Rude

Why do people have to be rude?

I was at the 7 Eleven just now when I saw this one girl at the Big Gulp machine. She obviously hasn't done it before and was experimenting on ways to get the water flowing from the tap. Kind of funny but then I heard the mother said something I could not ever imagine my mother would say:

Tolak la besi tu ngok..

Ngok. Did she just called he daughter 'ngok'? To those unfamiliar with the otherwise beautiful Malay language, 'ngok' is a shorter form of 'bongok' which in turn is a harsher version of 'bodoh', the Malay word for stupid. Why would someone, a mother especially, call her own daughter 'ngok' just because she don't know how the Big Gulp machine works?

The last time I checked, Islam teaches us that every word we utter is a prayer. I also learned that a mother's prayer is probably the best thing there is. That being said, can we conclude that the mother just prayed to God to make her daughter a 'ngok'? I don't want to judge people but I just couldn't accept her kind of parenting. I really really think that it's not the first or the last time she would say that word again to the poor little girl.

Thinking back don't you agree that sometimes Malays can be very rude with each other when we talk. Words such as 'bodoh and 'gila' are never not in most of our daily conversation especially with friends. Why eh? Let's talk about it..

Yang kurik itu kendi
Yang merah itu saga
Yang baik itu budi
Yang indah itu bahasa

Infamously famous

I was going through Live & Loud KL website just now. I noticed something strange about the text about Dionne Warwick. Why? Take a look for yourself.

Is it just me or is it that they use infamous incorrectly here? I'm not really sure but according to the dictionary, the meaning is.. urmm.. not really good.

well known for some bad quality or deed : an infamous war criminal.
• wicked; abominable : the medical council disqualified him for infamous misconduct.
• historical Law (of a person) deprived of all or some citizens' rights as a consequence of conviction for a serious crime.

I might not have perfect knowledge of English grammar myself (as you obviously can tell) but for something as big and international as a concert hailed according to the website as 'The largest, most sensational and longest-running music festival in Asia', they should really work harder on proofreading.

For those interested to know more about Live & Loud KL 2007, click here.

Time or Money?

I just remembered a conversation I had with Amy & Ernest yesterday. There are 4 types of people in the world:

1. People who have time and money

This is what we all want to be, but not many people end up here.

2. People who have money but no time

This is where most of us end up.

3. People who have time but no money

This is where I am. Haha! I really need to get a job, trade my time.. cashback.

4. People who have neither time nor money

Nobody wants to be here!

So, which one of the 4 fits you?

iCantWait

Okay, okay.. the tittle maybe a bit on the cliché side but what do I care when there's a more importing to anticipate! The leopard is coming! The leopard is coming!

Okay, sorry. I had a geek out moment just now. Anyway, for those clueless about this post tomorrow the latest and greatest update of the oh-so-wonderful Mac OS X is coming out, Mac OS X 10.5 also known as Leopard. Why Leopard? Well, it's apart of Apple's naming convention for its OS. 10.0 was Cheetah, 10.1 was Puma, 10.2 was Jaguar, 10.3 was Panther, 10.4 which I am currently using is Tiger. Make sense? No right? But it's sorta cool. I bet 10.6 is going to be Ochin. Haha!

They're having a launch party at big Apple retailers in Malaysia. Yes, a party for the launch of an operating system.. geeky right? Anyway, I'm not really sure whether I'll be there fighting for a copy of the installation DVD since, well.. it's kind of expensive you know?

We'll just have to wait and see whether my geekyness and nerdery would overcome my common sense tomorrow evening.

Update (27 October 2007, 12:08 AM)

Well, I just came back from Pavillion. Had dinner at Subway on front of BB Plaza and I was at EpiCenter Pavillion just on time for the countdown. Yes, they did a countdown. Hahah.

Anyway, yeah.. I was there. There's quite a number of people there already before me so the store was a bit overcrowded. So did I purchased it? No. Why? Well, it costs RM 509 which is not quite a lot (refer to the article above) but that's not really the reason though, I could've bought it anyway. I was kindof pissed off at the shop person there, well.. at least one guy but he managed to get me walking out the store. Why? It's the typical arrogant Apple store attitude.

They kind of have a presentation back there at their theater room and this guy was inviting everyone to it and when he got in front of me, he looked at me, said 'Err..', and went on to invite the Caucasian fella next to me instead. What more should I do than smile and walk away. I know I'm not worthy.. Might as well spent my money at Barry's shop at the Curve. At least there they know how to appreciate customers.

I really don't get it with them people and their attitude. It's not the first time I've been given second class treatment at Apple retailers. I really thought that EpiCenter being a well established brand would be much better than MacAsia. I bought my Mac at OU MacAsia and they promised me it would be available within a week. So I waited. I only got it 3 weeks later. Still okay. My friend ordered a MacBook there and somehow the fella mistakenly ordered the wrong model and did little to even apologize. He then later went to ask about this expensive Mac Pro model and when he asked the price, the guy just laughed at his face. How do you expect people to switch to the Apple platform if the people selling it have a severe acute attitude problem?

What is it are you guys looking for at us customers? Do you judge a person by our dress? Is it our looks? Is it the brand of shoe we wear? Really.. I need to know. Treat everyone nicely please.. Is that too much to ask? A happy customer is a customer who would return to your store and he would promote your store to his peers. And that's what I'm about to do.

To anyone who want to get a Mac, be it iMac, Mac mini, Mac Pro, Macbook, Macbook Pro, Xserve, iPod classic, iPod touch, iPod nano, iPod shuffle and whatever it is, head down to the Curve and go to the topmost floor of the Circle. There's a Apple store there, Ascend Zone. Go and get it there. They also do repair in house so your Mac isn't going to some strange wearhouse for repair. My PowerBook have been repaired there twice and they also brought life back to my iMac. Barry is the man!

On being preemptive

I was taking a walk on the cyberspace just now when I stumbled upon an interesting piece of news on the Onion News Network. The Onion News Network to those unfamiliar with it is a sort of parodical 'news agency' on the web. Here's a video on a 'Preemptive Memorial' constructed to honour those who are about to die in an imminent disaster. Take a look.


Preemptive Memorial Honors Future Victims Of Imminent Dam Disaster

Interesting innit? But looking at things that occurred recently in Malaysia, the scenario is pretty much the same as what was parodied in the video above. We wait for a disaster, then we act. We wait for the worst road accident in history, then we act on errand busses. We wait for a ferry to burn then only after that we do something about it. Who would agree with me that when that ferry burned, a huge sigh of relief was heard from the bus industry? Why shouldn't they be? Now the authorities are going after ferries pulak, so the busses can go back to its old ways. After the ferry incident, how many times do you hear, read or watch any news stories about busses?

We may have sent a man to space, but don't let that cloud your vision on the fucked up things that are still happening on terra firma.

On Pavillion

We can't never get enough of shopping complexes can we? Yesterday Neet and I went to the spanking new jewel of Bukit Bintang, Pavillion is ideally situated in the middle of it all, where Bukit Bintang Girl's School used to be. It's kind of sad to think that what used to be a place a place of knowledge is now a capitalism hub. It made me think what would become of my own Malay College in the future.. Well, that's urban renewal for you.

I've been looking forward to this shopping complex for quite a while, mostly because it is one of the reasons Jalan Bukit Bintang is more congested. It's also a lil bit about the name.. remind me of the MCKK Pavillion somehow. Haha! Anyway, the parking bays are okay though they currently only open the first basement floor. It's well lit and all though I prefer the likes of the Curve and IKEA more. Hey, don't laugh.. Parking lots are important you know!

The interior is made in a very minimalistic-modernist approach that borders spartan. It sort of the building is saying, "Hey, don't mind me. Look into the shops instead". Seriously. From the wide open avenues, the plain beige tiled floor and walls to the simple glass handle bars, it is designed not to obstruct the view of the boutiques that line the avenues. In the middle of it all is a circular open area shown above that reminds me of Albert Speer's Nazism architecture. A different approach nonetheless.


So what about the shops? Well, most of them are already open like the 3 story Esprit boutique and the double story TopShop next to it. It didn't excite me though.. they could have a 10 story TopShop but I bet they still won't have my size. Haha! All food outlets are on the lowermost floor that serves typical fast food restaurant such as KFC, Nando's, Pizza Hut to more sophisticated restaurants with funky names. There's bound to be a food court dubbed the Food Republic, though it still is under construction. Bear in mind, Pavillion isn't in the same league as Times Square or Sungei Wang. The only place I found that sells your everyday brand drinking water is myNews.com.. Hurm hurm hurm.. Don't worry, someone told me that The Gardens at Mid Valley is grander than Pavillion.. Need to go and check that out later.

Next, let's talk about the toilet. I find it nice that the toilets are easily accesible and not as hidden as other shopping complexes (Yes, I'm looking at you Times Square..). There's no need to go through service stairs and long plain corridors to pee, the toilets is just a few steps away from the main avenue, all the way along brightly lit wide, marble tiled corridors. Inside is an attendant waiting to aid you with.. I don't know, something.. The toilet is the same as everything else, minimalistic-modernist, wide, bright and with ample selection of squat and sitdown jambans. But then I found something sad.. Ye la, you know.. Inside a brand spanking new, shiny shopping mecca, some people are stupid enough to flush and are too retarded on how to aim. Tisk.. Stupid stupid stupid.. Reminds me of the cleanest toilet in a shopping complex ever, the one near my home, Jusco Taman Equine. Honestly.. you could sleep inside there.

So there you have it. My short review of a new place for you to burn those hard earned money of yours. The good thing about it, well.. Maybe it's intimidating enough to keep those emo kids on weekends from getting in. Haha.. No offence guys. Anyway, yeah.. It's kind of sad that though we have this great architectural wonder here in Malaysia, some of us are still ignorant.. I guess as the saying goes, ignorance is bliss. Retard.

Dumbledore is gay

I know, I'm shocked myself but this came out from J.K. Rowling herself in an event in Carnegie Hall. Here's what she said when this question was asked: Did Dumbledore, who believed in the prevailing power of love, ever fall in love himself?

My truthful answer to you... I always thought of Dumbledore as gay. [ovation.] ... Dumbledore fell in love with Grindelwald, and that that added to his horror when Grindelwald showed himself to be what he was. To an extent, do we say it excused Dumbledore a little more because falling in love can blind us to an extend, but he met someone as brilliant as he was, and rather like Bellatrix he was very drawn to this brilliant person, and horribly, terribly let down by him. Yeah, that's how i always saw Dumbledore. In fact, recently I was in a script read through for the sixth film, and they had Dumbledore saying a line to Harry early in the script saying I knew a girl once, whose hair... [laughter]. I had to write a little note in the margin and slide it along to the scriptwriter, "Dumbledore's gay!" [laughter] "If I'd known it would make you so happy, I would have announced it years ago!"

Wow.. Wow wow wow.

PS: Click here to read more from The Leaky Cauldron. Image courtesy of Wikimedia

Update: It's also in today's (21 October) Sunday Star newspaper.

Getaran Jiwa

Budaya kita indah, kita saja yang buat-buat tak nampak.

Terima Kasih En. Raymond Crooke.

Inilah versi Getaran Jiwa yang diubahsuai oleh Lobo dalam lagunya, Whispers in the Wind.



Menarik.. tapi seperti yang Abah saya kata, ia tidak segemersik lagu asal, Getaran Jiwa.

On Hadi and Kedah

Why is it the more we grow up, the more less fun Raya becomes? I blame the less duit Raya I get. How about you?

I didn't go back Raya at my Kampung this year due to unforeseen reasons. For the record, I want to be honest for once. I really love going back to Kedah. Really really. Why? I love the people. Mak Nab, Kak Bedah, Arwah Mak Yah, Tok Su 'Ei, Pak Mat Israil.. just about everyone, have a special thing that makes me feel welcomed and warm not to mention they all know my name. Hadi. In some other places, I am anak Fairuzah, sepupu Mujahid, dua pupu Afif, cucu Kak Yah, Anak Zu, Cucu Kak Wea Nah.. you get what I mean. In Kedah, I'm Hadi. What more could someone ask?

I guess I pretty much owe that to my Tok Wan, arwah Tok Wan. This year is the 10th year since he passed away.. Oh how time flies and I wasn't even having fun. Everyone always says that I'm his favourite grandson, grandchild even. Strange if you think about it, considering that I was neither his first cucu nor his first male cucu whom the titles are held by Kakak Hanan/Kakak Aini (I couldn't decide) and Mujahid respectively. I was the one after. So why am I so special then? I don't know.. I used to accept all that without ever giving it a thought, but then again.. I was young and naive. Now that I'm older and some people say, wiser.. I kind of think that it's probably because I was there with him more than everyone else.

I was born in Alor Setar (Alor Merah to be precise) and up till I was probably 5 or 6 I live in Tok Wan's house in Langgar. I have a vague memory of what happen back then but there are a few things I remember well from my own memory, not from stories. It's not that I don't believe in other people, it's just that the memories I remember on my own is somewhat more special than the ones people told me about.. don't you agree? I guess that's why I have a very strong feeling for that house. I even told Mak, I was born there, I want to get married there and I want to die there. Nevertheless, then we moved to Kelana Jaya and I've been living my life in the Klang Valley ever since.

Nevertheless, I remember back when I was in primary school's end of year holiday. I would almost always go back to Kedah very early during the holidays and would stay there until the break is over. I would already be there well before the rest of the family thanks to Tok Wan who would sponsor my flight ticket. Young Passenger Traveling Alone. Me. I know you must be wondering why on earth would I do that? Well, first is because I don't have friends outside of school in Kelana Jaya. This was of course, back then before there was no such thing as the Internet and I was too young to roam KL so what better thing to do? At least I get to naik kapal terbang. Woohoo! Nevertheless, though I might not really realize it yet back then, I went back to the house and especially to the people. The people who calls me Hadi.

It's not that I don't like people calling me Amir or even, Amirhadi. It is still my name but there's I have a soft spot for Hadi. I like people calling me Hadi since to me as if know me very well even if they don't. I still do introduce myself as Amir though, but to people I don't really want to know.. the Streamyx technician guy, my landlords, some of the lecturers I don't like. You get what I mean right? If my memory serves me well, I think it must have something to do with growing up. When I was a kid, no one calls me Amir. No one. It started when I was in primary school when people started calling me Amir and my primary school years are not a very pleasant chapter in my life.. I hate it. I guess it grew on me. The people who calls me Hadi are from a good chapter of my life, those who call me Amir are from the bad.

I kind of regret that I haven't been spending a lot of time with Tok Wan back when he was still alive. Yes, I go back to Kedah often. My percentage being there far outweighs those of my other siblings and cousins.. but I didn't really spent a lot of it with him. I usually lepak at rumah Mak Nab the whole day watching TV and reading comics, only to come back for meals. Meals.. that's where people say my Tok Wan showed his love to me most. I really love udang.. big big udang the size of my wrist and he that udang is what he would buy for me everytime I go back. But then again, after the meals I would always be missing again. Tisk.. I wish I spent more time with him, I wish I wasn't so damn lazy and would teman him to his madrasah everynight. I wish that I did azan that one time he asked me to.. He never heard me azan in his madrasah ever in his life. I'm sorry.. I wished we had more time together.

I believe that is among the reasons I love to go back to Kedah out of all my kampungs. Kedah is really my kampung, not my mom's kampung nor my dad's kampung. If you ask me I would always say that I am orang Kedah and you will keep hearing that same answer. It's my kampung where my grandfather's house is. It's the house where I grew up in. It's the people who knew my by name. What more could I ask for? Nevertheless, since Tok Wan went away we hardly ever go back there again. Still, it's never far from my heart as what I told Mak. I was born there, I want to get married there and I want to die there.

Sorry for being so melancholic. Thanks for listening.

To Munirah

Selamat Hari Raya. Hope to see you again soon. College isn't quite the same without you.

Music/Lyrics by Sorry (Amir, Sudar, Afiq)

Disclaimer

If there are highways in Hell, LDP is one of it.

Kan aku dah cakap..

Kenji Nagai

Most of us hate our jobs. Agree? Okay, maybe some of us. There are also people who really take their job seriously. One such guy is Kenji Nagai.

Who is Kenji Nagai?


Nagai, 50 years old is a photojournalist from Japan. Or at least he was. On September 25, Kenji Nagai was shot dead in point-blank by a Myanmar soldier while he was covering the Myanmar riot not far from the Sule Pagoda, the heart of the riot.

A true journalist, he kept on shooting photos even while he was already on the ground, dying. He passed away soon after still clutching his camera. That's the extend some people go to tell a story to the world, true to his mantra, "Someone has to go to the places nobody wants to go".

What Myanmar did is wrong, not just to Kenji Nadai but towards humanity. What government shoots its own people? What government shoot monks? What's the use of being in power if you can't provide for your people? Move over junta, your people have spoken.

Kenji Nagai, wherever you are.. I admire your courage. How many people are willing to die for what they believe?