Epitome of Kentalism

Whose version is it anyway?

2009-08-27T07:36:00.006+08:00

If you don't know, I am sitting for this module "film and history". Every 2 weeks I am supposed to write a 500 words discussion on the film that I just watched. Since I have more than 500 words to share, I shall post my discussion on my blog then. (Since I got nothing better to blog anyway... hehe)

Aite, the first film I watched was Rashomon. It's a 1950 Japanese movie which apparently had won a couple of awards. And inspired modern hollywood movies such as Vantage Point, Courage under fire and the Usual Suspects.

Anw, this is a little bit about how the film goes...

5 main characters went on a trail and each one of them was asked to give an account on what had happened in the murder of the Samurai. Each one of the characters describe the same event but in a very different manner.

The Bandit portrayed himself as a brave man who felt in love with the beauty of the Samurai’s wife. Due to this strong feeling of love, the Bandit managed to make the wife succumbed to him and he fought valiantly with the Samurai for his right to love the woman.

The Samurai’s wife on the other hand, depicted a very different picture. She was forced by the bandit and claimed to have been raped by him. As a helpless woman, he begged her husband to remain with her but the husband was just too disgrace to take her back. She did not mentioned how the husband was killed though.

The Samurai, through a medium (because he is dead), confessed of committing suicide because in his version of the story, he was cheated by the wife and was asked to be murdered by the Bandit. Due to the shame of such betrayal, he had to kill himself in the name of honour.

The woodcutter, being a witness and an outsider of the event, described the story also in a manner varying from all the other versions. He described both the Bandit and the Samurai as cowardice whom get into a fight only when the Samurai’s wife provoked their manly-hood.

The priest did not tell us much about the event. Just that he had seen the Samurai and his wife on the same day as the murder.

Anyway, the discussion is: What does this film tell us about "facts" and history? To me...

“Facts” are often related to the truth or something that is known to have happened. However, in Rashomon, this is not entirely the case. “Facts” are instead something that is said to be true and something that is supposed to have happened. “Facts” provided by all the characters are highly questionable and should not be taken as the whole truth.

In all the different versions of the stories told, the story-tellers have their best interest at heart, portraying themselves in a manner that is favourable. The Bandit as a brave man fighting for his right to love the woman, the Wife as a helpless woman being harassed by the Bandit, the Samurai as an honourable man who was cheated by his wife, and the Woodcutter as an innocent passer-by whom happened to have witnessed the incident. Actual happenings are twisted and distorted to become the “facts” of the individuals’ story.

Not only the actual happenings are being tempered with, certain actual happenings may also have been left out to protect the story-tellers’ interest. One instance, in the movie, was when the Woodcutter conveniently withheld the information about the pearl-breaded dagger that was left behind at the scene which was believed to have been sold by him. Story-tellers can be selective with their sharing of knowledge and hold back information when providing “facts”.
On the other hand, certain “facts” of the event were undisputed. “Facts” such as who was murdered, who was raped and where and when the event took place were congruent to one another in all the versions. This is so as the evidences of these “facts” are clear and there is nothing to contest their authenticity. As such, Rashomon tells us that some “facts” are indeed true; correct happenings of the event but bear in mind that there are also some “facts” that are biased and their genuinity are questionable. “Facts” therefore cannot just be accepted but must be analysed and understood.

History then, in my point of view, is the study of the Rashomon effect of a certain event and deriving the most accurate version. Historians put together different “facts” from different adaptations; analysing their strengths and weaknesses and come up with a complete understanding of the event. Of course history is also very much dependant on the opinions of the historians themselves. How history is depicted is largely based on historians’ interest, emphasis and motive. That is exactly the reason why the history of the World Wars differs from country to country.

This however, does not mean that history is all about different opinions patched together. Certain “facts”, just like in the movie, can be considered authentic with the support of concrete evidences such as artefacts.

In the study of history therefore, I believe, it is important to find more than one sources of the story and accept them with an open mind. Critical thinking about the “facts” presented in each of the story and proper analysis of the background of the story-tellers and evidences of the “facts” is very much needed. Only then, the most accurate derivation of the different stories can be merged and form “history”. But then again, it is His-story.

So next time, when you hear a story, ask, whose version is it anyway?

Langkawi 2008

2009-08-21T11:30:00.000+08:00

haha... looking at this picture makes me happy.

Amazing, just amazing

2009-02-03T07:50:00.002+08:00

Someone special to me shared this video with me and I want to share this with everyone. The kid in the video is Naadira Alli. Very cute and talented girl. Yup... Hope you like it as much as I do.

She wakes up early in the morning with a smile
And she holds my head up high
Don’t you ever let anybody put you down
Cos you are my little angel
Then she makes something warm for me to drink
Cos it’s cold out there, she thinks
Then she walks me to school,
Yes I aint no fool
I just think my Mom is amazing

BRIDGE/CHORUS
She makes me feel
Like I can do anything
and when she’s with me
there’s no where else, I’d rather be…

After School, she’s waiting by the gate
I’m so happy that I just can’t wait
To get home to tell her how my day went
And eat the yummy food, only my Mom makes
Then I wind her up cos I don’t wanna bath
And we run around the house with a laugh
No matter what I say, she gets her wayI think my Mom is amazing

BRIDGE/CHORUS

In the evening, she tucks me into bed
And I wrap my arms around her head
Then she tells me a tale of a girl far away
Who one day became a princess
I‘m so happy, I don’t want her to leave
So she lies in bed with me
As I close my eyes, how lucky am I
To have a Mom that’s so amazing

BRIDGE/CHORUS

Then I wake up in the morning, she’s not there
And I realize she never was
And I’m still here in this lonely orphanage
With so many just like me
And as my dreams begin to fade
I try hard to look forward to my day
But there’s a pain in my heart that’s a craving
How I wish I had a Mom that’s amazing
Would be amazing...

The GOLDEN Rule

2009-01-24T18:34:00.003+08:00

Check these out:

Buddhism:"Hurt not others with that which pain YOURself" (Udanavarga, v.18)
Christianity: "Treat others as YOU would like them to treat YOU" (Luke 6:31, New English Bible)
Confucianism: "Do not do to others what YOU would not want them to do to YOU" (Analects, Book xii, 2)
Hinduism: "Let not any any man do unto another any act that he wish not to be done to himself by others, knowing it to be painful to himself" (Mahabharata, Shanti Parva, cclx.21)
Judaism: "What is hateful to YOURself do not do to you fellow men. That is the whole of Torah" (Babylonian Talmud, Shabbath 31a)

Quoted from my Engineering Professionalism Module lecture notes. (EG2401). Hehehe...

The GOLDEN rule my friends... Interesting rule ya... Almost all the religions that exist in the world are saying to treat others like how YOU would want to be treated. Well, it make sense... If YOU don't like someone to talk bad about YOU, don't talk bad about others. It's that simple right? Basically, it follows what we call the reversibility principle.

What it means is that what is allowed or disallowed for YOU is allowed or disallowed for others under the same circumstances.

But friends... Is it always that simple? Is it always all about YOU?

Let's take a look at another GOLDEN Rule.

Islam: "No man is a believer unless he desires for his brother that which he desires for himself" (Prophet Muhammad SAW)

This is another perspective. A different perspective I must say. A better perspective I believe.

Friends, remember, it is not always all about YOU. YOU and others are not alike. Remember that... What is okay to YOU may not be okay for others. So don't treat others as how YOU want to be treated. Treat others like how THEY want to be treated. Put yourself in their shoes. Understand them. Don't just assume...

It's never easy to understand others. I know... But if you try, with just a little effort at least, the result will be much better than if you just assume. A reminder for myself... Rambut sama hitam, hati lain lain...

Mask

2008-10-19T11:33:00.006+08:00

Rachel Dawes: But then I found out about your mask.
Bruce Wayne: Batman's just a symbol, Rachel.
Rachel Dawes: [Rachel touches Bruce's face] No, *this* is your mask. Your real face is the one that criminals now fear.Is Bruce Wayne wearing a mask, or is it the other way around?

I had a Human Resource lesson the other day and we are discussing about the concept of "self". It is an interesting concept to me but at the same time I must say that it is also a confusing one. How well do we know ourselves? In the lesson, I was introduced to many different types of "self" but I am just going to talk about two of them here. The "true self" and the "not so true self"(ok, i made this one up).

Many a times, I must say that we are putting on our "not so true self" when we are around people. And around different people, our "not so true self" varies. Don't you think so? We never really reveal our true identity to anybody. Even our close ones. We are always wearing this mask of ours known as our faces and no one will ever know our "true self".

Well, with this mask on, we can be whoever we want to be. Often, it is to impress others and not what we are truly. But little did we know that, at the very end it is not our masks that is going to be judged but it is what underneath these masks that matter.
I am not saying that you should take off your masks. You can't. At least I think no one can't. But let's be reminded that: what's important is not to dress up your "not so true self" but your "true self".

It takes two hands to clap

2008-10-12T00:22:00.010+08:00

I wonder, how can people blog so frequent... How they can express what they feel so easily... Maybe it is just me. I kinda find it hard to actually pen down what is in my head. But I am trying. It might actually make me a better writer. Anyway, I was thinking of something. Ok let me try and "pen" it down.

It takes two hand to clap... Of course lah you need two hands to clap. If only one hand, all you can get is a slap. Haha... On the other hand, haha... get it? On the other hand, it takes only one hand to make a sound. Both hands do not actually need to move to clap. Tadaa...

Well, what is its significance? How I see it is that, in a relationship, or partnership or anything, need not neccessary be a pair, it takes one to make things happen. It is better of course if everyone making things happen but if it is not the case one is actually sufficient. If the one is strong enough, dedicated enough, commited enough, things can happen.

Let me give you an example ya. If two person are in a heated argument. It takes one person to stop shouting and talk nicely to end the argument. Another example, if two people is needed to play badminton, it takes only one to serve the shuttle to get the game in play. So ya... two hands to clap, only one needed to move to make a sound.

So which hand do you want to be? The moving hand or the other. Are you the one that makes things happen or are you the one that wait for things to happen.

-Maybe this is why I seldom blog ya???

Hmm, for those who don't intend to wait and want to make things happen, do bear in mind that... Work = force x dist.

to get WORK DONE you need force as well as moving the extra distance.

Tak yah gaduh ah! Leh berbual per...

2008-10-09T07:27:00.006+08:00

Atas galakan sesetengah pihak, akan ku menge-postkan lagi satu post ye...

Often if not always, why people fight is that they are arguing at a different level. What do I mean by this? What I mean is that they are arguing not on the same basis of an issue. As most of us would know, there are many perspectives to an issue depending on how you want to see it. And how you define something may vary to others.

Just like you wearing someone else's pair of spectacles. You would not see something exactly how others will see. You will need to adjust to the new view and only then maybe you may come close to other's view. Or then again, we may still not be able to see what other see. So... do you see what I see???

Okay, what I am trying to say is... sometimes there is no use for arguing. What you should do is to agree to disagree. Do not impose your views on others. Just like you would not want others to impose their views to you. You are entitled to your own views and others to theirs. So ya... Boleh berbual per...

Haha... Actually I am guilty of this. So, this serve as a reminder to me. Sometimes, to not talk is better. And if you have to talk, talk nicely.

do you hear me?

2008-09-14T12:54:00.005+08:00

Have i told you before I like to talk. Yesh, i know, many would second that. But do you know, what I like more... is to be listened.

What's the point of talking, knowing that you are not being listened to. It is just as though as you are talking to yourself or to the blank wall. Only crazy people would do that under normal circumstances. So ya, what I like more is to be listened to.

I had to conduct a science lecture in Irsyad last week. Well, with primary 6 kids you definitely have to be patient. It was not easy to conduct the lecture as the kids were cramped in a small room and as usual, talkative. I did managed to control the noise level but merely for a few minutes. Given the time constraint I stop trying and just carried on with the lecture. What made me carry on was the group of students who gave me their eye contacts signaling their interest and this kept me going.

What I am going to share is some tips to listen, and listen well. I am not saying that I am a good listener but I know what I would expect from someone when I am talking to him.

Ever wonder why your ears are cup in such a way. Well, this is my view on that. If someone is talking to you, and your face is in a position perpendicular to his, whatever you are hearing is half of what he is saying. This is because only one of your ear is being directed to him. With that said, to get the whole story your face have to be directly in front of his. Only then both of your ears are picking up whatever he is saying. And if you do so there won't be "masuk kanan, keluar kiri" (enter from the right, exit from the left). Easier said ah, give the person talking to you, face. I think it is only polite to have eye contact when someone is talking to you.

Also what I think is important is your body language when someone is talking to you. Do not slouch or lie down when someone is talking to you. And do not fiddle with your pen or play with your hands. These actions show that you are not interested in what the person is trying to tell you. How would you feel if you are in the person's position? Respect others and other will respect you.

Basically the trick here is do not do to others what you don't want others to do to you. Listening is not hearing. It's easy to hear but to listen you need effort. So do you HEAR me or are u LISTENING?

I am busy?

2008-06-08T20:55:00.006+08:00

Wow... It has been a while since i blog. Not that there is alot of readers out there waiting for my next enrty, still i am sure i have 1 or 2 regular readers. Thank you. Why have I not been blogging, you may ask. Well, I am busy...

Haha. Busy is an excuse actually. A lame excuse. Why? Well, busy can never be a reason. The reason why I have not been blogging is that I prioritise other things first before blogging. That's the reason.

Isn't that busy?

Nope. You see, busy, as how I defined it, is an excuse for not doing something because you choose to do something else. You see, I can choose not to play games and blog and so I am busy, I can't game. Then again I can choose to play games and not blog and therefore I am again busy that I can't blog. You see where I am coming from?

What I am trying to say is that, "busy" has been over-used as an excuse by alot of people when they choose not to things and choose to do other things instead. Let me give you an example:

A: Why didn't to come for meeting?

B: Ohh I am busy with school.

A: Ohh ok. (Ohh he busy. So poor thing. Still i prefer him to come. He's part of committee. Maybe he will come next meeting.)

Next meeting.

A: Why didn't to come for meeting?
B: Ohh I am busy with work.
A: Ohh ok. (Ohh he busy. So poor thing. Still i prefer him to come. He's part of committee. Maybe he will come next meeting.)

Haha... The bottomline is if you choose to do something else, just be straight forward about it. The reason why you are busy with other things is because to choose to be 'busy' at it and choose not to do the other. Maybe next time a better answer is, sorry I choose not to come for meeting because I choose to prioritise school and work and not meeting. I will come when I choose to come.

Yup. I don't know whether I make sense. Maybe I am just tired of 'busy' excuses. Alright, got to go now. I am busy...

Don't just be yourself!!!

2007-12-25T09:49:00.000+08:00

Do you realise that everytime you come up to someone for advise when going for your job interview or going out on your first date or presenting in front of the lecture theater, more than often, the advise is "Be Yourself'"?

Is it really that simple? Be ourselves? First and foremost lets define what is ourselves. Take me for instance. I am indeed the epitome of kentalism (Hey, I am proud of it. At least I have a tittle. Do you?). So, does it mean that I have to be kental for my job interview or when presenting my work or worst still, going on my first date. Will things work out just fine? I don't think so. (although some chicks find kental charming)

We have heard it too often. Don't judge the book by it's cover. But we can't deny that the most colourful book with pictures (esp pictures of women) get the most attention. So what i think is that being yourself is just not enough. Externally (ie what you wear) and internally (ie how you behave) we have to change to adapt to the stituation.

Lets do some case study.

Externally:

If you were a "mat" going to the mosque for Solat Aidiladha for instance, it will be more appropriate for you to wear the traditional baju kurung and songkok even though you miss your tapered jeans already and worry that your spiky hair not be so spiky anymore.

If you were a geek going for prom. Well, u better get those big round glasses off and your flat hair standing if you even want to enter the ball room.

Internally:

If you were the joker of the class and, I dont know why, happened to like the quietest girl in school, please do not laugh loudly during your first date. You will just scare her off.

If you were the "speaking London" kinda person, you will just get kicked out if you happened to do community service at the Boys home. (ok i exaggerate alot but you get the point)

Ok. It is not that I am saying you should not be yourself at all. What I feel is that there are many sides to yourself. Like me, I do have my "cool" moments you know. Once in a while. Choose the side that is best for the stituation and shine it out a little more than the others. Therefore what i think is the better advise is suite yourself best to the stituation.

Dreamz

2007-12-17T08:32:00.000+08:00

Ok. Shikin was talking to me about her dream (not exactly about about her dream but she mentioned dream) so I am going to talk about my dream then.

I used to have this recurring bad dream. Ok don't laugh. I dreamt of frogs chasing me. Big ones. With sharp teeth jumping around. There's like hundreds of them. I was younger then of course. I was like running and running away from these ugly creatures. But it seem that there's no place to go or hide. The whole world was infested by these creatures and I am all alone. Maybe "I am Legend" was inspired by this. I would run and run until I wake up; usually in the middle of the night.

I was quite disturbed by this dream. And every night before I go to sleep I make sure that I wash my feet many times and recite Al Fateha before I actually close my eyes and try to sleep. Still, the dream occur. Every night I would wake up in the middle of the night and sit on my bed until i doze off if I was lucky.

The dream continued until one particular night. As any other night I was running away from the frogs then suddenly, I have this enlightening thought. "This is insane. There's no such things as big frogs with sharp teeth. I am DREAMING!!!" As soon as I had this thought, I looked up and flew... Yes I flew... I realised that I was dreaming. And now, in the realm of dream, I can do anything.

I looked at my hand and a sword appear. And on the other, a shield. Across my chest a golden armour. And the best thing, I was flying. Well, I shall not elaborate what I did to the frogs. (it is something similar in the lab).

So, what I am trying to say is, a dream is just a dream. I am no expert but I know that we shouldnt really believe in dream. "A dream is the experience of envisioned images, sounds, or other sensations during sleep" as quoted by the trusted wiki. So if you have a bad dream, make it good. And if you have a good dream don't wake up. Haha.

---------------- To achieve the impossible dream, try going to sleep------------------

The Right One

2007-12-12T19:54:00.000+08:00

Ok this blog is not all about love. But apparently these kinda topics attract the most attention. And on top of that, Fana really like to think deeply about these issues. So here goes...

As told by Fana, we actually talk about finding the right person on our way back from our meeting. Well, she started the discussion. Haha. Anyway, in my point of view, you would not be able to know for sure that the person you are with is the right one for you until you are not together with her. What I mean is that only after you broke off the relationship with her only then for sure you find out that the person is not the right person for you.

So how do you find the right person then? Well, you can't really find the right right person for sure but you can actually filter out your candidates and come closer in meeting the right right right person. For me, how I actually carry out the filtering process is to use a little bit of imagination.

Firstly I imagine bringing her back home and showing her off to my family. I imagine how my parents will react and especially how my nenek will react. She is very picky you know. Maybe it's because I am her favourite cucu.

Secondly I imagine introducing her to my group of friends. It is not to see whether my group of friends accept her but mainly to see whether she can accept the "Sekapur Sirih" (that is what we call ourselves). Haha...

Thirdly, I would imagine myself growing old with her. I don't imagine her looking old, of course! But the feeling of growing old with her.

But is it always about what you want? Is it always about you? As much as you are looking for the right person, it is also important for you to be the right person for that someone.

Depressed not

2007-12-09T11:10:00.000+08:00

Yet another mass shooting and suicide by another depressed gunman. Arent we just glad that it is illegal to carry firearms here? Anyway, why do people get depressed? I dont really know why. But I know how not to get depressed.

I am going to share with you my "how not to be depressed" tips.

1)Be happy.
Life is a choice. And you choose how you want to live it. How you want to feel, how you want to react, how you want to respond. So if you dont want to be depressed, choose to be happy. Life, as many people say, is like a wheel. But living, as I say it, is the work done turning the wheel. Sometimes, we may be at the bottom, but it is up to us to turn it around.

2)Be happy with what we have.
Often people get depressed because they do not have what they want. In life we do not always get what we desire. If we do, there's no fun living any more isnt it? To not be depressed is to be grateful with what we have. Be grateful that we have our irritating little brothers, be grateful that we have our spongebob slippers, be grateful we have our B-s in our report cards. It is not that we shouldnt strive for greater things. I am saying that we should not feel so bad with what we dont have.

3)Be happy with ourselves.
It is always good to be happy with ourselves. With how we look especially. Be happy with our eyes no matter how small it may be, with our funny hair or with our blur look. When we are happy with ourselves, life will naturally be brighter and less suckier. I am not saying that we do not need to go for diet or exercise or bathe, but if we were to do it, do it because we want to do it and not because of what other people think.

So ya. It is simple really. Don't worry be happy... And stay away from guns.

Boo???

2007-12-06T20:54:00.000+08:00

How afraid are you to ghost stories? Have you ever encounter any weird, unexplainable experiences? Do you believe in ghosts?

Personally, I do not really believe that ghosts exist. Why? Well, have you ever wonder why Malay ghosts can fly and yet Chinese ghosts hop and Japanese ghosts can only crawl? And have you heard of Indian ghosts??? Do ghosts have different races like us? Or fashion statement? Or different scaring tactics and strategies?

Exactly why I do not believe in ghosts. However, I do believe in setan and jin though. How ghosts appear on trees, is what I believe to be the gameplay of these creatures. They are having a little fun toying with us, humans. You have to admit, it is funny scaring humans. We do it all the time in Just For Laugh.

Another reason why some people see things floating may be because of the manifestation of his own fears. Since we were young we are exposed to scary ghosts stories .

Kids should not play hide and seek at night because they might be hidden by some "hantu" you know what. Actual fact, it is just logical not to play at night because it is dark and kids might get lost.

Kids should stay home on Thursday night. Many ghosts come out to play at that time. Actual fact, Thursday night (malam Jumaat) is the best time to read the Quran and do our prayers.

What initially was a deterrant, may evolved into this fear of the unknown. And because of this intense fear, images appear in people's mind.

So if you do encouter things floating and flying around, maybe it is just in your head. But please do run first just in case.

Greatness

2007-12-05T22:00:00.000+08:00

I learnt something interesting today. I was watching Night at the Museum and, if you realise, Teddy Roosevelt played by Robin William (one of my favourite actor), said "Some men are born great, others have greatness thrust upon them".

Wow... That's deep. Really really deep. Then I checked the internet and found "Be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em." Guess who said this. William Shakespeare.

Well, what do i make of this? I believe that some people are indeed born great. With great talents or abilities or maybe born in great families. Lucky for them then. Some achieve greatness. For these people being great is not as easy compared to the ones born great. But with shear determination and perseverance and commitment, they are able to achieve this greatness.

What I am more concern is with the last group of people. People having greatness thrust upon them. In the movie, Larry Daley (Ben Stiller), an ordinary person, has greatness thrusted upon him. He is given the opportunity to be great. In which he took the chance and eventually became a great night watch, a great father.

Which group do we belong to then? Not all of us are born great. I dont know about you but I am certainly not. And not all of us can achive greatness by ourselves. You know with all the shear determination and perseverance and commitment, it still wont confirm greatness. So our only hope of being great is to have greatness thrusted upon us. Here comes the tricky part. Are we able to recognise this opportunity? And if we did, are we going to open the door and welcome it or shy away from this chance to be great.

Love somebody set them free?

2007-12-04T15:37:00.000+08:00

Exam over!!! Let's talk about love. People say if you love somebody, set them free. Can this statement get any more wrong. I mean if you love somebody, why would you then set her free. Abit dumb right.

If you really love somebody, wouldnt you NOT want to set her free? Wouldnt you want her to be in your captivity? Wouldnt you want her to be there with you?

Well, maybe some would say that if you love somebody but that somebody does not love you back, you should set her free. In the first place, ask yourself. Are you really in love? How do you define love? Love is having a great affection or liking. Well maybe. But to me, love is an emotional relationship between two people. Yes two people. (Maybe more for some). You can only love somebody only when the somebody loves you back. If she does not love you, you are not in love to begin with. It wouldnt be neccessary to set that somebody free then.

What if you are with her and now she loves somebody else. Well, the same thing apply. The love is gone. The emotional relationship between the two of you isnt there any more and she has foster another emotional relationship with another somebody. So is there a need of setting her free?

What I think is more appropriate is to set yourself free. Free from the delusional thinking that you are in love.

Hang On

2007-12-03T19:56:00.000+08:00

One more paper to go. For those who still have papers... HANG ON!!!

Things are getting weird, things are getting tough
Nothing's making sense but you keep on looking up
They tell you to be true, you're trying every day
You keep it on the real, still you gotta find a way
To make your mama happy, to make your papa proud
You gotta turn it up but all you hear is turn it down

So gather round I'm here to say
You'll never make everybody's day
But while you're around you might as well
Catch the tiger by his tail

And hang on hang on hang on
Everybody just
Get on get on get on get started
Just go on go on go on
Everybody just hang on

Sometimes I wanna cry and throw the towel in
They try to beat me down but I'll take it on the chin
And everywhere I go the people are the same
They just wanna know that everything will be OK
Things are getting rough, turn it back around
You gotta turn it up when they tell you tone it down

(Someone tell me the meaning of catch the tiger by his tail)

Why do we fall?

2007-11-29T22:40:00.001+08:00

"Why do we fall, sir? So that we might better learn to pick ourselves up". A phrase by the famous butler Alfred Pennyworth (the old man that took care of Batman). I agree with Alfred totally. If we do not fall, we would not be able to learn this important skill of picking ourselves up.

When we were younger and learning how to walk, what is the first thing we learn; To pick ourselves up. Only when we fall and get up, we can try again. We fall again and pick ourselves up again and fall again until we finally walk and then run.

This should not only be applied to when we are learning how to walk but in every aspect of our lives. When we learn to pick purselves up we are not afraid of falling and this enable us to achieve anything that we desire.

So, for those who are not up there but down there, listen to Alfred. Learn to pick yourselves up and fear of falling you shall not.

(But falling in love is an entirely different thing though...)

After the rain...

2007-11-21T21:08:00.000+08:00

Rainbow comes only after the rain...

I can see clearly now, the rain is gone... I can see all obstacles in my way... Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind.

It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)Sun-Shiny day. It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)Sun-Shiny day.

Oh yes I can make it now, the pain is gone... All of the bad feelings have disappeared... Here is the rainbow I've been prayin' for.

It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)Sun-Shiny day.

Look all around, there's nothin' but blue skies. Look straight ahead, nothin' but blue skies...

I can see clearly now, the rain is gone... I can see all obstacles in my way... Here is the rainbow I've been prayin' for.

It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)Sun-Shiny dayIt's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)Sun-Shiny daybright (bright), bright (bright)Sun-Shiny day.

It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)Sun-Shiny dayIt's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)Sun-Shiny day.

Prayers

2007-11-18T21:55:00.001+08:00

It was raining really heavily. And the water began to rise. The whole village was to be evacuated. Everyone hurried and left the village except for this man. He said, "I prayed to God and God will save me".

The water rose to his ankles and a van came to rescue the man. However he refused and said that “I prayed to God and God will save me".

The water rose higher to his hips. Then, a boat came to rescue the man. However, he refused and said, "I prayed to God and God will save me".

The water rose even higher that the man had to climb a coconut tree. Then a helicopter came to rescue him. However, again, he refused and said, "I prayed to God and God will save me".

The rain kept on pouring and pouring. And the man climbed higher and higher and soon there is no where for him to go. The man drowned eventually.

In heaven, the man asked God. “Dear God, I prayed to you, why didn’t you save me”? God replied “I sent a van, a boat and even a helicopter but you refused them. What else do you expect me to do?”

God answer prayer in three ways.
1) You pray for something and God say yes and gives it to you.
2) You pray for something and God say wait, I will give to you when the time comes.
3) You pray for something and God say no. But I will give you something better.

Then again, sometimes we don’t realise that our prayers are being answered. Just like in this short silly story where the man refused help sent by God. Are we the same as this man? Well, ponder about it. God does not answer prayers like a genie granting a wish. God answers prayers by opening up opportunities. If you pray for the love of a girl. God does not put this tingling feeling in her while she is sleeping one night and fall for you the next day. God creates opportunities for you to get close to this girl. Well, then it is up to you to realise God's answer to your prayers.

Kental eh

2007-11-06T08:26:00.000+08:00

Sejak dari sekolah rendah lagi, aku sering dikaitkan dengan perkataan "kental". Mengapa ya? Adakah ia kerana rambut aku yang sering rapi disikat berbelah tepi ataupun muka aku yang sering di dalam kebinggungan ataupun baju aku yang dimasukkan dengan "smart" di dalam seluar aku yang lebih ketat berbandingan dengan mereka yang bukan "kental". Ataupun kerana aku tidak ambil tahu tentang trend terkini dan pakaian-pakaian aku tidak berjenama ataupun kerana aku tidak melakukan apa yang dilakukan oleh mereka mereka yang bukan "kental"?

"Kental ah kau tak hisap rokok. Kental ah kau gi belajar kat library. Kental ah kau tak gi clubbing." Inilah antara dialog-dialog yang sering kita dengar apabila perkataan "kental" digunakan. Apakah maksud "kental" di dalam konteks ini? Seringkali ramai yang mengaitkan "kental" dengan maksud "uncool".

Walaubagaimanapun, pernah tak seseorang itu fikir tentang apa yang membuat sesuatu perkara itu cool ataupun uncool? Mengapa hisap rokok itu cool, clubbing itu cool dan pulang rumah awal dan pergi ke perpustakaan dianggap uncool.

Ia memerlukan sekumpulan orang untuk membahagikan apa yang cool dan apa yang uncool. Pembahagian ini berbeza di lain tempat oleh lain orang. Sebagai contoh, permainan baseball diibaratkan uncool di Singapura dah permainan bola sepak pula dipandang cool. Di Amerika pula, bola sepak tidak mendapat perhatian berbandingkan dengan perhatian yang diberikan pada permainan baseball. Pada sesetengah kaum, volleyball itu cool tapi bagi sesetengah kaum yang lain, cricket itu cool. Senang kata, cool itu mengikut citarasa sesegolongan itu.

Orang yang tidak mengikuti trend sesegolongan ini pula dianggap uncool dan digelarkan "kental". Tapi mengapa perkataan "kental" yang digunakan. Mengikut kamus, perkataan "kental" membawa erti kukuh, tegas, kuat. Ataupun di dalam bahasa Inggeris, tough, strong. Aku rasa memang cocok perkataan "kental" digunakan pada conteks ini. "Kental" bukanlah membawa erti uncool yang dianggap ramai tetapi kental menyifatkan peribadi seseorang itu yang tidak senang terpengaruh oleh sesegolongan itu.

Dengan ini, janganlah kita ambil hati apabila digelar "kental". Anggaplah ia bagai satu pujian. Ia menunjukkan bahawa peribadi kita itu kental dan tidak senang digoyangkan orang.

motorsikal ku

2007-11-04T00:57:00.000+08:00

Entry ku yang pertama.
Hari ini aku dan kawan kawan merancang untuk pergi ke rumah cikgu. Oleh kerana mood raya masih ada lagi dan setiap tahun kami mengunjungi rumahnya, kurang complete lah sekiranya kami tidak pergi ke rumahnya.

Aku meminta izin ibu untuk menggunakan motosikalku untuk ke rumah cikgu. Sudah masuk 3 bulan aku tidak menunggang motorsikal itu atas sebab sebab tertentu. Mula mula ibu seperti berbelah bagi untuk membenarkan aku munggunakan motorsikal itu. Tetapi setelah pujuk rayu, ibu tergerak hati untuk memberikan keizinan dia. Seronok betul rasanya. Sebelum aku melangkah keluar rumah, ibu berpesan supaya aku meletakkan kupon meletak kenderaan dan mengisi minyak motorsikal sebelum aku pergi ke rumah cikgu.

"Leceh betul ah mak! Tak payah lah. Bukannya jauh. Sekejap je per..."

Aku mengendahkan kata kata ibuku. Takkan letak motor sekejap je kena saman kan... Aku pun mengambil kawan ku dan terus ke rumah cikgu. Sampai sahaja di sana, sedang aku mencari tempat yang kosong untuk meletak motorsikal aku, aku ternampak sekumpulan "mat" bersembang di bawah kolong. Ini "mat mat" bukan sembarang "mat mat" ini "mat mat" berbaju putih berseluar biru. "Mat" parking lah. Alamak macam mana ni "mat mat" boleh ada ni. Dah lah aku tak ada kupon. Haiz, terpaksa aku dan kawan aku keluar dari kawasan itu dan terus pergi kedai yang terdekat untuk mendapatkan kupon.

Pengajaran pertama: dengar cakap ibu. Ibu suruh beli kupon pergi beli. Nasib baik nampak mat mat tu. Kalau tidak kena saman baru padan.

Setelah membeli itu kupon, kita pun naik lah ke rumah cikgu. Haha... Lama tak nampak anak cikgu. Sudah besar pun. Cute semacam... Haha ok. Balik cerita. Oh lupa makan pun best. Setelah makan, bersembang, berbual, mengenangkan kisah kisah di zaman persekolahan, kita pun balik.

Setelah menghantar kawanku balik aku pun apa lagi, balik lah. Sedang seronok aku melepaskan rasa rindu menunggang motorsikalku, tiba tiba, motorsikal aku seolah olah tidak bernyawa. Tiba tiba, bunyi nya senyap, lampu nya padam, asapnya pudar. Apa dah jadi ni. Apa lagi!!! Minyak dah habis ah. Haik, tidak kusangka, nasib aku betul malang ah malam ni. Motorsikal aku mati di tengah tengah ekpressway. Apa nak buat nasib badan. Aku cuba menghidupkan motorsikal aku. Tendang punya tendang, asap pun tak ada. Apa aku nak buat? Aku menelefon ah bapa aku untuk mendapatkan petunjuk. Ayah, motor tak hidup. Rasa rasa minyak dah habis. APASAL NAIK MOTOR??? KAN DAH KATA JGN NAIK MOTOR!!! Haik... Ohh lupa aku nak kata, bapa aku memang tidak membenarkan aku tunggang motorsikal itu atas sebab sebab tertentu. Sebab itulah mak aku berbelah bagi. Haiz bukan pentujuk aku dapat, dapat tengkeng ada ah. Bapa aku terus meletak talifon. Really on my own now.

Aku tendang dan tendang itu kick start. Ahhh... Hidup pun. Cepat cepat aku naik, and perah minyak yang tidak seberapa. Motorsikal itu bergerak walaupun tidak jauh tapi sampai ke persimpangan berdekatan dengan rumah aku. Dekat pun tak lah gitu dekat. Dalam tiga perhentian bas. Apa lagi terpaksa lah aku tolak. Aku naik ke atas pavement masih duduk di atas motorsikal aku sambil mengayuh menggunakan kaki aku. Dari jauh, aku seolah olah menaiki basikal memakai helmet. Aku mengayuh dan mengayuh motorsikal aku menuju ke stesen minyak yang tidak begitu jauh dari rumah aku. Sedang aku mengayuh ada apek tua ini menaiki basikal lalu di sebelah aku. Ini betul betul mengingatkan aku akan adegan Mr bean dimana dia menaiki basikal dan megayuh lebih laju daripada sebuah kereta.

Akhirnya sampai juga aku di stesen minyak. Dan alhamdulillah dapat juga aku balik ke rumah.

Pengajaran kedua: dengar cakap ibu ayah. Ibu suruh isi minyak, isi minyak. Ayah kata jangan naik motor, jangan naik motor.