“One of them asked why, in my story, did the Malay girl not make any attempt to convert her Chinese boyfriend.

Another one suggested that the scene where Adibah, Ida and Amani were lovingly combing each other?s hair by the staircase, was encouraging Malay women to go back to their bad old habit of picking each other’s lice!?

Yasmin Ahmad, Director of Sepet, on her experience with the local censorship board.
[thanks a lot for sharing Oliviasy!]

Now, my despise towards the likes of Yusof Haslam and Aziz M. Osman have turned into guilt and pity. No wonder these talented people can’t make any decent progress in the local movie business, the Government won’t let them. Seriously. I mean, come on! If it’s an interracial love, is it mandatory to have the muslim one convert the other? Oh for the love of all that is fun, funny and entertaining, can you geezers please be realistic?

And what’s this about picking lice? I believe the current generation has discarded this icky and unhealthy habit, leaving lice for shampoo and scalpcare products to take care of.

BTW, ‘Sepet’ is movie about a Chinese VCD seller who fell in love with a chun Malay girl. Surely this would be a nice drama [though I'm not really into local movies] aside the ever rampant lame attempts at movie humour. So much for bragging about the ever low standard of our productions.

In other news;

I was driving home from Friday prayers today, and on the radio an unfamilliar ad came on air.

“Look at James next door, he’s so eager to go to school”
“But Mom, he goes to Sekolah Sri Garden!”
“Sekolah Sri Garden?”
“Yes. Sekolah Sri Garden offers the top quality education facilities, internationally recognized teachers who pay attention to him all the time and he has lots of friends! That’s why he always likes to go to school!”

“If I went to that school I wouldn’t be such a sleepyhead in class!”

So, you’re saying that in public school you don’t make lots of friends? Geez you must really suck. I don’t how attentive private school teachers are, but hell, I got teachers who screamed the hell out of me whenever I got anything below ‘B’ for my papers. They taught me things out of the stuff in the books. Hell, they even took part in our activites and invited their students to open houses! If that’s not attentive, I don’t know what to say la.

Sure, public school toilets outstink most others, the canteen food usually tastes worse that it looks, and the discipline isn’t always stable. But damn, I don’t recall any top SPM scorers coming out of private schools. Those kickass kids nailing 12-13 A1’s appear more frequent in public schools than private ones.

Also, I don’t remember private schools taking part in national-level competitions, be it debate, quizzes, sports. Only public school get listed in. You see, no woneder you can’t appreciate public school, kid. You just plain suck.

Oh well, at least the media did a good job if its about entertaining me.

Wonderful lyrics make for extremely pleasing songs. Listed here are my current favourites [click to view]:

Yoko Kanno, Scott Matthew - The Beauty is Within Us

Yoko Kanno - What’s It Really For?

I’m not too sure that I can go much further
I’m really not sure things are even getting better
I’m so tired of the me that has to disagree
And so tired of the me that’s in control

I woke up to see the sun shining all around
How could it shine down on me?
You’d think that it would notice
I can’t take anymore
I had to ask myself
“What’s it really for?”

Everything I tried to do, it didn’t matter
and now I might be better off just rollling over
’cause you know I tried so hard but couldn’t change a thing
And it hurts so much I might as well let go

I can’t really take the sun shining all around me
Why would it shine down on me?
You’d think that it would notice
I no longer believe
Can’t help telling myself
“It don’t mean a thing”

I woke up to see the sun shining all around me
How could it shine down on me?
Sun shining all its beauty
Why would it shine down on me
You’d think that it would notice
I can’t take anymore
Just had to ask myself
“What’s it really for?”

BOA - Duvet

And you don’t seem to understand
A shame you seemed an honest man
And all the fears you hold so dear
Will turn to whisper in your ear
And you know what they say might hurt you
And you know that it means so much
And you don’t even feel a thing

I am falling, I am fading
I have lost it all

And you don’t seem the lying kind
A shame then I can read your mind
And all the things that I read there
Candle lit smile that we both share
and you know I don’t mean to hurt you
But you know that it means so much
And you don’t even feel a thing

I am falling, I am fading, I am drowning
Help me to breathe
I am hurting, I have lost it all
I am losing
Help me to breathe

Andain - Beautiful Things [DJ Tiesto: Nyana CD 2]

Got up early, found something’s missing
my only name.
No one else sees but I got stuck,
and soon forever came.
Stopped pushing on for just a second,
then nothing’s changed.
Who am I this time, where’s my name
I guess it crept away.

No one’s calling for me at the door.
And unpredictable won’t bother anymore.
And silently gets harder to ignore.
Look straight ahead, there’s nothing left to see.
What’s done is done, this life has got it’s hold on me.
Just let it go, what now can never be.

I forgot that I might see,
So many beautiful things.
I forgot that I might need,
to find out what life could bring.

Take this happy ending away, it’s all the same.
God won’t waste this simplicity on possibility.
Get me up, wake me up, dreams are filling
this trace of blame.
Frozen still I thought I could stop,
now who’s gonna wait.

No one’s calling for me at the door.
and unpredictable won’t bother anymore.
and silently gets harder to ignore.
look straight ahead, there’s nothing left to see.
what’s done is done, this life has got it’s hold on me.
just let it go, what now can never be.

So many beautiful things.
So many beautiful things.

Now what do I do
can I change my mind
did I think things through

It was once my life - it was my life at one time

If you like the lyrics, and interested in any of the songs, I don’t mind sharing them with you. Just ask nicely and treat to me to some ice-cream. Hehehe.

I had the opportunity to literally go out and chill today. It’s been a few years since I last been in a river, so I thought I’d explore and find somewhere clean and cool. My Dad then told me to explore in the deep Hulu Langat area. So, one morning, I picked up Fairuz, and I brought along some snacks and some clothes. Off we went to Pekan Hulu Langat in search of a a clean, fresh river where I can satisfy my cravings.

We ventured about 20km into Hulu Langat, and we went deeper, there appears to be lesser people and more greenery. The scene was constantly changing, so the trip isn’t as boring as going on a highway.

As we passed over a short bridge, I noticed a sign that says ‘Sg. Chongkak’, and I asked Fairuz took look across. Sure enough, the waters are crystal clear and extremely tempting. I’m talking about a hidden secret that even Travel and Adventure leaves out.

We reached a small quiet spot where there’s a lot less people and we thought that was about the best spot as we can get. I went for a dip, occasionally coming out to grab some food and drinks. Once satisfied, I decided to get some shots, seeing how nice the place is.

Up there is a lodge that rents out camping equipment.

Once I was done there, we thought that it was too early to leave, so we drove further upstream to see if there’s a better spot. Sure enough, when we reached the end of the road, we came to the entrance of Hutan Simpan Sungai Chongkak [Sungai Chongkak Forest Reserve]. Tempted, we went inside for a trek.

A forest reserve is really something. The fresh air, the lush greenery, and constantly falling leaves make for a really enchanted atmosphere. Of course, the reserve itself is made for the convienience of nature lovers and campers alike. Equipped with campsites, barbeque pits, benches, tables and toilets the place is really inviting you to spend a campfire night there.

Yes, the water is THAT cold.

We trekked up far and wide across the reserve, right until the final campsite available. Feeling extra adventurous, we went outside the campsite bounds to trek further into the jungle, in the hopes of finding a waterfall. We were having talks about bringing a 4×4 through here until we reached a sign that says;

No vehicles beyond this point.

But that didn’t stop us from going further. We went so far up, we lost the river, only to find it some 30 metres below us when we looked over a cliff. As parting gift for venturing beyond the limits, Fairuz got himself three leeches, and one for myself.

The dude just won’t get off.

If you’re looking for waters to chill, don’t hesitate to contact me for info on how to get there and some extra details :)

What do you call people who like to generalize things? People who can’t tell the difference between Scorpions and Linkin Park, and assume that both are Rock music that is ‘corrupting’ youths? Between Kopi O and Capuccino, saying both are coffee that keeps you awake? Between cybercafes and gaming arcades, saying both are the main reason of truancy in schools. And lastly, those who can’t tell the difference between cartoons, and anime.

“Why are you watching some children’s show? You’re 19 years old for God’s sake!”

*scratches head*

The best part is, I was watching Ghost in the Shell: Innocence, which is definitely NOT a show for kids, considering the complexity and violence throughout the whole movie. I assure you the target audience are adults 18 and above.

[note: Unless you have watched Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex anime series or read the manga, you'll never understand a single shit abt wtf is going on in the movie. I'm serious.]

Believe me, that wasn’t the first time anyone ever told me that. So, here I am, feeling pretty annoyed over those who don’t/can’t/don’t wish to like anime and suka2 hati labelling us anime fans as sad lifeless dorks living in a dream in front of our monitors. Well, it’s too bad really. I feel sorry because they can’t seem to appreciate the same things I do.

Anime isn’t only for children. It’s also for people who can appreciate a good novel-class plot, with some ’smart’ humour tossed in and mature values like trust and preserverance. Anime songs are usually J-pop songs, so the songs are not some cheesy catchy theme like “Ninja Turtles”, and usually ejoyable as full songs. There are anime for children, of course, you can lok at those those cute ones with lots of jokes and funny stunts. But let’s face it, the favourite anime are always those with a good plot that lines the entire series.

Take Full Metal Alchemist for example. As far as my experience goes, FMA is the most original anime I have ever enjoyed, the main element being the science of alchemy. [WARNING: Rantings ahead, highlight to read]

[otaku rant]
Not only is the main element original, it has a wonderful plot of two brothers who, in an attempt to revive their dead mother using alchemy, got into a horrific accident. One of them lost an arm and a leg, while the other lost his entire body, only to be saved by the older brother who attached his still living soul to a suit of armor. Together they journeyed far and wide to learn alchemy so they can return to their original forms. In the process, they find themselves in an unexpecetd turn of events full of twists, turns, humour and drama.
[/rant]

It’s usually hard to summarize an anime series in a simple paragraph because good ones have plots too interesting to be described in a such a limited amount of words. It’s easy to get addicted to anime. The plots are too interesting and the completion of a series will usually leave you sighing with satisfaction. My personal favourites like Ghost in the Shell, Full Metal Alchemistand Witch Hunter Robin all feature plots that were wonderfully told, and in-depth exploration of the characters. Though I wouldn’t watch them for a second time [too heavy to digest for a second helping], I always recommend them to friends new to anime.

Cartoons have no such impact on me. At least not anymore. I know how fascinaed I was with Thundercats [my prized VHS collection], He-Man, Silverhawks, and Ghostbusters. I can’t help feeling nostalgic everytime I see or hear them mentioned anywhere. I grew up with cartoons, but my childhood ends there. The reality is simple.

There are things that are just better, and more entertaining to watch.

And it’s definitely not just a cartoon.

If you came upon a chance when you definitely feel that someone is coming on to you, and willing to let go of any ties that bind them, what do you tell them? You know for a fact that they are in a relationship of mutual love, and the issues they face are simply avoidable ones, if they made the effort.

Deep inside, you know that if you ask thme to break the ties off, they might not give it a second thought and do it right away, and free themselves. Free for the taking. Specifically, for yours.

Somehow, I’m going through some pretty mixed up emotions, myself. It’d be nice if we hooked up. But it’s also nice if they rekindled their love and see the sincere smile that I always like to see. Both outcomes are good, really. I then gave my few cents’ worth, in an attempt to keep them from breaking apart.

I wonder if it was really what I wanted to do. Do I really care for the affairs of others? I’m sure I’m a lot more self-centered than I thought. And to act in ways that leaves me out of the gain, is not usually me. I like to see things work. I like to see them perform. I don’t like helplesness. I hate inefficiency.

And when viewed from a different angle, I realised that I am no different than anyone else. I hate negative things. The more I think about the things I hate, the more of it I see in myself. I regularly find myself going that extra mile to make the other person satisfied. As much I want to feel accomplished and proud of myself, I can never find the drive. I read somewhere;

“Think of others ahead of yourself, boy.”

But there is also;

“YOU must be the focus of your goal. Your efforts must always see yourself as its first priority.”

I reflected upon these two contradictary points of wisdom a few times, but I never came to a steady conclusion. Sure, I set my goals. I aim high. But do I do enough to hit the mark? It doesn’t seem so. I always wonder why I was always unable to drive myself to go further, for my own sake. Yet, if it’s about satisfying another person, I always do a little extra to make them feel better.

Is it simply because I like to see my friends happy? Or rather, the self-gratification when people speak of me to others, saying what a wonderful person I am, going as far as doing a little research to help them out?

I must remind you that I am a HUGE attention whore. Though I don’t exactly demand much, I DO expect to receive LOTS of it. It’s not that I like being the guy everyone knows, but rather, the guy everyone is fond of.

Which brings me back to the original point. Do I really help people out of selflessness, or I am being selfish for wanting be loved? Why help those in need? What is the ultimate reason? I don’t know if your answer is the same as mine, but at least I have one, tough it might be a bit unpleasant.

I want to be liked.

You’ve helped people out in the past too, right? Have you ever sat down asked yourself, why, until you get yourself a final definite answer?