Noise

3 or 4 years backs, I had my ears set only on a few genres of music, those times my taste were predominantly conquered by the likes of hujan, meet uncle hussain, the strokes and some others to name a few. Before those time? Don't ask.

I went along with time, and yes, time changed me. I slowly practised the principle of being a universal listener, slowly adjusted my ears to a wider range of music (except justin bieber's). It would never dawn on me that I can actually favoured post rock songs.

These are a few bands, I should say, worth listening to :

1. LCD Soundsystem

2. P.G Lost

3. The Rapture

4. The Evpatoria Report

5. Eksi Ekso

They are not comparable to the likes of snow patrol, coldplay or muse of course, but like I said, they are worth listening to.

Narcissism

Social network ruins the very foundation of human cohesiveness. Dorsey realise it, Zuckerberg too. What seems to be the good old days of going out mingling with our friends and their friends, are now at the tip of the keyboard.

Along came cyber ethics and morality where we forgot to question ourselves, that, how appropriate is it to flaunt ones' obscene pictures or simple yet, giving away scrutinizing details of ourselves to billions of internet users out there?

How about safety and security? How can we be sure that we are safe from the subtlest form of defamation threat imposed by the internet and its worldwide users? No one can be sure. At a click of a button, we could put someone's life into utter shame, or level them as the godlike figure equivalent to Obama himself.

Let's say, one of the norm nowadays where, teens posting videos on youtube, or pitures on facebook hoping to get the highest views or whatsoever. They believe high views pertain to their popularity in school where most cases have lead to defamation of others.

This is a society that puts no virtual barriers to internet freedom, and worse, without control in the wrong hands.

Ambiguity

The future is ambiguous. It is vague and uncertain, cruel to those unprepared.

Financial strategies and family planning are not topics somebody my age would love to talk about for 3 hours or more at the mamak. On the contrary, we do.

A sit down with these future CEOs taught me a lot. Terima kasih rakan - rakan.

So, for the next 10 years i have carefully drawn out my plan (Mind me if you think its bullshit)

Plan 1

Finish acca by the age of 21

Plan 2

Find a place in Pricewaterhousecoopers singapore

Plan 3

Work my way to Pricewaterhousecoopers london

Plan 4

After 4 - 5 years return home and apply for a post in Exxonmobil

Plan 5

Get married and get fat

The end

Legacy, digitally.

His brainchild becomes our inheritance. One of them is the advent of digital age.

"Somewhere within the first paragraph of Jobs' legendary accomplishments should be his ability to get major record label executives to agree on terms for selling their music digitally. Jobs knew that 99 cents was the ideal price point for mp3s, and he worked his way into their good graces with three strategies, according to Knopper. First: charm and steely-eyed determination. Second: Apple's relatively small market share compared to Windows made the labels believe the platform could work as a test market. Third, of course, was the tens of millions of dollars Apple was promising to dump into marketing. Labels were going to be able, Jobs promised, to ride the lengthy coattails of Apple's revolutionary new gadget back to a promised land of profits. This is Jobs' true genius, compressed: irresistible persuasion disguised by a cult-creating approach to aesthetics."

- Pitchfork (Oct 6th, 2011)

Rest In Peace,

Steven Paul Jobs

(February 24, 1955 - October 5, 2011)

Untamed

Two years ago, Gallup did an analysis of what made a country grow. They decided it is talent. They noted that in the 1980s, economists projected that Japan and Germany would overtake America. They did not. The reason? America was attracting talent from all over the world. So whether China will be the most powerful nation will depend on whether it can attract foreign talent and retain its own talent.

We must attract and retain talent. Talent does not mean only bright academics. Talent includes football stars, tennis stars, singers, rock stars, whatever. Then we have vibrancy. A country grows by building one city at a time. A city grows by building one sector at a time. They analysed four categories of talent : innovators, entrepeneurs, mentors, super-mentors. Americans beat the others because the Americans have all four types. They have developed a culture that brings in the talented.

- Lee Kuan Yew

Hipsters

I recently read a blog post by a friend of mine and told myself, "Finally, somebody made a point."

This is an extract from his article, or should i say, the whole extract of the article :

_____________________________________________________________________________________

"I liked that band way before it went mainstream."

"Have you ever heard this phrase before? Or maybe something similar. Well they are usually said by people who are classed by society as "Hipster". Well, to any hipster that is reading this, I only have three words to say to you; "WHAT THE FUCK?" I mean come on, even though you did listen to the band when they were still in their diaper, you do know that they wanted to go mainstream. I mean they may play for passion, but they still need to pay the bills. So without us non-Hipsters, your band would probably be begging for coins outside a shopping mall, or sucking balls in back alleys just to make a quick dollar. So what if I like a song that was played 10 years ago but just listen to it recently. I am sorry if I had a life when the band was starting.

It is not only music that they want to claim that they heard it first. It is also movies, clothing, technology and now even youtube videos. To me it is al bullshit. People have lives. They tend to get a little carried behind. But who are you to judge them. Screw you hipsters. I have screwed your mom way before everyone else did but you dont see me bragging."

- Afeef Rahman

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Sorry baba aku copy paste article kau. Harap kau tak marah.

This friend of mine made a clear point, which i have had the intention to say before but was refrained because of the fear of 'melukakan hati pihak tertentu'.

Civilization

I have been absent in Malaysia for the past whole week, which i can perhaps say, too long a period for a trip to India.

India, the land of spices they say.

A week there gave me experience that projects my understanding of the nature, environment, and of course, their culture. Too much to write, but i am not constrained by the limitation of space, it is just laziness that limits me.

What i reckon most of India is, maybe, their regards to the study of science and technology. And most of them understand and speak English quite well too, which i can say, are better than Malaysians as a whole. The Brits had done them quite a favor i guess.

Foreigners are not advised to rent a car should they want to travel there. Indians are damn good drivers, scared me a lot when they drove me around the town. Taxi is a good choice, and touts too, but not their public buses. Never ever.

Bangalore

Their environment and its cleanliness was quite a concern. The pavements smelled of urine, and its a fact. I had to watch my steps carefully as to avoid dog poo, or worse, human peeing site. Likewise, public toilets? Forget about it.

But the Indians were nice, approachable people. Really great people to converse with. Their friendliness may surprise you, as to some, i repeat, some, Indians in Malaysia are quite cold-harded and stuck up. This is not racism, its a fact.

All in all, the trip to India was a great one. Not much problems we encountered along the way. And my father had fun with his 'tut tut' ride, so i guess that's great. Laugh out loud.

(Sorry for any statements that you may find a bit racist in this article. It was intended to no one, and every race has its flaws. So do mine.)

Appresiasi

Wujudnya usaha maka bergeraknya suatu daya. Daya membawa badan kita ke depan. Bukan arah lain, hanya depan.

Ini lah dia. Satu tribut halus saya tujukan kepada komrad saya, dalam usaha beliau mengukir nama dalam bidang pujaan hati. Tabik spring sama lu mal.

Akmal Hakim

Cubalah dengar siapa yang sudi,

Kalau dengar pun apa yang rugi,

Tiada duit diminta diberi,

Hanya pinta hati klik lah di sini.

Cubalah dengar. Cuba.

Words

What are words? What are words when you can't speak or write them? What are words when your only medium of communication is your body language?

What are words when you can only speak, or scream, or whisper in your heart, not having the chance to say them out loud to the person around you?

Because they say, it is better to shut your mouth like a fool, than to speak and be thought of as a fool..

Transition

As often as before, i've always based my inspirations entirely on movies, songs, graphical and theatrical sources. Just recently I've watched the remake of Peter Pan, a famous old folks fable of a young boy who chose not to grow up and ran away to Neverland.

Neverland in illustration

Still remember those days when you used to cry over toys you can't have? Those days when you thought superman can really fly? And you used to think fairy tales do exist? I bet you don't. And you don't even wanna remember if you do. Hahah. Those days were the best.

Most of us are perceived by the thought that when we grow up, we can do and have all the things we ever dreamt of since kids. But as we grow up, some of us will wish there's a time machine that can rewind us back to those times.

A person's transition from a child to an adult, are accompanied by lots of ups and downs, to the point that they started to tell themselves,

"Being an adult is just too good to be true"

When we become teenagers, hormones explode and we began to have this weird feelings. A boy started to like a girl in his class, meanwhile girls will start to get all gossipy about who's the hottest boy in school. Its all hormone.

Then comes the adulthood, and at this stage that they start to learn the idea of responsibility. An idea that most of them are not bothered when they're still kids. And trying to be a responsible man in everything i do? That's what bothers me now.

I really miss my baby days, those days when girls, work and life don't bother me at all

Stereotype

When people don't appreciate arts, it was never an issue. The issue is why when certain arts are regularly loved, people will make a big deal out of it?

-A brilliant touch by Thom Yorke-

Fragile

I am currently studying in Sunway University. Taking this course that i have only heard of the first time after i've finished my PLKN training in March. Association Of Certified Chartered Accountant, or better known as ACCA.

This course, as how this four-letter acronym stands for, reflects a very tough nature of accounting background for students. Being persevere is the only key nature for students to ever 'tame' this subject.

The exams emphasize on our ability at student level to apply accounting methods on real life situation, testing our ability to transform theoretical input into applicable output. And this is the main loophole where most of the students will normally fail at.

My tax lecturer once humorously joked before class,

"ACCA stands for, Again Come, Come Again."

As a typical Malay, of course i can't see the fabric of humor in such joke, but the phrase makes sense. Survivability is slightly, or sometimes, mainly tested when you've signed up for the 'ACCA journey'. Okay, that sounds lame.

Hearing from my seniors when we usually go for a teh tarik break, i've mentally surveyed their experience, knowing most of their friends had succumbed to the 'unfriendliness' of this course, and also knowing that very few had managed to continue till the part 3 of the course.

The sound of that gives me a creep, but nevertheless, i will have to face it somehow. Susah dahulu, senang kemudian. It may take 3 - 5 years of hardship, but the ACCA title promises you good position in good firms later on.

"Job availability is not an issue, but job security should be a major worry."

- Anonymous

Human

Right now, we are seeing upheavals in Egypt. Mubarak's governance is clearly no longer in his people's acceptance. What i care more is not about him, but what will be of Egypt after him.

Dalam blog Dr. M, dia ada mention something about bagaimana pergolakan seumpama ini mampu berulang jika revolusi yang berlaku hanya sekadar 'menjatuhkan' dan bukan 'membangunkan'.

"Should these revolutions succeed there would be new Governments. But it is worthwhile to remember that change is not always for the better. It is incumbent upon those bent on effecting change to have some idea about the kind of Governments they want. Otherwise they may get the same kind of Governments that they try so hard to be rid off. This is because most leaders upon achieving power would change and would forget the struggles and sacrifices which enabled them to be in power. Power corrupts as we all know." - Chedet

He made a perfect, sensible point. Every revolution leads to another. Every rise has a fall and likewise. All of this if a new government replacing the previous ones are no better than to put their own interest as their priority.

Well, i dare not say more about such issues like this, in fear of the perception of misleading opinions and inappropriate judgements which in any rights, none of us should make. Let's hope for the best to our Muslim brothers in Egypt.

SPM students would recognize this phrase if they read through their Sejarah textbook thoroughly,

"The one who does not remember history is bound to live through it again"

- George Santayana

Misread

"Courage is the discovery that you may not win. And trying when you know you can lose" - Tumblrsays

Some may realize that i took this quote from Twitter, or some would be familiar with Tumblrsays that tweets about quotes that much reflect the misery, loneliness, sadness whatsoever pathetic attitudes in our life. Hmm.

Somehow this quote caught my attention. It was meaningful in certain ways. How so?

I guess i am courageous enough to say that i have stopped hoping on the people around me. Reality will spit back into your face, and say, "Dude, whatever it is, you will always be on your own. Stop hanging on to people."

Belajar untuk berdikari. Ingat, yang penting :

• pertama, kepada Allah
• kedua, kepada ibubapa
• ketiga dan seterusnya, semua orang di sekeliling

This is reality. Start working on yourself, by yourself, just for yourself.

Conundrum

Chances are, i'd never thought i would reactivate my blogger account, until i realize my head is brimming with words, opinions, expressions and whatsoever that i find useful for blogging again.

I can't remember the last time i blogged, but i sure do remember this Blogger site was way different back then. The DIY style of template design was troublesome for me to handle! Cheers for the convenience nowadays uh? Hahah.

Welcome back, to myself.

Back to the blogging world.