My Procrastinations…

I attended a talk by my former boss on how to write last Friday. It’s always helpful to get more help on how to write. My problem with writing is that I would have ideas pop into my head but when I sit in front of the PC to write, BLANK. I find it hard to start writing.

However Dr. F did have a tip on that. Just write, even if you could only write "Today, I have nothing to write." Well, as I have something to write about today, all the better.

I am stuck on an article I am supposed to write for Dr. F. So I thought writing here would flex my writing muscles, warm up my typing fingers and expunge my performance anxiety.

The more I research on the topic however, the more material I have on it and the more tangents I stray to. I have however decided to stick to two subtopics and just write on that, if that’s not enough then I would include the extra information and subtopics.

Four paragraphs and I still not writing down what I wanted to put down here. I wanted to put down the tips and tricks on writing that Dr. F gave that I still remember for my reference, and for anybody with enough free time to read this.

To summarise some of the more important guidelines. No adjectives and adverbs. Stick to verbs. Rereading what I typed down above, I noticed I was still using adjectives and adverbs. I maintained and italicised those for reference. If you found more please tell me.

Also Dr. F recommends reading the sport pages. They have a direct and succinct way to write. Guess what, I have always tried to emulate sports writers, most British paper sportswriters are good (yes, even The Sun sports pages) and also ESPN’s soccernet contributers. My day wouldn’t be complete without sports news, especially football news.

One last thing that also caught me was that when she was in Washington, she had the opportunity to meet Thomas L. Friedman (author of Longitudes & Attitudes, From Beirut to Jerusalem, The Lexus and the olive tree etc. (I have the three mentioned if anyone would like to borrow it)). He said that a writer should be like a squirrel, gathering and hoarding data, information, quips and quotes and then you can use it when you write. Useful tip, I had always gathered information on what I want to write about and digest it first before starting to write. However, due to time constraints and workload  I would usually  start with an existing draft and amend and add to it. Guess both ways would be useful, I would just need to fine a middle ground.

My car is in the workshop for the foreseeable future. And to mull over the absence of my car I have been listening to Nidji songs at the office. Here’s the lyrics to one of their english songs "Heaven".

Don’t beg dont cry to your children
Don’t even cry to your papa
Don’t try to beg to your people
Don’t even cry to your mama

Cause heaven it’s to far away… tonight
Heaven it’s to far away… tonight

Don’t laugh dont scream to your people
Don’t even cry to your sister (to your sister)
Don’t talk don’t play with the children
Cause you ain’t gonna get my heart

Cause heaven it’s to far away… tonight
Heaven it’s to far away… tonight

Yes, I was at Stadium Negara, Kuala Lumpur on Sunday 25 February 2007. No, I did not go around looking for scalpers. Fortunately for me, one of my brother’s ticket holding friend had dengue fever, he had just been discharged from the hospital and was not able to attend the Muse concert. So, I gratefully accepted to buy the ticket.

I joined my brother at the stadium after taking a ride on the LRT and monorail from my auntie’s place. Didn’t want to take my car as I thought it was going to be troublesome finding parking and a hassle coming out from the concert.

My brother and friends bought tickets to the Pitt, sounds like a comic character with claws. I would have preferred to have a sitting ticket, but beggars can’t be choosers. My days of mosh pits and headbanging, I thought was long over.

As you can see from the seating plan. the Pitt is a small area in front of the stage. So, I thought to myself that I would just hang back and enjoy the show. However, when we entered the stadium, we saw that the Pitt was separated  from the  Rock Zone by three sides of red and white tape.  Yes, ladies and gentleman, plastic tape, like those you see in CSI to cordon off murder scenes, only more fragile.  It didn’t take long for the tape to be broken. I would like to take this opportunity to curse the organisers, Tiger beer, Axcess Tickets Sdn Bhd, Galaxy and all involved for their money grabbing and cost cutting ways. May your balls shrivel and your dick grow limp.

There goes plan A. Plan B would be to get into the position I paid for. Would I want to work that hard to enjoy the band? I only know 4 songs. 2 from the current album and 2 more from when I was in Abu Dhabi.

What the heck, I was experienced enough for a pit even though I am about ten years out of practice.

The result? Here’s me singing along (very badly). Here’s a nearly full video during Starlight. I got as close as I can to the front for that one. It was crayyyyyyzayyyyy, Crazy with a capital C. The pogoing, mingling of sweat, heat of the spotlights, but if you saw the video, I was bloody enjoying myself, with that big stupid grin on my face at the end of the video. I really am going to get seated tickets if Aerosmith does come to Malaysia.

At the end of the show, with the sweat of about a hundred people on my t-shirt, and the knowledge that I will seriously be hurt the next morning (not hurting as bad as I thought I would now) I thoroughly enjoyed the show and the few songs that I knew, the songs I did not know and Muse’s showmanship. They can really belt out a show.


Now, could anybody point me to the refund booth? I want to get a refund on the difference between ticket prices between the Pitt and the Rock Zone, at least.

You can find reviews for the show from the local papers below:
NST
The Star
The Malay Mail

Another 14 February, another Valentine’s Day. 

For those who who still do not know who Valentine the catholic priest/bishop whose deeds and death are celebrated every year, please click here to learn about it.

If you also do not know yet, I do not celebrate Valentine’s Day.

"Unromantic", "cheap" I hear you say. I rather be called that rather than being tacky and cheesy while supporting a day remembering a catholic priest/bishop with crass commercialism masquerading as empty love.

You must think I’m really bitter over Valentine’s Day, however it’s the direct opposite.  I have fond memories of Valentine’s Day dates especially my first, and I still keep in touch with her from time to time. It’s just I’m not going to spend money on overpriced flowers, gifts or dinners just to prove my love. It’s all going to be cheaper on th 15th and your love should be just as strong tomorrow.

Dude, if your woman stop seeing you if you don’t buy her a romantic gift for her on Valentine’s Day then you are better off without her.

However, if you are a woman and you are getting flowers, gifts and dinners tonight then I congratulate you on finding a most giving guy. If you are a guy who are giving flowers, gifts and dinners and in return getting some hot steamy Valentine’s Day bedroom action, then all the power to you. Hey, Hilton KL is fully booked tonight, a lot of people is getting lucky.

A lament goes out to the guys that are spending on flowers, gifts and dinners to their special girl but not getting any tonight. A pitiful lament goes out to the same guys but who in a few weeks the special girl does not want them to call her anymore.

To those guys, please do read  David Deangelo’s Thoughts On Valentine’s Day here. Not once, not twice but three times.

And I will see you on the next crass commercialism celebration…

P.S. You might ask, where am I going to spend this evening then? That, is a story for another day

I am a Youtube junkie, yes… I have to have my youtube fix every other day. However, I watch youtube for Jon Stewart, SNL and Craig Ferguson’s clips on youtube, plus any cute, funny, interesting clips that is most viewed or highly rated.

I still do not understand the fascination with video weblogs. Too many whiney people whinging. It’s like an everyday overdose of Luke Skywalker and Arsene Wenger. One man’s meat is another man’s poison, I guess.

However I recently discovered a funny, intelligent and pertinent video weblog serving as reminders for Muslims. They are made by Ummah Films and you can find their videos here. Ummah films are a group of Muslim brothers living in the US. However some of the issues raised by them are relevant also in Malaysia and the rest of the Muslim world. Videos such as "That’s Not Hijab", "Who Hijacked Islam" and "Seasonal Muslims" does strike a chord with Muslims everywhere.

The videos made by Ummah Films are as a reminder, as we
humans are forgetful, however they are made funny and accessible to
most people. The vlogs proves that reminders for Muslims does not need
to be tired, monotonous, dry and dreary sermons. So do have a peek at
the Ummah Films vlogs, however not during your working hours as a
misuse of resources.

The "Who Hijacked Islam" vlog, presents an obvious but often disregarded fact that the Western media did equate Islam with terrorism. Their simple equation would be the fundamentally wrong "Islam=Terrorism". When, you tell a lie often enough, people would believe you.

The highlighting of emotional and zealous Muslims also does not help. It is however hard to be not emotional and zealous when innocent people are being killed. So let me just put a simple reminder here that Islam=Peace, Peace=Islam.

So until my next meanderings…. Peace be upon you my brothers and sisters…

I did it again, I took my time in getting tickets to the Muse concert and they’re sold out.  Dammit, I thought I could get them this week but no more tickets sold.

Not to resort to scalpers (hate… hate… hate…), but I guess I need to make a few phone calls and send a few more smses, e-mails and on-line messages to get a ticket.

So, if anybody has a spare Muse ticket… please send a message my way…

Should have bought the blardy Muse tickets before I bought my F1 tickets…

Hopefully I will still get to see Muse, fingers crescented.

Hard Rockin

The new band (Asia Reforms) playing at  Kafe Batu Keras is quite good. Although this is only when they play rock songs, when playing Fergilicious it’s a another matter.  So go check them out. They will be playing until the end of March.

Molested

Have you ever been molested? Have you ever been touched innapropriately by the opposite sex? Have you ever said "NO" to such persons? Have you ever told that person that the thing they do is wrong and innapropriate? Do you think that person have the same common sense and values as you?

Crush

Lovely lady, let me drink you, please, I wont spill a, drop no, I promise you.
Lying under this spell you cast on me.
Each moment the more, I, love, you. crush me, come on. oh, yes.
                                                                                                                                - Crush - Dave Matthews Band

Seeing the lyrics, the Dave Matthews song seems a bit mushy, but its still a great song.

One of the meaning of the word "crush" is  "Temporary love of an adolescent". Recently, to me a crush is a sudden wave to hit your whole body when your eyes meet. A crush is when you recognise its her standing at the side of the dark street and still managing to make eye contact when you pass her at 60km an hour. A crush for me is when you can still muster courage and act nonchalant when you talk to her but in your head you are screaming "what the f@#k do I say next?".

Yes, yes, I am turned into 6′ of quivering jelly because I have a crush. "Who’s the unlucky girl?" I hear you ask.  Hmmm… do you really want to know? Do you really, really, really want to know? I won’t tell you if you really want to know. Muahahahha…  Okay, if you promise not to be overcomed with jelousy I will tell you her name and a fact about her.

Ready? Her name is Ayu and she has a tattoo at the small of her back. That’s it, no more info from me.

I whinged on the lack of concerts in Malaysia apart from the Media Prima heboh and Astro’s AF concerts. But it seems the new year brings with it quite a handfull of artists that will perform in Malaysia. As always time to call on people to get free tickets. Boyz I Men… nope… no news yet… Muse… still too far off… Out of the blue I get offered tickets to Rain. Rain! Bloody Rain… Rain is coming… Do I look like somebody who watches Rain?

Before I continue rambling, let me explain that Rain is a Korean male singer… The usual teen idol mold. Google him for Pete’s sake.

Do I look like somebody who watches Rain? Obviously not. But my friend was kind enough to offer me the tickets because he said there would be chicks there. Obviously there would be thousands of jailbaits and barely legal chix there, but would I really able to stand through a rain concert, or would I kill myslef before the end.

So, if somebody would like to trade tickets, trade favours do message me. I still have to collect the tickets.

Idol chatter
Well, another January, another season of American Idol. Yes, yes I am an American Idol junkie. The thrill of watching undiscovered talents that can sing, the delusional people who can’t sing and the family members and friends that still supports them (kind words and moral support I understand, but please tell them they can’t sing). 

Haven’t been able to watch all of the auditions, just managed to catch a few here and there but that Sundance guy sure can sing. Probably will have to wait until the hollywood rounds to pick my favourites and see how far they will go.

Ladies and gents,

Do you really want to know what smurf sex is? Don’t say I didn’t warn ya… smurf sex is when you just recently met somebody and you shag them regularly and vigorously ’til you are blue. This is opposed to Courtroom sex where your spouse screws you regularly and vigorously in front of 50 strangers. Have I ever had smurf sex? I don’t kiss and tell… duh. What do you take me for?

Morning drive

As usual, I was driving to work this morning. Was quite enjoying the drive after getting past the traffic. When stopping at a traffic light, a colleague’s car stopped beside me.  They commented on the  new ride and it must be me driving because I was driving like and asshole. What? Asshole? However, I didn’t contradict my colleague as you might have thought, ’cause I was  in retrospect driving like an asshole.  If anybody else was driving the way I was, I would probably cursed and swore.

So, my new resolution for this year, would try to be less of an asshole on the roads. If you do see me weaving in and out like an asshole, do give me a honk to remind me. I won’t mind.

Feeling Tired

Am feeling a bit lethargic today. Probably because of the little fever/flu I have. I did sleep the whole evening yersterday after getting back from work. Today, my throat wasn’t as sore and my nose wasn’t as blocked, but my whole body feels lethargic. My muscles feels like they are producing lactic asid just by thought. Wouldn’t be too bad if not for people commenting that I looked tired. I guess you can’t really hide something if it was too obvious.

For those who lives under a rock or just don’t give a damn, today is the Sultan of Selangor’s birthday, and hence a public holiday to those working in Selangor. Since Putrajaya is a Federal Territory, I have to go to work. The good news is it took me only 25 minutes today to get to work, as opposed to 45 minutes minimum on any other working day.

Now, the bad news, the Federal Territories minus Labuan will be flooded by Selangorians (Selangorites? wateva) who has the day off. So expect traffic and an overabundance of people in town today.