What was once

young, is now older.
everything, is now nothing.
impotent, is now potent.
tepid, is now passionate.

foolish, is now relatively more experienced.
angry, is now more reflective.
hating, is now a little more loving.

As with all living things, growing takes time. Be sure to have a nice mugful of patience and grit for breakfast every morning.

As with all living things, what is our life, but a brief flicker in the entirety of the existence of the universe.

And finally but what I know to be most important,
As with all living things, being able to make a difference another day is indeed a blessing, even if veiled as a curse. Also having the ability to interpret it as a positive difference is in itself another blessing.

That cannot be all I learnt in four years??!!

I need my metaphorical breakfast before bed too, looks like.

xoxo

a serious case of athleticism

I cannot believe this. I am finally regarded as an athlete. By myself that is. In my opinion, an athlete/sportsperson has to undergo many hardships, including but not limited to:

1. broken bones
2. sprains
3. loss of friendships when playing a friendly match

I have finally suffered quite a severe case of number 2.

My foot was like some potato that had just been dug out of the ground. My toes were protrusions of growing tuber.

Thankfully I did not cry. I've had worse, so this shouldn't be too much of a problem.

Chinese New Year will be spent moping around the house playing Left for Dead 2.

Malaysian Taxi Drivers Anonymous

Malaysian cabbies worse problem than dirty toilets: minister
A top minister slammed Malaysia's taxi drivers Wednesday, saying they were more of a problem for the tourism industry than the nation's notoriously filthy toilets.

A top minister slammed Malaysia's taxi drivers Wednesday, saying they were more of a problem for the tourism industry than the nation's notoriously filthy toilets.

"The complaints by tourists about the taxi drivers' behaviour are more than toilets now, so in that context the taxi drivers are worse than dirty toilets," cabinet minister Nazri Aziz said.

"People are complaining about the taxi drivers overcharging, being impolite and not using their meters, forcing the tourists to bargain with them," he told AFP.

"This is the third-world taxi driver mentality. Even in China now, taxi drivers can no longer (haggle), they just have to take the passengers, no questions asked.

"It's not that all taxi drivers behave like that, it's just a small group of them but that is already giving Malaysia a bad name," said Nazri, who is minister in the prime minister's department.

Complaints about taxis are common the world over, but it has become a hot topic in Malaysia where frustrations are vented on blog sites and in letters to newspapers.

In a survey by the local magazine The Expat last year, some 200 foreigners from 30 countries rated Malaysia the worst among 23 countries in terms of taxi quality, courtesy, availability and expertise.

The respondents lashed the fleet as "a source of national shame" and "a serious threat to tourists -- rude bullies and extortionists".

-------------------

I stole that article from MSN Malaysia (http://news.malaysia.msn.com/weird-news/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3740754)

Wow, so we actually admit our public toilets are shitty. Great news people! Malaysians have finally come to their senses and are starting to pinch their noses when entering 20-sen-per-entry toilets ( there were these automated public loos in Bukit Bintang that costed 1 buck or something right? crazy..).

I love it how we are all aware that we stink at cleaning up after ourselves after taking a dump. Fair enough. Now, all we need to do is take action. Hmm, wonder when that will be....

Endword:
This aspiring writer is sooo sick of flushing toilets for people everytime they just leave it after pissing all around the urinal. They should pay him for all he has done. Wait...that's what they pay the janitor for. To clean up after ourselves. So, if he does flush the toilet and keep the place tidy, the janitors would not have anything left to do. Bottomline, kindly keep the toilets dirty.

as idealistic as a squashed persimmon is about being consumed

The way I see it is that this country could be going somewhere in a handbasket unless we all stop being such selfish citizens.

I like to liken (hmm... couldn't help that back there) this situation to Malaysians about to board one of our various public transportation systems. Hmm, this calls to mind buses, taxies, trains? Everyone wants to get in, but because of that, nobody manages to get out. On the whole, no one gets to go where they want, and people are stuck. That is of course before the police/warden swings his night stick in a wide arc towards the crowd (this is me exaggerating) and/or blows his shrill whistle ever so loudly for the benefit for everyone including people less than a feet away to hear. But I digress.

My point is, we have all been very self serving. That's fine. In this world, the fittest survive. But it wouldn't be very nice if you trod on someone or God forbid beat someone to death over a baguette stick.

We have to start mixing around and not form political parties (or different language clubs) in schools/colleges/universities as I so often see. Here and there we have a group of people speaking a language I haven't an idea about. There is absolutely no assimilation.

People don't take the time to care about others simply because we do not let them. Do not let language be some kind of barrier for us to hide behind. And stop calling others derogatory names in your mother tongue.

Another thing I despise is that people of the same skin will come to coin up some words to call others who are different than themselves. Names I will not mention here or AdSense will revoke my publisher status.

Are we all so xenophobic and intolerant?

Hmm...I thought as much.

Oh yeah, I forgot to add a disclaimer.

DISCLAIMER:
In case anyone decides to follow any of the following tips to unify Malaysians and gets hurt/in prison in the process, the author of this blog will NOT be held responsible.

(this one's for you vinnie)

-"For the good of the town, the good of the people."

bumpy beginnings

Ok. I would have to call this a comeback.

Still trying to work out the kinks in my fingers. Blogging seemed to have been a lifetime ago and here I am, an old fogey trying to relive the good/bad old days. Some things never change and people never learn from mistakes.

Hmm, not bad. I managed a paragraph.

Razzle Dazzle

Can titles get any more clichèd than this? (see? I'm not lazy anymore, managed to find that "e").

Aih, ma nu semester is starting tomorrow. Bye bye holidays, nice knowing ya and see you soon. Goodbye baby of seventeen, hiya eighteen. It's gonna be pubs and clubs from now on. I think.

New moves babe

Aah, yes I am sampling the "post post by post" (email..) function of Blogger. Here are my list of seemingly random and disconnected sentences which actually sum up my few weeks (month) of blog-free bliss/pangs.

 

We deviate and bullshit a lot when it comes to very important things like studying.

 

Exams are over.

 

Computer games are all the rage.

 

I wanna be a rugger bugger (well, join the rugby team is what I meant...don't laugh.)

 

My legs hurt.

 

Swimming is the order of the month (well, before the 18th of May that is)

 

I start my next semester is 3 weeks time. Whoopee!

 

The gym costs 160 bucks for 4 months. That makes 40 for 1 month. Worth it? I need some opinions.

 

That's all for the post-by-email trial. Does it work?

--
John

It's a Korean thing..

To scratch or not to scratch, that is the problem.

If you have never scratched your ass in the morning as soon as you get out of your bed, dear reader, I would recommend you try it. It's the most awesome feeling in the world, next to getting a facial massage or hair washing in a salon (especially if you are on good terms with the hairdresser and get the bubbly sensation for free).

I wouldn't compare it with a full body massage (just the back, not the front you pervert) coz I for one do not like massages (done usually by inexperienced friends exploiting my weak side).

It's two more weeks to my finals and I am busy getting in the groove of things.

All things Korean I mean.

Ahem, "Korean dramas are so, like, awesome."

On one hand, I like the romantic kind of drama (like Winter Sonata. Yaya, it came out ages ago, but still, now is the time to fully enjoy it in the midst of my knee-deep-wading in assignments) and on the other I like funny/comedic dramas.

I guess opposites do attract eh? The only thing is that I have to leave the laptop on the entire night to fully stream the parts of the episode (since people do away with using the wireless in the pee-wee hours of the morning). But no matter.

"I shall sacrifice myself for you my love."

Notice my new style of typing? Reasons for the change (season):

1. It looks as if I typed quite a lot of words. The page does take to load longer (if you are using an internet connection that takes donkey-years to load this page, I suggest you kindly ask your local ISP to bugger off and either get a new ISP or connect to someone else's wireless. For example, a kind neighbour.)

2. I like readers to go away from this page thinking they read an award-winning article on the life of John (not the Life of Pi) because of the tremendous eye strain reduction involved.

3. I have nothing else better to do than type out a full body and then add spaces when necessary (remember those medicine bottles "administer as necessary"?).

"There will always be a first for everything".

Lies, all are lies!

Watched "Body of Lies". Bloody brilliant man. Di Caprio finally lost that "Titanic-blue-eyed-baby-faced-boy" look man. Good for him. And I think his future prospects are looking great. At least that's what I think. All that action and conspiracy and intrigue, hell yeah. I'd always give a thumbs up to a good action/thriller film (and some soppy ones too). The double-crossing-each-other thing goes really out of control in this great show. Say yes to machismo.

Which reminds me, there's 24: Redemption airing this Saturday on NTV7. Gotta love 24, with its forever recurring plot of some people wanting to blow up something or kill someone. Same damn thing, but still love it. If anyone can pull off the Delta Force operator guy, it's Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland). And Mitch Rapp. And Jason Bourne. Serious Special Forces guys. In fiction that is.

Have I told you lately

Rod Stewart's music ain't that bad. If you like crooners who have that gravelly voice that is. Of course, if you are seeking a young, fresh voice, I suggest you look further. Try "The First Cut is the Deepest" for starters.

Watched P.S. I Love You. Oh boy, if there was another more cliched (lazy to put that sign on top of the "e") story or movie, please tell me. I fall for stuff like that. Yeah, I feel so gay all of the sudden. (oh no, not that "MAN" thing again...) Gerard Butler was soo cool, like. That deep voice and all. Hey, do you give speech lessons? I need to turn my squeak into something manlier. (not again..) One thing to take note of: I have a dead feeling Gerard Butler played King Leonidas in 300. Wayyyy awesome. The story (the former, not the shield bashing latter) was executed pretty well, especially the moments where Jerry was strumming on the guitar. I so wanna learn the guitar. Haha. My desire to learn was not because I saw him playing in the show (don't be silly) but because I feel that some of my time in college should be dedicated to music (besides listening, 'coz everyone can listen to music, but few can make good ones).

South Park is sooo gay. Definitely. There's something about 4 kids in snow suits that is so endearing yet soo vulgar. And by the way, if you were thinking South Park is a cartoon show for kids (like a certain idiot who is currently typing a post for this blog), whoa, aren't you too wrong. Crude, rascist and perverted jokes make appearances in South Park. Check out this website: spepisodes.com
Join to become a member, it's worf it. There is a limited number of downloads but, go ahead, watch your first South Park episode. It's bloody brilliant. I actually was younger when I got ahold of a huge collection of South Park (from Keegan's harddisk) but I was too conservative to actually appreciate the adult-natured jokes. But since I'm 18 this year, I figured, there's gotta be a first for everyfing.

There IS a first for everything, dontcha know?

Caaann!! Caaaannn...

Ever heard of the Can Can? Most probably it originated from "Orpheus in the Underworld" which is a opera bouffe by some Frenchman. Go Wiki it. It's a great song, it was also used in Moulin Rouge.

An overwhelming amount of assignments made their presence known by huger stacks of paper in my room.

Oh snap, gonna have to spend more money by photostating books (very legal in these parts of the country) of which 80% won't even be read.

Hmm, Ken Vin's requirements for a birthday present (I asked him personally okay...the guy has nearly everything so I don't wanna get him something he already has) is:
1. Useful
2. Lasts long
But let me add another point
3. Shows that my friends care (physical and mental well being) for me

Wait and see Vinnie.

Oh and did you know the "Medici"s were really wealthy bankers? And clergymen? And bastards (illegitimates..)? And queens and kings? The list goes on. These people were bloody brilliant. At that time...

Hohum. t(-.-t) Try guessing what this picture means.

You don't have to walk the streets for money

Watched "Moulin Rouge" yesterday night. In case there are those of you wondering, yes I have watched it before. That was when I was with my mom and sis. Which of course led to underappreciation of the film i.e. it wasn't "Man" at that time to cry or sob or do anything to show I'm a romantic (at least that ideal was in my head..influenced by all that Top Gun and all those other macho shows out there). But there I was, sitting at my 15 inch screen having red eyes. Oh boy...
This proves one thing (for me that is..):
The only way guys (like me...) can enjoy love films is to watch it alone. Or with someone as sensitive as themselves. Ok, you can stop laughing/upchucking now. One of my favourite songs in the movie is Roxanne. Very nice tango touch to it. I'd like to learn the tango.

On another note, I've had quite a few busy days. You know, the usual college student fare. But, I have managed to download "Star Wars Battlefront 2!!!" from my weekly returns to KL. Not a bad game (maybe that's where all that unaccounted time is ending up at..).

Was planning to enter the MPH shortstory competition but I have stumbled upon every writers' worst nightmare!! A mind block. Or should I say, the inability to put passion into every word I type. It makes it kind of meaningless. So I stopped. For now.

For the endword, let's just say this:
Guys, don't frequent brothels. You never know when you might fall in love with a courtesan (or as people nowadays like to say while cussing someone's mother: whore).

Encounters

"I haven't slept well yesterday, and I'd like to return to the college earlier to catch up on my winks." The excess baggage under her eyes stuck out, an unquestionable reason for the season. "I'd like to share a taxi with you. Please."
Cute, he thought. Not everyday does some random chick offer to share a ride. Then again...

"Unfortunately, I don't think I'm in a rush. Plus, 30-40 minutes of waiting hardly makes 10 bucks worth it," he said. Then again, it also depends on who can afford more.

"It's all right. You can sleep here while waiting for the bus," he said.
She lifted up an eyebrow in a quizzical manner.

"I'll wake you up when the bus arrives." He liked playing the gentleman, but trust was hers to dispense.

She gave an almost inaudible snort beneath her highlighted bangs and gave a parting look that said "That's a nice guy right there, friends and neighbours" and swished her branded-jeans-clad ass around towards the taxi stand where cut-throat cabbies waited in so-called hiding to pounce on unsuspecting and rather well-off college freshmen.

The college bus tutted up 30 minutes later. So, 30 minutes is worth 5 bucks eh? Not bad, he thought.

New Year (Un)Resolution

How's the change in background dear friends and neighbours? Feel as free as my good friend Kelvin to comment in the textbox whether it:
a. sucks (like John)
b. rocks (like John too)
c. I don't give a shit (about John)

Just so the general public (with internet connection) knows, I have changed the font size (it is obvious for those of you complaining) and the background coloUr. Tell me whether white strains your eyes more than black. I'm pretty sure it does, but just tell me. Talk to papa.

On another note, ever wonder why people only use the "New Year" to have new so-called "resolutions"? You telling me ever day is not a new day? Why not start every new day with a strong resolution instead of waiting for the year to end to become a better person? That way, you don't have to "anticipate" the end of the year 1 week into the month of January because of some minor screw-ups. Unless of course you're afraid of change. In that case, I'd like to kindly suggest you wake up.

Then again, people put a lot of time in planning their new year resolutions. And they do end up with the desired effect. I'd like to take my hat off to these people (I do not wear hats, so there isn't a point) and somebody please brings some laurels so we can crown them. (Ken Vin, you probably deserve one.)

The world does look brighter, doesn't it?

The Moon Over Bourbon Street

I have discovered the aural (not oral, they do sound the same) joy of listening to Sting.

The house is in tip top condition, awaiting delightful Christmas. Thank goodness for holidays.

Watched "Bolt 3D" with Ken Vin and Marko last Monday. Pretty silly and a bit of a knock-off if you ask me. The 3D thing did not do much magic over the course of the 2 hour plus movie. I was expecting to see things pop out of the screen believeably, but no hope of that there. And it was 18 quid (bucks) for 1 tikkit. Vat the bloody hell vas zat all about? Nearly twice of ze normal tikkit. Probably ze regular 2D should be equally as good. Bah.

And had a "cousin's only" outing on Saturday. Watched "Yes Man". I do not have much to complain about that movie. Except that part about the horny old lady. 'Twas a gag-filled moment. Storyline was not that bad, they threw in the female protagonist for good measure, I'm sure, to act alongside Jimmy. After all, it could not hurt to have a pretty supporting actress. The star was of course, You-Know-Who. Not that You-Know-Who of Potter fame.

And got meself a book about guitar chords. Some pretty cool stuff if you ask me.

Okay.

Last but not least (this is not a factual essay fyi), Fröliche Weihnachten. That's German/Deutsch for Merry/Happy Christmas, in case you were wondering.

very Stupid

Hey guys, you should read this pulp.

http://www.wikihow.com/Seduce-a-Woman

Read it to the very last letter. Lord, how does anyone come up with articles like that? Isn't something like that supposed to come naturally? I mean, it was all right when they came up with "how-to" stuff on gardening, cooking and the like. But "How-to-seduce-a-woman"?? That's just not right. Show strategic weakness? Manage your reputation and image? Doesn't it feel so unnatural, trying to pick up this or that gal based on some "how-to" bollocks picked up online? Isn't it simpler to say "I wanna sleep with you"? (warning: slaps might be delivered,and mortal hatred from said female to you may occur. So use this advice at your own risk) And last but not least, always use protection.

Here's another classic one: How-to-Apologise

http://www.wikihow.com/Apologize

I don't know about you, but these things come naturally to me (hold on, that ain't right).

Check this out

Oh, and before I forget, please check out the word Lucullan on Dictionary.com
It's another one of those words where they have a famous being's name as part of an adjective. Examples of these are, "Freudian, Shakespearean, Orwellian" and so on.
I wish they have something like Khooian, since they already have Chiayewnian and Keynesian.
(Keynesian is part of some economics term I have forgotten light years ago. What the fuck.)

A reason for serious stupidity

I seriously ahve to make it a point to blog at least twice a month.
The finals is one week from now and here I am, making some stupid promise. One that I will invariably break. With passion. Okay, I was kidding with the last part. Kidding...kiddy...kiddy fiddlers. Hah, kiddy fiddler, a new word I have learnt that is used to describe paedophiles. So if somehow your "paedophile" sounds like peedofile,which is wrong, you have another alternative word to use.

I have a book on the plays of the early English theater. Finally, a book on Doctor Faustus and the greater devils. And Macbeth, treacherous prick.

I am getting better at ping pong. Thank God for patient friends.

The Prancing Piglet

And here I was a-thinkin, "Should I have 2 towels instead of 1? One for to wipe myself after showering, and another to wipe my ass after a good, long dump." I mean, should we use one towel as a 2-in-1 cloth for both distinctively different activities? One which involves scrubbing one's body after a good shower (or bath in some of your cases, not mine. They don't have tubs here..) and another which involves wiping an excretory orifice (after you, of course, wash up..). I am indeed stuck in the deepest of dilemmas on whether to bring an extra towel here to assist in the increasing of my hygenic habits here at Nilai. After all, to live in the woods, doesn't mean one can't shit in style. And cleanliness.

P.S. Notice my Dictionary.com RSS? Kindly refer to it to learn new words every day. If it works for me, it should work for you.

P.P.S. I have been meaning to change the font to more baby-friendly words so you squinty eyed short sighted people will be able to "enjoy" reading my blog more. Thing is though, I only had the intention. Perhaps not the will. Hmm...

To pussy is to wussy

I like drinking can drinks with straws. Now that's just sissy. I mean, the alpha-male way of drinking a can drink especially beer is a straight-down-shot hole-in-one. Not that kind of hole-in-one. Coming to think of it, a lot of my jokes have sexual connotations. If you call them jokes. What a pervert...

So as I was saying, drinking otta cans with straws. I do have my reasons, even if they may be lame. Try taking a close look at a can. A clean look does not guarantee a clean surface. So, dear reader, try remembering that before taking a single, manly/womanly gulp at that Coke or Tiger or Heineken or whatever your part of the world calls it.

Anecdote section is over. Time for the hardcore stuff. I played ping pong today. Not that hit-to-the-wall-and-it-comes-back-atcha shit. Real ping pong. On a real ping pong table. Not on the floor. I have won the amateur cup for ping pong!!! Not. That's just the conceited part of my self typing.

Im currently reading this book called the Dictionary of the Khazars. A really weird ass book or so-called lexicon-novel. It features weird ass stuff like this princess who has a curse written on her eyelids every night before she sleeps so no one can come and harm her or rape her or whatever perverted men in the olden days do to their women. So there was this one day her servants thought to have some fun and surprise dear princess and brought 2 mirrors of which one mirrors the future and one the past. And they so conveniently, stupidly forgot to wipe off the word on our dear princess that when she woke up, she saw her death and after a coupla seconds died. Ok, it was not written as-a-matter-of-factly like how I did here, for the tone was quite dark.

Oh yeah, and iTunes is a far cry from what Windows Media Player is. In fact, besides the inability to delete songs the conventional way, as in highlight a song and right click delete, ya have to find the folder and delete the song. Even so, the "recently added" list stays the same save for the exclamation mark. Somebody help!!!
(I doubt anyone would even offer any.)

And my lifelong dream of having a Rubiks Cube is shattered. It ain't easy. It ain't a cakewalk to solve it as I thought it was. And thus, it has been scrapped and left in a corner of my study here at Nilai.

On another note, I have this thing which has been bugging me for quite a while. My inability to remember important dates, such as birthdays. Ok, just my inability to remember birthdays. It is hell of a lame excuse. Ok, its a fking lame excuse.

And as for having fun, I finally have GTA San Andreas for PC. A dream come true. A bloody fun game. Ji Ming, wish you were here to enjoy this game!!! But then again, it ain't GTA4. Gamer ranting over.

And since I feel I do owe you an explanation about my long absence from the blog-o-pyramid, I will say that I was having another job besides being a slave driver.