, the so-called happy thoughts. Package all of these in a box. Seal it with a hundred layers of masking tape. Toss it away a hundred miles. Now utilize all what’s left of your mind to sort out things you have no options of not doing. Execute these things with your soulless body. Keep doing this until… I don’t know. That’s the furthest I can think of right now. But maybe something good will come out of this. I’ll be doing myself proud if I can achieve it.

People have likened their ordinary lives to robotic existence. Some of them find solace in it, some tolerate it and others complain about it. But all things considered, they are all living it. What does it make me if all I want to do, all I genuinely desire to do right now is to become like these robots?

At least they are robots. I’m only a piece of rusty scrap metal.

Have You Actually Lived Lately?

2010-07-14T02:52:00.001+12:00

I'm almost ashamed to answer that question truthfully.

Between Rock and a Hard Music

2010-07-11T16:53:00.002+12:00

Let's say theoretically, one day you are stuck between exactly two options. There is no way out, you are cornered in every angle. Let's assume that you are held at gunpoint, just to spice things up. You are forced to choose option A while you might be able to choose option B, which is closer to your heart.

Option A : Someone particularly important in your life asks for a big favour from you. One so big that it is unacceptable outside this little circle of relationship you have with this someone. Do know that it is one so big that it will burden you gradually more and more in the future. But do also know that it's not as big as the favours this someone has done for you all this while. That's if you want to refer to those stuffs as "favours".

Option B : You hate this, it pains you so badly that this someone is in this position right now. You want to place blame but the blame might be shared with you. You want to fully despise this person but with despise comes love that can't be erased. All these conflicting thoughts and rationalizing are giving you itch where you cannot reach. An itch, not so bad, but it gives you a feeling so uncomfortable unlike anything else. But in spite of the entangled mess in your heart, do know that hate prevails. So in this option, you will give this someone the favour but without any ounce of sincerity or peace at heart.

To sort your way out of this, you ask yourself : Here you are with two options, none of which makes you happy, but which option will you regret more for not taking? Turns out that this compromise is the real favour here.

Skinner and Bandura Are Raging Inside Me

2010-07-09T03:58:00.003+12:00

So there goes the fourth day of practicum. Second day of teaching. My lesson today was disappointing. The students did learn some stuffs but I failed to impress myself. Yet, all things considered, today was a bit better than yesterday. People say the best way to learn how to do something well is by actually doing it. We improve ourselves as we go along. The diminutive optimist inside me holds to this principle. Or maybe I'm just giving myself excuses for giving embarrassing lessons. After 5 freaking years of training.

All in all, as a particular lady I knew always says, perhaps I should just suck it up.

I'm exhausted, my mind is turbulent and my thoughts have no bearing. I'm going to take a shower and will hopefully be able to initiate my process of sucking it up.

Hard.

The Song I Can Never Finish

2010-07-08T03:48:00.001+12:00

A lukewarm evening, still my blood froze in my veins,
I wonder how I looked
With a face that failed to show an emotion.

Worlds away is an untimely place to be,
When you’re the receiving end
Of the news you wish you’ve never been given.

The city dimmed and the noises and voices dissolved,
The whole world kept its distance,
And I was so scared,
Wasn’t quite prepared,
For a life without you.

You’re a story unforgotten,
Safely sealed in our minds,
Your little room still looks the same,
All the things you left behind.

A lady grown by trials,
A kid full of smiles,
The youthful queen,
No one can take your title,
Your heart is pure,
Your love just poured
From a body so frail,
From all the pain you ignored.

You’re a story unforgotten,
Safely sealed here in my mind,
Will you wait there in heaven?
If I could earn my invite.

I'm in a debt I can never repay,
I am forever wishing,
That I could be,
That I could be,
That I could be the brother you deserved.

Old Habits Die Hard

2010-07-03T00:54:00.008+12:00

Especially when they begin singlehandedly defining the person you are. You are no longer able to pinpoint any consistent positivity about yourself and in turn recognize yourself as someone who does the same things over and over again. Things that you’ll regret doing but then are repeated out of deficient self-discipline.

You have been trying to combat the temptations and you have resolutely devised master plans for a full mental and spiritual overhaul and at some points there were some indications of triumph, you feel this comfortable feeling of renewal but only for very brief moments, because shortly after, you revert to your old self. The very person you almost exclusively despise.

You do enjoy the fun little treats you experience once in awhile but some time afterwards, you don't favour them much. They are memories worth remembering but then you convince yourself that you don't deserve smiles and laughter on the exterior side of your skin since underneath, you are a big ball of mess and you haven't sorted out yourself. So, what's the point of those tiny moments of joyful goodness? The nature of the situation below the surface erases the value and meaning of these moments. You suddenly ridicule yourself for having vacations from this struggle, vacations that you are convinced you don't deserve though a weaker part of you knows for sure that those vacations might be the key to finding your lost self. You know that they are all facets of life, the ups and downs. But you are way past that notion. You now subscribe to the perception that the downs are what's real, the ups are not genuine in any sense. You are convinced of this because you haven't felt a true appreciation of the high points of your days for quite some time. The so-called gratitude and enjoyment you display are all superficial.

This neverending struggle tires you and exhausts your faith in yourself. You begin accepting these habits as a significant part of you, if not as the whole, which then obstructs all your potentials (if there are any) and thus, causes you to embrace mediocrity. You are fine this way until you witness a life of grandeur and vigour as led by others and begin feeling depressed and powerless. But at other times, you see people around you being ordinary, facing problems, living simple and still finding joy in each little thing in life. You figure you can do it too. So you take little time to strategize how to generate changes in your life, you execute the plan, feel better but you need to be damn lucky to remain that way for at least another day. You know you’ll take up the undying old habits again.

There’s no escape. I've been trying for more than two years. But I guess if I am able to keep on trying, even now and then, at least I haven’t surrendered 100% (though I surely don't earn any right to sound this optimistic).

Guilty as Charged

2010-07-02T07:33:00.003+12:00

How do you react when your mind begins to make some associations and ends up assuring you that a past tragedy can be traced back to your old ignorant self? And it turns out that you have never changed a bit?

And no matter from which angle you try to rationalize, the pessimistic part of you always gets the last laugh? And looking at the bright side of things has never been so unconvincing?

I need stronger dosage of distractions. Or maybe something else, I don't know.

The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me...

2010-06-28T06:02:00.007+12:00

...is a 2006 album by Brand New.

It's quite a dark collection of songs, perhaps not so much in terms of lyrics (some of the tracks have rather optimistic undertones) but more on the general mood that echoes throughout its span. It's emotional, deals with conflicting issues and can be pretty grim at certain points. And I think this is the most fitting album to resonate with how I feel at present. It might as well represent my mental, emotional and spiritual conditions for these recent years.

What kind of person defines his life by an album by some rock band? Someone pretty messed up in the head, I guess.

Maybe if I hang on long enough, I will eventually feel like this one...

I Woke Up To This The Other Day

2010-06-25T18:42:00.008+12:00

And today?

My second Coheed gig, weehee.

Arm yourself to rock out this August. Man your own jackhammer!

Read This To Her

2010-06-23T10:13:00.003+12:00

What have I ever done
To be rewarded with you
Standing by me all the time?
I wish I knew.
Have I earned this endless stream
Of memories I live with you?
Never asked myself these
But now I do.

I’ve grown too used
To the brightness of my days
You shine for me
But I just don’t appreciate.
My apologies
More overused than cliché’s
I’ve taken you for granted
Given in to selfish ways.

Can’t believe what I share with you
Is said with words that don’t ring true
Can’t imagine all the pain
I’ve dragged you through.
I’ve bitten way more promises
More than I can ever chew
Do I deserve the chance
To start anew?

So I could give you
The happiness you’re long due
Give you a real lover
Instead of a fool.
Takes longer than a night
To change, oh what a shame
But I will give it a try
I don’t want to be the same,

Again.

Celebrating The Birth of.

2010-06-23T05:05:00.007+12:00

Exactly 23 years ago at this moment, she came into this world.

She was meant to live an eventful life, in which every single day would be filled with laughter. And she was meant to complete lives of others. She still does.

Today, she has turned another year older. But she still stays the same lady like no other.

Happy Birthday ke 23 saya ucapkan kepada Dzeti Alfina Mohd Dashilah.

Terima kasih dan minta maaf seikhlas hati atas kelemahan dan kelalaian diri tak menandingi kasih sayang anda.

Have a great one.

My birthday girl.

Deja Entendu

2009-07-16T18:51:00.000+12:00

I always tune into C4 and watch the popular music videos of today. It's nice to enjoy what casual music listeners would, once in a while. The catchiness and simplicity of pop songs should not be undervalued. It serves its own purpose well - to enliven the lives of mainstream demographics (which consist of a LOT of people). Nothing is wrong with that. I was pissed to hear Will.I.Am repeating "Tonight's gonna be a good night" all over again but if some could relate to that phrase and belt it out on top of their lungs out of happiness - Why not?

Yet, today I watched Ashley Tisdale's latest offering and I was pissed. And I could not even see the brighter side of it. My ears tingled when I heard the chorus of the new song. It blatantly copies the one in Pink's "So What". It's disgustingly cheap and it retraces my memories to similar cases with other songs. The chorus of Pink's "U + UR Hand" clearly resembles a song by The Veronicas (though I'm not bothered to find out which song came out first). One could easily sing Ciara's "Oh" on top of Cherish's "Do It To It". On another note, that song by David Arguetta and Kelly Rowland explicitly copies the piano riff from "Clocks" by Coldplay (the band which, ironically, has been accused for plagiarism before).

I'm not a fan of any of those artists and I'm not defending any of them. In fact, I'm ridiculing myself to care so much about pop artists. But as a listener, I do feel insulted. I admit it is justifiable in various ways. The songs might be written by the same people or some kind of agreement might be arranged to 'allow' such ripping off. I don't know. And I'm not glorifying myself here for identifying the similarities since I'm certain a lot of people are aware of it too. But I'm insulted by the fact that I could visualize an evil music producer saying "Let's spoon-feed the public some tried-and-tested melody and make some easy millions here. Who cares if the airwaves are polluted by recycled music? Let's market it through some fresh-faced pop sensation. Who cares if she hasn't got a genuine artistic talent to compensate as long as we make her expose some skin? That'll sell". Let's imagine he finishes these lines with some evil grin and a classic villainy laugh. Include a cuddly exotic cat in the picture too.

Plagiarism in music is by no means a new thing. It has involved artists ranging from various genres and even those who have established respectable reputation in the field (Les Paul, George Harrison, Bee Gees, and Nirvana - to mention a few big shots who have been accused in their careers). So when some new millennium producers attempt to plant some so-called pop sensations' feet in the industry by exploiting an already successful and popular melody line from only a few years back and manage to get away with it, maybe I should ask myself - Who gives a crap?

I must be having too much time on my hand for caring. Hehe.

Theoretically Speaking

2009-07-16T18:32:00.000+12:00

When someone neglects a blog that he/she has set up, it’s either because

A. S/He has been busy having fun or doing important stuffs that s/he couldn’t find time to do something petty like updating a blog.
B. S/He has been having months so uneventful and doing stuffs so trivial that they are not worthy of a post.

But sometimes, it’s simply because the person is lay-Zzzzzzzz…..

By All Means, Come Grab an Mp3 by Me!

2009-02-17T02:12:00.000+13:00

Yesterday (15th of February) was a special day for me, as it is for any year to come. So I decided to put out a certain home made recording as a dedication to it. Please download, I'm begging ya!

And yeah, someone should be singing on this track, someone who is apparently anyone but me. :-) ...So, for the time being, we have to accept with warms wide open that it is only some kind of minus-one. And it is only in demo quality.

Get your hands on the mp3 here.

There's more to come in the future. Probably.

This Is Spinal Tap

2009-02-08T04:47:00.000+13:00

It suddenly dawned on me that my consumption of comedic movies throughout the holiday might be too excessive for my own well-being. So I decided to treat myself one final session of laughter before carrying on with new things (which still remain vague up to this point). Who knew I ended up watching the funniest movie I have ever seen and arguably one of all time? So, without further ado, I present to you… “This Is Spinal Tap”.

I had come across this 1984 title on several occasions previously, mostly in the abundance of Top Ten Lists on the internet. I never bothered to give it a shot though since my attention typically tends to be captured by contemporary mainstream offerings, those produced in the late 90’s upwards to recent years. I had watched a considerable amount of Jim Carrey, Will Ferrell, Jack Black and suchlike but although these Hollywood funny bones do have their share of hysterical gems, I was certain that there must have been funnier people on the big screen history. So I settled on selecting a comedy from the earlier decades and I picked this one. This particular movie convinced me that I was right. There ARE funnier, way funnier people and scripts and this one here might as well be the perfect embodiment of comedy at its best.

“This Is Spinal Tap” is a mockumentary that documents a certain period of the career of Spinal Tap, a fictional British rock band. It features interviews, live performances and “real-life” dramas akin to the nature of reality shows that almost anyone can star in nowadays. Almost every element of the film has something to tickle the audience, except, perhaps, the pleasantly light play on emotions when it approaches the ending. The charm that it maintains through the runtime of 1 hour and 20 minutes mainly occurs in the fact that everything is depicted in moderation. Nothing over the top, and surely no slapsticks or unhygienic jokes being shoved in our faces to force the viewers to laugh. The characters are placed in realistic situations with subtle humorous twists and they also appear genuinely serious when those funny bits leap out of their mouths. The jokes are always there but only if you anticipate it. Get a bit distracted and you might miss an unforgettably amusing moment which millions of others have enjoyed and felt great about. That's a serious loss. I’m glad I managed to catch most of the punchlines and immediately feel that the world is suddenly a better place. But still, I’m sure there must be others that I overlooked. Which prompts me to watch it again and again. Yeah, three times already in just three days. And still counting.

So, let me end this with an interview scene at the very end of the film credits…

Q: What would you do if you don’t play rock and roll?
A: Well, I suppose I could work in a shop of some kind or do a freelance selling of some sort of products.
Q: A salesman?
A: Yeah, like “What size do you wear sir?”. And you answer me.
Q: Hmm, seven and a quarter.
A: “I think we have that”. Something like that.
Q: So, do you think you’d be happy…
A: (Interrupt) “Oh, we’re all out. Do you wear black?”. See, that’s a sort of thing I probably could master up.
Q: So, do you think you’d be happy doing that?
A: (After a reflective expression). I don’t know... What are the hours?

In conclusion, go watch this movie or else! Additionally, we can observe that I’m a terrible movie reviewer.

Warm regards,
Hisyam.

Friday The 20th

2009-02-07T06:37:00.000+13:00

(Setting : The week after next)

This is the final installment of my Friday trilogy. On this particular Friday, February 20th 2009, I'll be returning to New Zealand. And I predict that on that day, there will be a mixture of emotions. I will be feeling...

...SAD

for finally being back in Auckland but having to leave home and family. Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. I carry the love along. (Cue a melancholic orchestral piece in minor key)

...BAD

for finally being back in Auckland, but dang, missing the Iron Maiden gig! Bugger. This is such a big thing because, trivia time : What was the first rock band Hisyam ever listened to in his entire life? Reward yourself a slice of bread if your answer is Iron Maiden. Congratulations. Back to blogging time : Strolling down the memory lane, I still remember spending my dad's money on a rock compilation cassette when I was, probably, in standard 4. I immediately got hooked on the song 2 Minutes To Midnight. And that was the prologue to my lifelong hunger for hard music. And somehow I didn't know the band will be playing in Auckland till days ago. Ramly Bugger!

...GLAD

for finally being back in Auckland. Yay. I'm looking forward to move into the new house in Railway Campus, go to the places I have listed down beforehand, chat with my dear friends about the summer break, eat more kebabs, jog a bit more in Domain, cycle my bike around in more repetitions, snap an abundance of pictures of the campus and city, go to a circus, attend more deafening concerts, wear more denim bermudas (no, not at once), get a new job (preferably modelling*), study slightly harder, reunite with friends and enjoy life alongside Dzeti Alfina again. So Aotearoa here I come!

*Calm down, I'm being humorous. So please ease your excitement.

Friday The 6th

2009-02-07T06:32:00.000+13:00

(Setting : Today)

I'm arranging these words while doing a few of my favourite things. Getting cozy in a sofa filled with cuddly cushions of various sizes, munching on some crackers and listening to some of the greatest songs mankind ever came up with. That's some multitasking in action there. And I'm also amazed by my ability to surf the net and watch the TV at once, with only my eyes juggling these two tasks ; not a single muscle moved or a bone turned.

I also feel the urge to share about my night. It hasn't been so dull, really. I watched some of the better parts of Malaysian comedy : The last 45 minutes of Raja Lawak, and before that, the first 15 minutes of Buletin Utama.

Sincerely, I'm not someone who's always got his finger on the pulse of the recent goings in national politics. But on the news tonight, everything seems clear, even for someone like me. Apart from laughing at the news anchors for their overdone attempts at sounding cynical and sharp, I also chuckled watching the stars of the show being overconfident about getting away with pretense. But this is merely an opinion. I'm not bothered to take sides. I admit, what does someone like me know. Or can do. Or say. When even the Perak citizens haven't got the opportunity to say anything. I mean, so far, at least. Who knows what happens tomorrow, so I reserve judgement.

Oh, about the comedian reality show, it did have its golden moments. Some of the participants were unquestionably good while others who didn't shine much still managed to linger around. But there were still times in the show when my interest in Malaysian comedy were restored. I'm quite proud, I would say!

Friday The 30th

2009-02-07T04:23:00.000+13:00

(Setting : Last Friday)

Exactly a week ago, I journeyed to Mid Valley to meet up old friends. It was interesting to speak to them in person again, just like in school. Syahid seemed to have grown into an oversize Bollywood co-star. Fa'aiza and Ain were pretty much like the last time I saw them, which was quite long ago. EG and We' didn't appear to change much apart from their glasses. It was a joyous day indeed. There were many things to catch up on, paired with a healthy dose of bowling and eating session. And yeah, to elaborate more on bowling, I did manage to score three (3) strikes in a game. Anyway, I do hope to meet the others someday. Especially my friends from 5 Amanah. It should be fun too. A get-together like this reminds me where all these different paths that we lead today originated from.

So, those are the screenshots of that day.

How To Insult The Whole World

2009-01-28T02:20:00.000+13:00

By causing extensive so-called 'collateral damage' and saying unacceptable things like "We're doing what other countries will do to protect its citizens". With an arrogant straight face.

You shouldn't say that. You insulted us all. We are extremely offended.

We are not like you.

So please. Don't confuse us with ruthless inhumane murderers like you. It's simply disgusting.

Days In Circles

2009-01-27T21:12:00.000+13:00

Waking up in the afternoon usually leaves my throat dry. So these little oranges never fail to ease my thirst. Never run out of it.

The routine I have established after that never lasts longer than an hour (bath, prayer, lunch, newspaper). By then, I'd be clueless what to do. So I'd sit around and play this thing.

After my fingertips turn sore, I'd give my ears a break from my own horrible singing by clicking this button and let the playlist flow, for hours.

Meanwhile, I would pass my time, by watching time passes...

...and enjoying fresh air, which comes out of this.

By night, tired of having an idle day, I'd resort to more productive things like turning on the TV by pushing this button

Okay, I think I'm embarrassing myself here. But you get the idea what I go through daily. So the fifty buck question is - Do I deserve to hope that by the time summer break ends, I will not turn into this ball-like creature?

Safety Tip For Today (..Only?)

2009-01-26T21:21:00.000+13:00

A situation forces you to withdraw money from an ATM at a silent dark place. No one else is around, except some suspicious looking unfriendly faces.

Do not be paranoid. Stop worrying. Be calm and let's see what we can do

1. Stash the money into your wallet swiftly
2. Put on a sad face. Optional : Recall the ending of your favourite Malay drama and let the tears flow.
3. Sigh loudly.
4. Walk like a zombie
5. Loudly, say to your friend (pretend you have one around if you don't) things like "Not in yet", "Hmm tak masuk lagi la" or "Yilek..."

Chances are, no one will bother you. And if it's your lucky night, someone will even approach you, comfort you and insist on handing you some free cash.

Hoi Bagi Signal La!

2009-01-13T18:05:00.000+13:00

Our road safety campaigns will soon withdraw polite and family-friendly slogans like "Pandu Cermat Jiwa Selamat" and "Ingatlah Orang Tersayang". More in-your-face approaches will be adopted and the first reminder in line is going to be "Use Your Da*n Signal Or Die!!!". Yes, with three exclamation marks.

At least that's what I hope will happen. Apart from somebody up there deciding to take these neglectful drivers who never give signals before turning or switching lanes to court and imprison them or ban them from driving for life. We already keep children away from knives and now we need to keep these people away from cars.

What do I have against this type of human beings anyway? The answers are these:

1. It's not hard. At all. Even the most intellectually handicapped among us can figure out how to operate the car signal device. It only requires the tiniest amount of effort and the slightest movement of muscles to flick the switch. How lazy can one be? Looking at the other drivers on the road nowadays suggest one simple answer - Most exceptionally lazy beyond measure.

2. How many times do they think they can get away with this? Till when will their lucky stars keep on shining? And let me propose one practical question that everyone should ask constantly when our hands are gripped on the steering wheel : What are the odds between things happening and not happening? 50% to 50%, at LEAST. And you're correct, I'm referring to accidents. I'm not personally acquainted to anyone named Murphy but his law states that "Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong" (which, by the way, makes riding roller coasters a bad idea. But I do enjoy them). And taking things out of the brackets, it is completely fine with roller coasters. My decision to ride Superman Escape at Movie World can only mess up my own life, not other people's.

3. No, my family and I are not blessed with some miraculous powers that enable us to read minds or see the future. That means, no, we really are unaware if they suddenly intend to take a turn or especially switch lanes. And guess what, lack of this ability endangers our lives indeed. We cannot hear their thoughts about overtaking that slow but cautious driver in front of us, so we cannot plan our action in the upcoming 3 seconds or so. What could possibly happen? So, yes, please bear with us and please help us know by using that dang signal. And by the way, I'm sure none of my friends and relatives is gifted with that kind of power. So, please help them too.

4. And if anyone thinks it defines what's cool, they're wrong. You can argue that smoking turns a loser into a chick magnet but you don't stand a chance applying the same notion to not giving signals. Apart from possessing Ferraris or whatnot, there is no other way to look impressive in traffic. And no, your ordinary cars modified with oversize exhaust and loud noises just do not cut it too.

In short, I believe if everybody starts caring just a little bit and makes use of their car signals, number of deaths can be cut down. Yup, it does look ugly in the statistics now so please wake up. Apart from that, we can conclude that Hisyam can surely rant about stuffs.

The Importance of Being Able To Laugh At Yourself

2009-01-12T21:42:00.001+13:00

Case Study 1

1. Hisyam gloriously returned to his motherland and decided to sign up for "M broadband*" right away. It read '3.6 mbps' on the leaflet and that screamed "heartwarming downloading experience!" right into his ears.

2. The nauseating connection rate rang him a wake-up call. Waking from a flawless broadband dream, that peak speed suddenly appeared too good to be true. It turns out that instead of 'megaBYTE per second', that 'mbp' actually stands for 'megaBIT per second'. Which is not much, at all.

3. Despite feeling like a complete sucker, Hisyam laughs rolling in the aisles. Let him be and do not bother giving him any patronizing pat on the back.

Case Study 2

1. The guy in the "M broadband*" booth also told our poor guy Hisyam here that there would be no minimum contract period for the registration. Hisyam, with a satisfied looking grin, thought there'd be nothing at stake if he tried out this sophisticated piece of technology. If it turns out horrible, he'd just simply terminate his subscription. Hmm, a perfect plan, he reckoned.

2. Two weeks later, he read out the brochure, and in innocently tiny letters, it said "There is no minimum contract period. A handling fee of RM200 is payable if you discontinue the service before 12 months".

3. Although that term is undeniably a bunch of misleading bollocks and it makes Hisyam feel like a giant Chupa Chup since his signature proves that he faithfully agrees with it, he can't help but laugh at his own moron-isme. He thought he was so smart that no tricks could manuever him into believing something false. He never stops guffawing and it would be so kind of you if you can chuckle along.

Conclusion

Don't take Terms and Conditions for granted. And don't lose yourself in the shiny smiles on the ads. Things aren't always what they seem. Or rather, things always aren't what they seem.

*No prizes for guessing the exact brand correctly. Or would you still like a cookie?

I Bring To You... A New Year

2009-01-09T06:20:00.000+13:00

Hullo my dear hopefully-soon-to-be-existant readers!

Nine days into the new year, has it been off to a flying start? Or have your newly embraced resolutions already begun submerging? Yes, 365 or so days are a lot of time. A whole lot of time for a) fun stuffs to be sacrificed or b) serious stuffs to be compromised. So if this year, I can make the balanced scale tilt downwards on the serious side, I'd feel like a million bucks.

Just that I do feel that I haven't done much in my first year in Auckland. All that I could recollect are an endless stream of lectures and assignments, plenty of hours of doing nothing in my room, some recurring occasions of kebab eating, a lot of Mc Donald's burger patties and a pair of denim shorts. Certainly I have done a lot of memorable things like rafting, Luging, exploring South Island in winter, skiing, making snowman, learning to love and hate snow on the same day and getting close to sheeps (wrongo! Correction : sheep. Uncountable noun. Sorry, though my English tuition has ended - phew - I still pretty much haven't got out of character). Not to mention I had my good friends and beloved one with me through these historical events. But I do feel that I should have done more.

Maybe getting involved in recreational but beneficial stuffs like Dyau with his weekly butchery (a.k.a fencing), Nigel with his bag-pipe band and some other instances. Perhaps study more seriously and do every assignment as if my soul is at stake. Probably somehow reach a greater height in terms of my intellectual state so that I can have effortless conversations with John Hope or those kind of people. Heck, I can't even handle a 20-second small talk with a stranger in the lift. Also maybe (no, this is surely) snap pictures of me and the name of the places I visit, as my mother pointed out. Yep, I do feel like going to Christchurch, Kaikoura, Tauranga, Piha Beach and all those other locations again just because I didn't take any picture that contain their names. I might as well show the photos I have now to my relatives and say "This one is in North Pole. We took a short detour on our way to Dunedin" and chances are they'd believe me.

So, those are the things I wish I would do this time around. By the end of this year, I would revisit this post and God knows if I will feel like a million bucks or I will simply feel like poop.

Till next time.

Musim Panas Di Negara Orang, Panas Lagi Di Negara Sendiri

2008-12-22T05:41:00.000+13:00

Dang, I wanted to name my blog Appetite For Distraction since (to provide explanation for an actually meaningless name) Guns N Roses’ debut album was a flawless work of art and I love to (as in, have a high tendency to) get distracted. But it’s already taken.

Justeru, apa khabar rakan taulan sekalian? How’s life in New Zealand? Liking the weather in Australia? Enjoying the places surrounding UK? Or just simply loving to be in tanah air tercinta? Not just my IPBA friends but also those lovely people from the past too.

So I’m in Malaysia now, Rembau, Negeri Sembilan, to be exact. It’s been a month since I arrived from New Zealand. And terlupa plak, I stopped by Australia for less than a week and spent some quality time there with the Brisbane people. Maybe I’ll talk about my Australian holiday sometime later.

Mengikut niat asal, kepulangan ke Malaysia memang lah tak nak dijadikan cuti musim panas yang dimurnikan dengan aktiviti-aktiviti berunsur kemalasan. Tapi nak jadik berguna pun agak malas juga. Dilema dibuatnya. But I’m fortunate enough that I didn’t have to go through these bollocks for a long time. Takdir dah sediakan satu-satunya jalan yang kena lalu tanpa banyak soal – malas atau tidak. Tuisyen Bahasa Inggeris.

So please excuse that fairly grandiose introduction to this topic, since I’m only gonna write one sentence about it. It’s been keeping me occupied for a month until school starts early next year dan walaupun kadang-kadang rasa ikhlas tu tercicir, mungkin dihempap dibalik bantal yang selesa, pengalaman ini memang amat berguna. That’s it and that sentence can actually be broken down into tinier parts (as I’ve said to some of the students during their writing exercises).

But anyway, things are going okay. The first few days were quite hard, asyik terbayang arwah akak kat tempat2 favourite beliau, doing her favourite things, with her favourite facial expressions. Though her absence brings a heartfelt sense of emptiness somewhere inside, as people always say, yang hidup tu teruskan hidup. Hopefully I could change and live in a way that could honour her. Supaya pemergian beliau tak sia-sia. I’m surely gonna tell anecdotes about her to my children (when I eventually have some, that is). Arwah akak berhenti sekolah lepas UPSR untuk jaga aku dari aku kecik sampai aku besar – that alone is enough to prove to the world that she was a big part of my life. Still is, though. Oleh itu, marilah kita sedekahkan Al-Fatihah kepada arwah Riza Marina bt Abdul Razak. Insan istimewa yang semua orang sayang.

Apart from those early days of my return, things are going okay. Rembau has its own charms, apart from the internet connection bollocks. 3G doesn’t reach here. Pelik gak sebab bukan pedalaman sangat pun. Dimanakah khidmat wakil rakyat bila diperlukan? Takpelah mungkin beliau sibuk and takda pula orang complain. Laa rupanya saudara Hisyam ni dok whine about it tapi tak buat aduan atau apa2 pun rupanya ya. By the way it’s quite nice to reunite with my favourite things that can only be obtained in Malaysia. Masakan parents yang genuinely tasty, karipap Rembau, majalah ROTTW dan lain-lain yang berkaitan. Walaupun nampaknya pemandu-pemandu kat kawasan ni makin terbiasa dengan amalan tidak memberi signal bila nak tukar lane dan bawak kereta tanpa ingat orang tersayang (di mana ‘orang tersayang’ itu secara ironinya selalunya ada bersama mereka di dalam kereta nasional mereka itu), no place feels like home. Tapi risau gak kat Dzeti beliau dok sorang2 kat Auckland sana. Her mom and brothers had just left New Zealand today. So I wish that she’s alright every time I breathe. And hopefully all my friends are having a good three-month break. So that there'll be plenty to be shared bila semester bermula kelak.

So, that’s all folks. Till our paths cross again.

Mari Menulis Blog

2008-12-22T04:52:00.000+13:00

Salam cuti sekolah kepada semua. My name is Hisyam and I’m here, enduring the worst kind of internet connection a level-headed human being can tolerate, to declare that this is the first post of my new blog. The old blog can be read, if you are any interested, here.

Minutes ago, out of the blue, I decided to turn over a new leaf and find a purpose in my droning life. That purpose is blogging.

Nah, I just exaggerated things. If anything, this could only be a new function that my laptop needs to get accustomed to (it has pretty much turned into an “oversized mp3 machine with useless keys on it”) or something that I started with a passion but only to totally ignore it anytime soon in the future. Let’s hope that it’s not the latter.

Or let’s see.