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