Home Run!

In my last legs of my academic year, and I am chugging along and barely hanging on.

I wish I still have the passion to move on. But argh, where is it? Is it because my batch is dwindling? Or is it the project isn't fun anymore? Is it just me? Come on, two more months and you're outta here!

Focus! Focus! Damn you Facebook! Twitter! and forums I visit! Damn you distractions!

Anyways I have come up with stories to pitch once I graduate. Funny I have some enthusiasm for what it is uncertain in the FUTURE, but not what's current and concrete. =P

Oh, I have a new pair of glasses. Will post a picture if I am in the mood for pictures.

Working on ideas... in a holiday noless

Ever since I have been studying for a degree, my mind wanders on what I would be in the future. I doubt it would be an animator or a 3D designer... because there are people out there outclass me in any way possible. What I was sure about was to do something about the media, be it PR or advertising, broadcast or print.

So after my internship is over and I returned to campus and everything has settled for the holidays, I have my goals set for the first time in 3 years: writing.

Writing for TV/movies specifically.

For those are wondering why, here's why: I had always had a knack of writing stories and creating stories, since high school. Every essay choices during exams I picked is ALWAYS narrative, because it is not very restricting, the words flow much easier compared to writing a factual/descriptive/reflective. Most of all, you NEVER need to worry about being under the word count (Though you need to watch out the time restrictions, because you know, it is a test after all). Which is WHY I ventured Film & Animation, because that's the only majoring that is anything remotely related to storytelling.

So there are two ideas I am tinkering right now:
-FYP idea. Our theme is about "Rhythm", so I need some associations about this particular word. No cliched music-driven animation (Though it would be after all that), so it is about music, rhythmic patterns in life.

Possibly would be done in Motion Graphics and some green screening (Not going to call it a VFX because it isn't).

-Writing my first TV script. I meant it to be pitched somewhere (I doubt it would be here. Possibly in the US). This is fo sho, y'all! I drafted the story outline in a short story form to check out any flaws and fix it before it would be turned into a script.

I sent the story out to some of my friends and got pretty mixed reviews... Not bad for a first timer but I still need some fine tuning to make it appealing.

That's all for now. Signing off.

Internship: Week 0

The reason I name it week 0 because it's not really my official internship period yet.

So I got my internship placement in Motiofixo, located in Cyberjaya. It's great news that is near my place. So no fuss, traffic jams or something stupid while traveling to work.

So far the big guy is just showing some of the ropes in the place. My first impression: Very laidback and casual, but it's still business and work. Hopefully my actual job have an environment as such.

And yes, there's a gaming console at the lobby! But it's only allowed after office hours.

More updates soon.

New Year.... 2009

Woah 3 days past in 2009 already. And my head is still set in 2008.

Some things just move too fast, others move too slow to me. Guess things just move at their own pace of their liking, never at the pace that I want. Hmmph!

Last month is the usual PC fair, and boy the crowd is still massive as ever. (the promoters are even more, I dunno why they need 80 promoters to gather at the end of their booth to pass flyers). I got myself some RAM. Storage devices (External Hard Disks, Thumb drives) are ridiculously cheap (I should have got them anyways).

Anyways, no blurb at Ireland Worlds about MMU, or even a single Malaysian team, or even an Asian team... On the other hand, Oxford Union is going strong with 3 teams in semi-finals, along with Monash, Queensland, Victoria Wellington, Manchester and Harvard. Barely know anyone of them in the teams except the guys from Monash, possibly Queensland (the Aussies are a great and friendly bunch one you get to know them)

And then there were 362 days left in 2009.

Final Day of 2008

Wow a year has passed, and it just flew pass me.

In the beginning of the year is mainly to patch up and pickup the pieces of my life, due to the turbulent 2007 and left a drastic aftermath.

Then is the debating stuff. Not as packed as last year, but exciting nonetheless. MMU broke at our inaugural AUDC participation, broke at Australs (I wish I could be there, but I can't cause this year is about studies for me), won NHSD, and I decided to witness WUPID as an observer this time (a first in international tournament) and partied my ass off. Really, I just need a moment to relax just this once this year... I managed to capture some of the moments in my camera too.

People I know come and left, not just in debating society but also in the campus grounds. New people to get to know, old folks (I meant the people i know longer, not thier age) I tried to rekindle, including my high school friends that I met in various unexpected occasions.

And who cannot forget the Beiijing Olympics this year? Malaysia bagged a medal, China sweeps, Micheal Phelps screams as he wins 8 gold medals, controversies arised from start till the end.

Happy New Year 2009!

P.S: this is the first time I blog via email. I know, it took me awhile to attempt some new forms of technology. =P

Ten Commandments of Facebook

I'm sure you are users of the infamous Facebook, or at least heard of it. It's a really cool website to connect and contact friends and share great moments of your life. At times there are some things that people should be aware about. Here are some of them, and I have created some random commandments for everyone to preferably observe.

#1: Thou shalt upload a profile picture
It is darn useful for people to at least know you before adding them. Often I don't remember names, or know them by their full names. How would I know whether I know you if I don't know how you look? So please! Add a picture, a simple picture would do.

#2: Thou shalt fill in thy profile information
The more stuff you cram in, the better. Not for being a Nosy Parker, but for getting to know you a bit better. After all, this is your page and your personal space online. Moreover, you can set your privacy settings for only your friends know more about you, whereas random strangers don't.

#3: Thou shalt not poke thy friends too often
Once or twice is cute, too much just screams desperate craving for attention.

#4: Thou shalt not spam invites to applications
Another annoying trait. DON'T send those darn application invites to everyone you know! Cancel it or only send to the ones who might find that application interesting.

#5: Thou shalt know the different messaging methods available
Chatting options are there for other users online (works like IMs) for quick chatting, Wall posting is for more causal messaging (everyone in your friends list see that!). Private messaging is for things that are best left between you and the particular friend.

#6: Thou shalt not announce the world thy dirty laundry
As stated, everyone will see that. Watch what you type on your status bar.

#7: Thou shalt not create a love shrine
Yes, we know you love him/her so much, but please tone down the flirting on the wall, poking, upload tons of couple pictures (a few is fine) and whatever things couples do to each other. Observe rule #3, #5 and #6.

#8: Thou shalt confirm that they are really thy friends
Of course you can't add every Tom, Dick and Harry who requested you. Ask by sending messages. If you're adding a friend. It would be nice to add a personal message to remind him/her where/when you met.

#9: Thou shalt not be a creepy stalker
You can browse about your friends pages of various degrees of closeness till the cows come home. but please don't ever, ever make yourself known that you're stalking him/her by commenting creepy messages on their wall or anything like that. Commenting about their relationsthip status is highly discouraged.

#10: Thou shalt observe basic ettiquette
A virtual space is the same as in real life social circle. So yay for being polite in anything you type in Facebook. Everything you do or say does reflect back to you.

Of Halloweens and Beers

It's late of October and two things are happening:

Halloween: Nothing fancy going on but I just happened to watch a whole lot of TV shows are doing their Halloween special. Some are downright scary, but others are taking the lighter tone of the festival.

Oktoberfest: If there's a festival that means a lot of drinking, I'm up for that.

Didn't expect 2008 flew by that fast, somehow I don't seem to be ready for 2009. Heh.

Compulsive Actions, Crazy Things

I admit.... If I have the time, I'll do the most craziest things on earth. To the point of obsession. Such as:

1. Take a piece of paper and start writing, just write ANYTHING. Doesn't really have to make sense, or having a story. Just words and words form into sentences.

2. Alternatively, Draw anything... and it makes a whole composition of drawings fit together as art.

3. Playing the same songs on repeat.

4. Go out and walk(drive) .... to places new and yet familiar. And comeback without even caring weather you get/found/discover something.

5. Camwhoring. (NOt me... but i know a lot of people do. A LOT of people.)

How about you? Do you some random things to spruce things up in your life?

Beijing Olympics... Whooo!

It's here, Olympics 2008 is happening in Beijing right now and the opening ceremony is AMAZING!!! I would like to show some pictures if I have them...

The whole event is just fantastic.... Especially the fireworks display, pretty blinding your eyes even if you watch it on TV (I wonder how people cope with all the glare in the stadium)

AND... not forget the whole sporting event that are happening right now...

Conspracies...

Ever wonder what happens behind closed doors?
What is going on behind the scenes?
What is there anything to hide
That scares the rest of the world?

We wonder why someone left without a trace,
Somewhere is considered "cursed",
Incidents that are left unexplained,
Decisions suddenly made,
In an arbitrary pattern.

We continue to wonder,
As we are curious beings,
We try to quench our thirst of curiosity,
By attempting to explain the unexplained
and debate differing opinions,
about an occurrence that no one absolutely understands

I guess conspiracy theorists
take pleasure from mysteries and suspicions.

It's not fair!

You must have been through what I experienced.
He gets the apple while I got the seeds,
I had to follow while she leads,
So I yelled "It's not fair!"

They got chosen just because they are liked,
He gets the looks and and you got none,
She has the smarts, charm and all the fun,
Tell me is life fair to you?

We hear screams of unfairness in this world today,
We also see injustice to an innocent when the other is the culprit,
We felt the blame, rejection and humiliation,
As the others have everything fall on their laps!

Where is the so-called equality, you say?
That is claimed to be kept in spirit?
Maybe justice can only be seen from a higher position,
While we helplessly witness victims fall into their traps!

Horoscopes and other zany beliefs

I actually horoscopes actually true. I mean, what explains that there are people with different personalities, talents and temperaments? If that means dividing people into 12 different personalities, I'm willing to think there is some certain truth to it.

No i don't mean the ones you can check daily in your newspaper, it is the one that you can analyze your personalities, make a birth chart and see where the planets "fall" under which sign.

AND it is also interesting to actually find out that people, especially my friends actually act according to the particular sign's stereotype and most of my friends would say "Gosh it is true!"

Not only that I also kinda "studied" Chinese horoscopes, tarot and numerology. Also I tried my best to learn handwriting analysis.

Okay, I know. I am quirky and I am very interested in these things.... This is part of who I am, kay. =)

Finish Whatever You Have Started

Whoever said this is right
"Either you do it right,
Or don't do it at all."

Whoever said this is wise
"Either you do it until it's prefect,
Or stop doing it altogether."

Whoever said this is a genius
"Either you finish what you've done
Or don't bother start doing it."

Once you make your mark,
You better make it great,
else risk disappointment, regret and humiliation,
If your work is half-baked, half done.

Once you laid the foundation,
perfection is your goal,
success is your aim
and completion is your objective.

Cinco de Mayo

Hoy es cinco de Mayo del dos mil ocho. (Today is 5th of May 2008).

This is what I have to say the first thing I attended my Spanish class: The date of that particular day. by the way, the 5th of May is a National celebration for Mexicans. =D

Funny thing is the pronunciation of the Spanish letters. Here's what weird about it.
*H is ALWAYS silent
*J is pronounced as a Y
*LL is pronounced as J
*Y is pronounced as J as well.

But the most frustrating part of all is not pronouncing the word in Spanish. It's the grammar part is the headache. All the masculine/feminine nouns, 5 different tenses for present tense alone! argh... X( Why don't they just simplify things!

Come to think of it, why should one study Spanish in the first place?

Because learning a different language is pretty cool. Period.

XP

Faith

To be REALLY honest, I'm no religious person. Not that I don't believe in God, but I rarely practice the observances a Christian should do, like church going on Sundays, well verse about the Bible and so on.

But what I want to discuss here is not this type of belief, rather the belief in people in general: faith. Do YOU trust the people you know and love? Why?

You know, people are meant to be living in communities. We just don't thrive on our own, we just don't. We need to rely on other people to make a functional life. So we put trust in people so that they can fulfill our needs, whether it is physical, emotional or psychological.

Somehow we can put a lot of trust in people, especially those who are out there to harm us. We can't trust people who betray, lie, cheat and hurt our feelings.

So it's kinda tricky: how much faith we have in people?
Try this, you need a friend/lover/family member/someone who you really trust:
1. Stand in front of him/her
2. Close your eyes, arms spread out
3. Fall back towards him/her
4. See if he/she catches you

The results can be an eye-opening.

Just because the grass is greener

Just because the grass is greener on the other side of the fence.......

People don't feel that they are that great anymore.
They are not happy
They want more
They become greedy
They got it to keep them happy.

Just because someone is better than you......

You are jealous
You wish you are in his place
You either try to achieve it yourself
Or ruin his life to make yourself feel better.

Just because they have what you don't......

You dream of having it
You try to get it
by hook or by crook

Just because he is loved and you don't......

You become envious
You just want to be loved as well

Just because you don't have what you wish......

Just be happy for what you already have!

Changes

I recently had an insane discussion with someone about this.

Change: An inevitable process someone will face in life.

Change is for the better then it's great. It throws you out of your comfort zone, forces you to tryout something new. Soon you'll face difficult challenges, experienced things you have never imagined.

Is it for the good? Yea. It improves what we had right now. It makes us see differently, encountering our problems much more efficiently. There are also many things can be changed for the better. It might solve the hassle and problems we face currently, and people benefit from the changes made.

Is it bad? It's true too. People are so used to things they like. People just prefer familiarity, or some would say "the better the devil you know". People worried that change might turn out bad, causing more problem than solving them. Maybe sticking to the trusted, tried and true ways on how our life works is not that bad after all.

So do we resist change forever? We can't. Because then our life would be boring, lack of variety, mundane and sooner or later we'll get sick of it. So it's nice to change once in a while.

So when do you change? That leaves you to decide.

Generations

There is a new addition to the family: A new puppy! It's a 2-month old German Shepard, and my we decided to call him Rocky. (Though I strongly against it, since the name is too generic for a male German Shepard)

Cute, eh? Credit my sister for this picture.

Having him in the family really changed things around the house. More noise, chaos, barking and all. Since a lot of attention is diverted to the new needy pup, our current dog is starting to feel envious. Heh, Brownie, you are 10 years old now, and you don't really care if we called you unless we feed you. Now you want our attention back just as the good old days when you're a puppy yourself?

We will know someday Brownie may leave us and Rocky will become the apprentice for the guarding our home. Or maybe Brownie may decide to relax and let Rocky to do the job (You lazy bum!). It's kind of a generational shift. Guess life as dogs are almost like people. Eventually what you are doing right now will be taken over by someone else.

This is my sis and the old dog Brownie for my photography assignment. I still remember he refuse to cooperate when we were taking the picture.

People come and go, but life remains the same for a lot of people. We may have new technologies to help us make life easier, but life in other aspects is still the same: work, learn, make friends, fall in love, starting a family....

My parents are expecting us to bring home the bacon once after we graduate. Soon we'll be taking over dad for the earning money role. Life goes on, so live it to the fullest while doing the same old same old, people!

Life of Warfare

People always hope to find world peace sooner or later. I am a believer of this seemingly unachievable resolution too. But somehow, there is always conflict, quarrels, fights and confrontations happening out of the blue in life. Of course, we are either the offensive who seeks something they want, the defendant who never backs down without a fight, the mediator to keep the peace (and desperately trying to end the fight) or someone who happens to witness the whole thing unfolds.

These unpleasantness just happens. Just because everyone has a lot of ideas and opinions to disagree on, something everyone wants but there is not enough for everyone, or even something they felt they are unhappy over things.

So why we don't just all agree on everything?

We just can't. After all we are individuals with different personalities, backgrounds and their opinions shaped based on anything they have seen, heard and felt. As no one had the same experiences, so their point of view will never be the same. If everyone walks, acts and talks the same, then the world is definitely boring. Guess diversity comes with its disadvantages, huh? =)

So in the end of the day, after we pursue the art of arguing, we should start picking up what's next -- the art of compromising.

Valentine's for Singletons

Valentine's day it's like any other day for me.... Obviously just because I don't have a significant other to celebrate with... haha.

It's not like I don't really try to find one, it's just that I don't feel I'm ready for a relationship. Relationship commitment is something I don't really think of right now, especially when a lot of things happening in my life. But then again, if there's someone I really like, and some chemistry happening, who knows?

Okay, maybe I'm not making an effort to find true love. =P

Whether you are in a wonderful relationship with someone or living a life as a single:

Happy Valentine's Day!

geez, this is my first time using pink to write on my blog. :)